Ego Nwodim Departs 'SNL' Amid Cast Shake-Up for Season 51
Ego Nwodim has announced her departure from "Saturday Night Live" (SNL) after seven seasons, joining a list of cast members exiting the long-running sketch show as it prepares for its 51st season. The news comes alongside announcements of new additions to the cast and returning veterans.
Nwodim's Farewell and Impact
In a statement shared on social media, Nwodim expressed gratitude to Lorne Michaels, her castmates, writers, and crew. "The hardest part of a great party is knowing when to say goodnight," she wrote, reflecting on her "unforgettable seasons" on the show. She gained prominence during her time on SNL, with one of her sketches even going viral and creating some live expletives from the audience in a call-and-response bit. Nwodim also has other projects including the Netflix film “Little Brother” and the Peacock series “Poker Face.”
Other Cast Departures and Additions
Nwodim’s departure follows earlier announcements that Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker, and Emil Wakim would also be leaving SNL. News of the cast exits was met with reactions from fellow cast members, including Bowen Yang, who praised Heidi Gardner as "one of the greats" on his "Las Culturistas" podcast. He noted her reliability and the contributions she made to other cast members, and even mentioned she wrote "Weekend Update" features.
To fill the gaps, SNL has added five new comedians to its cast for Season 51: Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Ben Marshall, Kam Patterson, and Veronika Slowikowska.
Returning Cast Members and Season 51 Plans
Despite the departures, several key cast members are set to return for Season 51. Michael Che and Colin Jost will continue to anchor "Weekend Update." Other returning cast members include Mikey Day, Andrew Dismukes, Chloe Fineman, Marcello Hernandez, James Austin Johnson, Sarah Sherman, Kenan Thompson, and Bowen Yang. The departures from SNL after Season 50 didn't materialize to be like those of Season 47, which had eight cast members leave.
Looking Ahead to Season 51
With a mix of fresh faces and returning favorites, "Saturday Night Live" is gearing up for its 51st season, which kicks off on October 4.
