‘SNL’ Cast Members Leaving The Show: Who Will Stay Next Season & Who Will Go

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October 12, 2023 5:02PM EDT
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‘SNL’ season 49 will begin on October 14. Find out who’s going to be in the cast here!

With the WGA writers’ strike ended, Saturday Night Live is set to return for its 49th season on Saturday, October 14, after season 48 was cut short. The new season is set to premiere with Pete Davidson making his return as host with Ice Spice as the musical guest.

Other than Pete’s return as a host, fans are looking forward to seeing what familiar and new faces will be featured from Studio 8H at 30 Rock. Before season 48, the cast saw the largest exodus since 1995 with eight people announcing that they’d be going. Cecily Strong left in the middle of season 48. For season 49, there has only been one new cast member announced Chloe Troast.

Before SNL returns, here are all the cast members you can expect to see.

1 of 16

Leaving: Cecily Strong

Leaving: Cecily Strong
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While there were no departures in between seasons, the only cast member from season 48 who will not return is Cecily Strong. She left the show after 10 years halfway through season 48. 

October 12, 2023, 4:57PM
2 of 16

Kenan Thompson

Kenan Thompson
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Starting with the repertory players. Kenan Thompson will return to continue to hold his title as the longest-running ‘SNL’ cast member. Besides the new season, Kenan will also be featured in the upcoming sequel to his classic movie ‘Good Burger.

October 12, 2023, 3:57PM
3 of 16

Michael Che and Colin Jost

Michael Che and Colin Jost
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Michael Che and Colin Jost will continue to hold things down at the ‘Weekend Update’ desk. The comedic talents will surely play off each other for plenty of laughs this season. 

October 12, 2023, 3:57PM
4 of 16

Mikey Day

Mikey Day
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A master of impressions! Mikey Day will return for his seventh season as a cast member. Aside from his work on ‘SNL’, Mikey is also the host of the Netflix show, ‘Is It Cake?’

October 12, 2023, 3:57PM
5 of 16

Andrew Dismukes

Andrew Dismukes
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Andrew Dismukes has plenty of experience in Studio 8H. He’s been writing for ‘SNL’ since season 43, and he’s been a cast member since season 46

October 12, 2023, 3:57PM
6 of 16

Chloe Fineman

Chloe Fineman
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One of the breakout stars for her many celebrity impressions, Chloe Fineman will continue to bring hilarity this season. Outside of the show, she’s also co-hosted the Met Gala red carpet, and she was very active on the picket line during the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. 

October 12, 2023, 3:57PM
7 of 16

Heidi Gardner

Heidi Gardner
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Heidi Gardner will appear in her sixth season on ‘SNL.’ She’ll surely bring many new and hilarious original characters to her sketches this year. 

October 12, 2023, 3:57PM
8 of 16

James Austin Johnson

James Austin Johnson
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With 2024 being an election year, we’ll surely see plenty of James Austin Johnson. The comic had hilarious impressions of both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump in previous years. 

October 12, 2023, 3:57PM
9 of 16

Punkie Johnson

Punkie Johnson
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Punkie Johnson is returning for her third season. Between last season and this one, Punkie made her feature film debut in ‘Bottoms.’

October 12, 2023, 3:57PM
10 of 16

Ego Nwodim

Ego Nwodim
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Ego Nwodim was no stranger to TV when she joined the cast of ‘SNL’ in 2018. She’s appeared in many different series throughout her career, including ‘Two Broke Girls’ and ‘Law & Order True Crime: The Menedez Murders.’  

October 12, 2023, 3:57PM
11 of 16

Bowen Yang

Bowen Yang
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Bowen Yang has skyrocketed to fame since joining the cast in 2019. Outside of the show, he’s appeared in hit movies like ‘Bros’ and ‘Fire Island’ as well as many other hit TV shows. 

October 12, 2023, 3:57PM
12 of 16

Sarah Sherman

Sarah Sherman
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Sarah Sherman a.k.a. Sarah Squirm has been a hit on ‘SNL’ for her hilarious surreal style of comedy. She also recently starred alongside ‘SNL’ alum Adam Sandler in the teen comedy ‘You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah.’

October 12, 2023, 3:57PM
13 of 16

Marcello Hernandez

Marcello Hernandez
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Moving on to the featured players. Marcello Hernandez was one of many new faces to join in 2022. He made a handful of appearances telling jokes at the ‘Weekend Update’ desk. 

October 12, 2023, 3:57PM
14 of 16

Michael Longfellow

Michael Longfellow
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Michael Longfellow also joined in 2022, and he has also been successful at the ‘Weekend Update’ desk. He’s talked about having anti-vax family members for hilarious jokes. 

October 12, 2023, 3:57PM
15 of 16

Devon Walker

Devon Walker
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Devon Walker also became a featured player in 2022. Prior to joining the cast, he’d already worked with some of the show’s alums as a writer on the animated Netflix show ‘Big Mouth.’

October 12, 2023, 3:57PM
16 of 16

Molly Kearney

Molly Kearney
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Molly Kearney made history when they joined the cast in 2022. They are the first openly non-binary castmember in ‘SNL’ history. 

October 12, 2023, 4:23PM