SNL's New Era: Big Changes Ahead of Season 51
NEW YORK — The world's most popular comedy show, Saturday Night Live (SNL), is set to kick off its 51st season with some big surprises and new beginnings. Fan-favorite comedy group Please Don't Destroy will no longer produce the show's iconic digital shorts, leaving fans in shock.
The three SNL artists — Ben Marshall, John Higgins and Martin Herlihy — first joined the show in 2021 and quickly became popular for their unique comedic style. They have often been compared to "The Lonely Island." Now, Marshall has cemented his place on the show as a cast member, Herlihy will remain on the team as a writer, and Higgins has bid farewell entirely to focus on other acting projects.
The cast is also adding several new faces this time around, including Kam Patterson, Veronika Slivkoska, Tommy Brennan and Jeremy Culhane. The additions come at a time when several old faces have left the show, including Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, Emile Walkham and Devon Walker. Gardner’s departure in particular has left fans disappointed, as she had been on the show since 2017 and became the longest-serving female cast member last season.
The changes behind the scenes have not been infrequent. Two writers, Rose Budd Baker and Celeste Yim, who played prominent roles on the show, have also departed. They said the pressure of the work was intense but they were still grateful for the SNL experience.
Show creator Lorne Michaels has hinted that more changes are possible for Season 51, although he also made it clear that James Austin Johnson will continue his famous Donald Trump impersonation.
The new season of SNL starts on October 4, and fans will get to see a completely new look this time. With the departure of old artists and the arrival of new talent, this season could prove to be the beginning of a new era for the show. Pakistani fans are also eagerly waiting to see how Saturday Night Live makes viewers laugh this time.