Bowen Yang Stays at 'SNL': Lorne Michaels' Encouragement Amid Cast Changes
Bowen Yang is confirmed to return to "Saturday Night Live" (SNL) for its upcoming Season 51, despite recent cast shakeups. Yang revealed that a conversation with Lorne Michaels, the show's creator, played a key role in his decision.
Lorne Michaels' Three-Word Message
Yang shared with People magazine that he questioned his future on the show, fearing audience fatigue. However, Lorne Michaels reassured him, saying, "You have more to do. I need you." This message, according to Yang, was a significant factor in his choice to remain on "SNL."
“Even Lorne and I talked about it, and Lorne was like, ‘You have more to do,’ and that means a lot, because I even confessed to him, I was like, ‘I feel the audience is maybe getting sick of me.’ And he was like, ‘That’s not true. There’s more for you to do. I need you.’”
Yang emphasized his deep gratitude to Michaels and the show, stating, "That man has changed my life, and I owe a lot of my life to that show. And I love working there, the people are the best. I really love each of them so much."
'SNL' Season 51: Departures and New Additions
Season 51 of "SNL" will see significant changes. Several cast members, including Heidi Gardner and Ego Nwodim, have departed. New cast members Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson, and Veronika Slowikowska will be joining the show. Ben Marshall, previously a writer with the comedy group "Please Don't Destroy," has been promoted to a cast member.
- Departures: Heidi Gardner, Ego Nwodim, Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker, Emil Wakim, and writers Ben Higgins and Celeste Yim.
- New Cast Members: Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson, Veronika Slowikowska, and Ben Marshall.
Chloe Fineman described the shakeups as "pretty wild," noting the transitional nature of "SNL."
Bowen Yang's 'SNL' Journey
Bowen Yang started as a writer on "SNL" in 2018 and became a cast member in 2019. He is known for memorable characters like the iceberg that sunk the Titanic and Moo Deng on "Weekend Update." In 2021, Yang became the first featured player on the show to be nominated for an acting Emmy. He is nominated for an Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Emmy at the 2025 Primetime Emmys.
'SNL' Returns October 4th, 2025
"Saturday Night Live" returns for its 51st season on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at 11:30/10:30c on NBC and Peacock. In the meantime, viewers can catch the 2025 Primetime Emmys on September 14. The show is nominated for 30 Emmys this year.
How to Watch SNL
Stream sketches from every single episode of Saturday Night Live on Peacock anytime, as well as SNL50: The Anniversary Special, the four-part Beyond Saturday Night docuseries, and more.