As we get closer to the Season 51 premiere of Saturday Night Live, this week fans of the show are starting to feel the “cast shakeup” that Lorne Michaels promised in an interview with Matt Beloni of Puck last week. On Monday, writers Celeste Yim and Rosebud Baker as well as cast member Devon Walker took to social media to announce their exits from the show.
Yim, being the first openly non-binary writer for Saturday Night Live, has written some smash hits during their five year tenure at the show. Celeste’s work includes College Panel, Diet Coke by Olay, Fancam Assembly, and so many more that have resonated with the variety show’s Gen-Z audience over the years. The five-time Emmy nominee wrote on Instagram, “I always felt honored to be working within the long tradition of queer writing at the show” attached to a carousel of memories created throughout their time in Studio 8H.
While fans were speculating that Baker announced her departure at a standup gig a couple days prior, she confirmed the news by reposting The SNL Network’s announcement about the rumors. Although her statement wasn’t as personal and sentimental as her colleague’s, she accompanied the sad news by announcing her 2025-2026 national standup tour where tickets can be found at her website https://www.rosebudbaker.com. During her four year tenure, she wrote classics like Old Fashioned Cigarette on Banning Vapes, Inventing Chloe, Trivia Game Show, as well as joined the Weekend Update writing staff for her last season.
Coming as a shock to many fans, cast member Devon Walker revealed his exit by joking “me and baby broke up” in an Instagram post in the early evening. Though Walker’s post was short and simple, similarly to Rosebud’s post, it included a note that explained a little more thoroughly why he wouldn’t be returning for the next season. He wrote, “[J]obs in this industry feel like a bunch of little marriages. […] Permanent until they’re not” adding, “Sometimes it was toxic as hell”. Though Devon was only on the show for three seasons, he managed to star in various successful sketches like Police Station, Barber Shop Talk, and Young Spicy.
On Wednesday, Emil Wakim devastatingly announced that he had been fired from the show after just one season. The first Lebanese-American cast member wrote on Instagram, “[I] won’t be returning to snl next year. [I]t was a gut punch of a call to get but I’m so grateful for my time there”. Although his time at SNL was short-lived, he captivated the show’s younger audience with this appearances on the segment Weekend Update.
After reports that Michael Longfellow and writer KC Shornima were screen-testing to take over the Update desk, Variety broke the news Thursday afternoon that after three seasons Longfellow, the Gen-Z fan favorite, would be exiting the show. The host of The SNL Network, Jon Schneider, confirmed that the Good Burger 2 star had been asked to leave alongside Devon Walker and Emil Wakim. Michael took to social media later in the day to announce the upsetting news on his own terms. He wrote, “Will not be returning for a 4th season at SNL. Wish I was but, so it goes”. I think it’s safe to say his fans share his same disappointment. Similarly to Emil Wakim, Longfellow was best known for his many features on Weekend Update. He was the first cast member since Pete Davidson to be on the segment for his first episode at the show.
In less shocking news, show veteran Heidi Gardener was announced to be exiting SNL after eight seasons. After the end of the show’s 50th season, fans began to speculate that the comedian would be making her exit over the summer due to several heartfelt moments and posts in the spring. Since 2017, Heidi has been a staple at the show. Over the years she’s developed various successful characters at the Update desk like Angel and Bailey Gismert. The Hustle star is also well-known for her love of the Kansas City Chiefs and incorporating that into her work at the show. Last year she went viral after breaking in Beavis and Butt-Head. SNL will definitely feel the weight of her departure.
Despite the absence of these major losses to the historic comedy titian, Celeste Yim, Rosebud Baker, Devon Walker, Emil Wakim, Michael Longfellow, and Heidi Gardner are sure to achieve great success in the years to come. As SNL’s audience waits to hear more about who will be staying and who will be leaving, showrunner Lorne Michaels has given us a flicker of hope. In his rare interview with Puck, he assured viewers that cast member James Austin Johnson would be staying onboard to continue his work as the show’s Donald Trump impressionist. He also added that we would be hearing more about the roster throughout the coming weeks. Who do you think is next on the chopping block?
