Big ‘SNL’ Shakeup: One More Star To Say Goodbye After This Weekend

Bowen Yang is leaving Saturday Night Live in the middle of his eighth season. His final episode will air this Saturday, which is hosted by his Wicked co-star Ariana Grande with Cher as the musical guest.

Yang began his career at SNL as a writer in 2018 during Season 44. He became a featured player in Season 45 and was promoted to the main cast starting in Season 47. Over the years, he earned multiple Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Comedy Actor in 2021, 2022, 2024, and 2025.

His exit comes amid a larger wave of departures from the show ahead of Season 51, which started on October 4. Recent exits included Ego Nwodim, Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker, Emil Wakim, and John Higgins. Notably, midseason exits are unusual for SNL, though past stars like Cecily Strong, Molly Shannon, Dana Carvey, Eddie Murphy, and Norm Macdonald have left midseason for various reasons.

Outside of SNL, Yang is well-known for co-hosting the pop culture podcast Las Culturistas with comedian Matt Rogers. He also starred in Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens from 2020 to 2023. His film and theater work includes roles in Wicked, Wicked: For Good, The Wedding Banquet (2025), Dicks: The Musical (2023), and Fire Island (2022).

Yang’s departure marks the end of an era for SNL fans who have enjoyed his unique comedic voice for several seasons. Personally, I think Bowen brought a fresh energy to the show, blending sharp wit with pop culture savvy. Do you think SNL will feel different without him? Share your thoughts in the comments.