- 3 months ago
We’re breaking down the seismic cast overhaul at SNL ahead of Season 51 — the shocking exits, surprise hires and the internet’s reaction. From Devon Walker, Emil Wakim and Heidi Gardner’s departures to Michael Longfellow’s exit, Please Don’t Destroy’s shakeup and new additions like Ben Marshall, Veronika Slowikowska and Kam Patterson, we explain what it all means for the show’s future.
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00:00Honor SNL 50, this is the day in the life of an SNL cast member.
00:04Hey, yo, y'all play that video.
00:05Welcome to Ms. Mojo.
00:07And today, we're taking a deep dive into the major cast overhaul at SNL ahead of its 51st season,
00:14breaking down the shocking departures, new hires, and the public's reaction to it all.
00:19Maybe let's not laugh about our friend who just died.
00:23You're being serious?
00:26The biggest cast shakeups in SNL history.
00:30The game is simple.
00:31Contestants must attempt to tell the difference between a member of Arcade Fire
00:35and one of SNL's new featured players.
00:42Following its momentous 50th season, many expected SNL to undergo a major revamp.
00:48The biggest question was whether longtime producer Lorne Michaels would name a successor and step aside.
00:54Telling the outlet, we're doing the 50th anniversary show in February of 25.
00:59I will definitely be there for that, and definitely be there until that, and sometime before that, we'll figure out what we're gonna do.
01:05When it became clear he wasn't leaving just yet, Michaels instead hinted at significant cast changes going into the 51st season.
01:13So far, the overhaul has indeed been significant, although this is not exactly unprecedented in the show's long history.
01:21The most dramatic reshuffling came between 1984 and 1986, when Dick Ebersole's era ended and Michaels returned after a five-year hiatus.
01:32Similar shifts occurred in 1995, 2013, and again in 2022.
01:47Each of these transitions ushered in a slightly different era of SNL, shaped by the strengths and sometimes weaknesses of its new performers and writers.
01:57Good. Good. Good. That's very embarrassing. You're gonna feel a deep shame coming up from here and out. It's natural.
02:06Eggo Wodim.
02:07Girls, I gotta cut you a piece of this steak. This steak is bussing.
02:12Just weeks before the 51st season was set to begin, news broke that Eggo Wodim would be leaving the show.
02:20Having spent seven seasons turning in incredible performances week after week, Wodim chose to bow out, sharing on Instagram that she was, quote,
02:29immensely grateful to Lorne. Hardly anyone expected this announcement, especially since the cast had already been confirmed, and Wodim was gaining mainstream recognition for her work.
02:41Family of the man now identified as Laquan Jenkins.
02:45She was not only excellent with impressions, but also achieved viral fame with original characters like Lisa from Temecula and Miss Eggy.
02:58Because these men ain't what?
03:04You're gonna get fired for that.
03:06Devin Walker.
03:07The first major departure came in late August 2025, when comedian Devin Walker announced on social media that he was leaving the show.
03:16You do that? Yeah, man. How do you think I got to where I am today? Out of all the cast members that are currently on SNL, I'm definitely one of them.
03:23Walker had joined in 2022 as a featured player, bringing with him stand-up comedy experience and writing credits on shows like Big Mouth.
03:32Like many newcomers, he initially struggled to find his footing, but he grew more confident over time, especially with impressions of figures like Eric Adams and Shannon Sharp.
03:42Now, come on, Kat, he's a hero.
03:43What'd he do, Shannon? You know his slogan? Yes, we can. I came up with that. Before me, he was saying, probably, probably, I think we might.
03:51Oh, come on, you know this blasphemous.
03:53In his farewell post, Walker expressed mixed feelings about working on SNL, even describing the environment as, quote, toxic as hell.
04:02He later clarified that his criticism was aimed at the show's practice of waiting till late summer to confirm contracts, a process that left cast members' lives hanging in the balance.
04:13Yes, that is exactly right. And when you find her, you tell her, that's what I told you to put on a poster.
04:17Emile Joaquim.
04:19Two days after Walker's announcement, featured player Emile Joaquim revealed on social media that he was also leaving the show.
04:26Yes, sir. Um, yeah, I guess so. Okay, you too, sir. So?
04:34That was Trump. I'm the new ambassador to Iran.
04:37Joaquim, who had spent only one season as a cast member, described the news of his firing as a, quote, gut punch, but nonetheless expressed gratitude for the little time he spent working there.
04:48This decision came as a shock to many fans, particularly since Joaquim had a good first season, especially in his weekend update appearances, and showed potential to get even better if given the chance to grow.
05:01Like, obviously, billionaires are bad. That's an easy take. But I was talking to a friend that was just like, I think we should abolish millionaires. And I was like, hey, man, don't you believe in yourself?
05:11Even more, as the show's first cast member of a Lebanese heritage, he offered a fresh perspective on the Middle Eastern experience in America.
05:19I'm conflicted on America right now, you know, but I am grateful to live here. Like, my dad's an immigrant, and then my mom is, as Colin says, normal. But I'm an American.
05:31Michael Longfellow.
05:33Am I the only contestant?
05:36Why have you been seeing other people? Because I haven't.
05:38I'm sorry, what is this?
05:41One of the more surprising announcements in the cast's shakeup was the news that Michael Longfellow had also been let go.
05:48The stand-up comic joined the show in 2022, and quickly won attention for his sharp weekend update appearances, where he delivered topical commentary as a sardonic version of himself.
05:59I work way too hard, like 12 hours a week.
06:04You're at SNL and you only work 12 hours a week?
06:06When you love your job, it never feels like work.
06:10No, I'm just not in that much stuff this season.
06:13Longfellow became such a fixture on Weekend Update that it was rumored that he had been screen-tested as a potential anchor replacement for either Colin Jost or Michael Che, or both.
06:23However, Longfellow shared on his social media that he would not be returning for a fourth season, and even reportedly added that he had never been considered for the Weekend Update desk.
06:32I've got nothing to hide. I'm beautiful, and I think your audience deserves to see that. Who wants to see that, huh?
06:38No, no, David. No, you can't do that. What is wrong with you people?
06:43Heidi Gardner.
06:44One of the final departures announced was that of Heidi Gardner, the longest-tenured female cast member at the time.
06:51Gardner had already spent eight seasons on the show, but the news of her exit still came as a blow to many fans.
06:57No one gets hurt? Yeah, right. I've seen enough movies to know what happens to a chick like me.
07:02Take me to the wall and get it over with, you nasty boy!
07:06After joining in 2017, Gardner found her rhythm almost immediately.
07:11She established herself as a versatile utility player, both in sketches and on Weekend Update,
07:16where she debuted several memorable original characters.
07:20But I deserve to be happy for my kids, Mikey, Nikki, and Peppers.
07:25So if you're going to do this holiday spending, I'm taking the kids to my sisters.
07:31She also built a reputation for never-breaking,
07:34which is why it became such major news when she slipped in the Beavis and Butthead sketch.
07:39The man with the gray shirt and exposed gums.
07:43Sir!
07:48Even while on the show, Gardner was already landing roles on series like Veep and Shrinking.
07:54So we're all confident she'll go on to do incredible things,
07:57Please Don't Destroy, and Writers.
07:59Also included on the chopping block was Please Don't Destroy,
08:03the comedy trio who joined in 2021 to create digital shorts.
08:08What is going on?
08:09Come on, everyone's doing it!
08:10JCPenney, Jiffy Lube, Exxon, Verizon, Dr. Riccardi.
08:14Who?
08:14My dentist.
08:15That one's actually really gross.
08:17Consisting of Ben Marshall, John Higgins, and Martin Herlihy,
08:21the group had a strong start with their hilarious videos, often featuring the guest hosts.
08:25These shorts drew millions of views online, and typically leaned into self-deprecating humor,
08:31most notably in Three Sad Virgins.
08:33However, in September 2025, it was announced that at least on SNL,
08:47Please Don't Destroy would be, well, destroyed,
08:50as they would no longer produce videos for the show.
08:53Higgins would leave completely, while Herlihy would remain as a writer,
08:56and Marshall would join the cast.
08:58This isn't a sleepover, man. This is work. I ordered pizzas to be nice. Three cheese,
09:04three Hawaiian.
09:05Whoa!
09:06Oh my God! Are you kidding me?
09:08The shakeup also included the exit of writers Rosebud Baker and Celeste Yim,
09:13the show's first openly non-binary writer.
09:16Cast members' reactions.
09:18The news of the major departures not only shocked fans, but also former cast members,
09:22and those fortunate enough to keep their jobs.
09:25Why do you have so much cash on you?
09:27Because I go to the strip club at lunch.
09:30That's where I know you from.
09:32Punky Johnson, who had left after season 49,
09:35expressed everything from shock to confusion, but also offered words of comfort.
09:40She encouraged Emil Joaquim to, quote, keep his head up,
09:44calling his sudden exit, quote, a shocker to us all.
09:47What, should we leave?
09:48Absolutely not.
09:50Matter of fact, this is the perfect opportunity to practice expressing our emotion.
09:56Cast members who remained on the show, like Chloe Fineman and Marcelo Hernandez,
10:00also shared their support.
10:02Fineman praised Joaquim as, quote, such a star, and the, quote, best-dressed man at table read.
10:09While Hernandez paid tribute to Longfellow, affectionately referring to him as his, quote,
10:14roommate, even veteran alum Molly Shannon chimed in,
10:18celebrating Longfellow's, quote, excellent run, and wishing him continued success.
10:23Nice car you got there.
10:24I might have to steal that, baby.
10:26I'm just kidding.
10:27But I actually could.
10:28Just kidding.
10:29I'm actually in love with you.
10:30No, I'm not.
10:31After the departures were announced, then came the new additions, Ben Marshall.
10:37Depoachers.
10:39A foot in the door and so much more.
10:42Oh, oh.
10:44How can you guys do that?
10:45Among the new cast members, Ben Marshall is the only one who isn't entirely new.
10:50As mentioned earlier, he first joined SNL in 2021 as part of the comedy trio Please Don't Destroy.
10:57Beyond his work on the show, Marshall has dabbled in acting, with appearances in series like Poker Face.
11:03Here, don't take more than this.
11:07Should take about 30 minutes to kick in and make sure you're not on stage when that happens.
11:12He also starred in Please Don't Destroy's 2023 feature film The Treasure of Foggy Mountain,
11:18which he co-wrote with his fellow group members.
11:20Love you.
11:23Now, love you too.
11:25Did you just look around to see if anyone…
11:27I did not.
11:27You did.
11:28I just saw…
11:28You went both shoulders.
11:30Veronica Slowikowska.
11:31Canadian actor and comedian Veronica Slowikowska gained attention with her hilarious internet sketches
11:37on Instagram and TikTok, where she has built a following of nearly 2 million fans.
11:42Yeah, why are you wearing my running shoes?
11:46I walked a mile in your shoes and I just wanted to stay.
11:50I'm sorry.
11:51But Slowikowska has also had a lot of experience on professional sets.
11:55She appeared in FX's What We Do in the Shadows and had a recurring role in the second season
12:00of the Netflix series Tires, created by the infamously fired SNL cast member Shane Gillis.
12:06Coming in with a strong background in improv, Slowikowska will certainly be a natural fit for the show.
12:22Tommy Brennan.
12:23Me and my dad are in kind of a fun spot right now, because my dad is a doctor, and I don't have health insurance.
12:30Which is fun, because he's like, I don't believe in your career.
12:32I'm like, same here.
12:33Originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, this comedian began performing stand-up full-time in 2023,
12:40the same year he was named New Face of Comedy at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal.
12:45In June 2025, he made his stand-up debut on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon,
12:51a performance that likely caught the attention of SNL producers and earned him a spot on the cast.
12:56I'm overthinking the jacket too, so let's just, I know, let's move past it as a group.
13:02It was an aggressive choice. I just moved to Brooklyn. I'm trying to assimilate.
13:07While stand-up has been his main focus, Brennan also has improv roots,
13:12having trained at the Second City in Chicago before fully committing to stand-up.
13:16He also co-hosts the podcast and web series Roommates-In-Law.
13:20Jeremy Killeen.
13:21Fans of the online comedy platform Dropout will certainly recognize Jeremy Killeen.
13:27The comedian has made numerous appearances on the service over the years,
13:31most notably in the improv hit shows Game Changer and Make Some Noise.
13:35What is photosynthesis?
13:39Is it when the plants start to grow?
13:44Beyond Dropout programming, Killeen also boasts sketch comedy experience,
13:49with a series of skits posted on his social media.
13:52In addition to that, he has also appeared in TV shows like
13:55The Sex Lives of College Girls and American Vandal.
13:58Mr. Giswoldi, the computer teacher, knew it was me because I did it from the computer lab,
14:02and ta-da, here I am, kicked out and living large.
14:07With such a solid foundation in both improv and sketch comedy,
14:11many expect that Killeen will transition his skills seamlessly to the SNL stage.
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14:32Cam Patterson.
14:33When he get to the last guy, he said,
14:34You gonna die at 32 on a scooter.
14:38Well, I'll tell you that.
14:39I mean, Cam Patterson.
14:41That's fine.
14:42Of the newly announced cast members, Cam Patterson is perhaps the most unconventional choice.
14:48The stand-up comedian first gained attention on the live comedy show Kill Tony,
14:52where he quickly became a regular presence.
14:55Known for his edgy, unapologetic style,
14:57Patterson leans towards a conservative perspective,
15:00even crediting Trump's 2024 assassination attempt
15:04with shifting him from a non-voter to a Trump supporter.
15:07I wasn't even like, I wasn't even finna vote.
15:09I'm voting now, dawg.
15:10He got it.
15:11He won.
15:12I wasn't even finna vote.
15:13I had no, I had no skin in the game.
15:15His hiring appears to be Lorne Michaels' latest attempt to appeal to conservative viewers,
15:20a move he previously tried with Shane Gillis in 2019,
15:23although Gillis was almost immediately fired.
15:26Still, Patterson's run on SNL will introduce him to a much broader audience
15:30and boost his profile considerably.
15:33I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm successful.
15:36I'm funny sometimes.
15:37What do you want?
15:39Would you want somebody that's tall?
15:40I can get two intentions.
15:41I can do that.
15:43I'm all in your court, ma'am.
15:45Which cast member are you most sad to see go?
15:48And which of the new hires are you excited for?
15:50Share your thoughts in the comments below.
15:52I told him, if he fights again, I'm taking the kids to my sisters.
15:58So that's where I'll be.
15:59You know now.
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