The SNL Season 51 Shakeup: Meet The New 2024-2025 Cast And The Surprise Departures
The world of live sketch comedy has been rocked by another major cast shakeup, with Saturday Night Live officially announcing its lineup for the highly anticipated 2024–2025 season (Season 51). This year’s transition is one of the most significant in recent memory, featuring the departure of several beloved veterans and the introduction of a fresh wave of comedic talent ready to take on Studio 8H. As of late 2025, the show is gearing up for its new run with a mix of established stars, record-holders, and five brand-new voices.
The latest cast roster confirms a changing of the guard, balancing the stability of long-tenured repertory players like Kenan Thompson and the Weekend Update anchors with an infusion of stand-up and viral sketch artists. Fans are eager to see how the new featured players will fill the void left by some major departures and what new recurring characters will emerge from this dynamic ensemble.
The Complete SNL Season 51 (2024-2025) Cast Roster
The ensemble for the 2024–2025 season is a blend of seasoned repertory players and a promising group of featured performers. This lineup is set to guide the show through its landmark 51st season, continuing the tradition of political satire and pop culture commentary. The cast is divided into two tiers: Repertory Players (full cast members) and Featured Players (first-time or newer cast members).
Repertory Players
- Kenan Thompson: The longest-running cast member in SNL history, returning for his record 22nd season.
- Michael Che: Co-anchor of Weekend Update and co-head writer.
- Colin Jost: Co-anchor of Weekend Update and co-head writer.
- Mikey Day: Known for his impressions and recurring characters like the "Guy Who Just Bought a Boat."
- Andrew Dismukes: A strong writer-performer who has grown into a reliable presence.
- Chloe Fineman: Master impressionist, celebrated for her spot-on celebrity parodies.
- Marcello Hernández: A breakout star from recent seasons, known for his charismatic energy and cultural commentary.
- James Austin Johnson: Widely recognized as the show's premier political impressionist, especially for his uncanny Donald Trump.
- Ego Nwodim: A veteran performer with a deep bench of memorable characters and impressions.
- Sarah Sherman: Known for her unique, absurdist, and often loud-mouthed comedy style.
- Cecily Strong: A veteran who has continued to return for select appearances, though her full-time status is often fluid.
- Bowen Yang: A cultural phenomenon and Emmy-nominated performer, known for his unique characters and strong Weekend Update segments.
- Ben Marshall: Promoted from the writing staff and the "Please Don't Destroy" trio to a full repertory player.
Featured Players
- Tommy Brennan: A stand-up comedian from the Chicago and New York circuits, named a "New Face" at Just For Laughs.
- Jeremy Culhane: An improv and sketch comedian with a strong background in the digital comedy space.
- Kam Patterson: An Austin-based stand-up comic who gained prominence as a regular on the popular podcast Kill Tony.
- Veronika Slowikowska: A Canadian comedian and actress known for her viral internet sketches, marking a return for Canadian talent to the cast.
- Molly Kearney: Returning for their second season, continuing to build their character repertoire.
The Shocking Cast Departures Ahead of Season 51
Every major season of Saturday Night Live brings with it a wave of goodbyes, and the transition into Season 51 has been particularly impactful. The show saw the departure of several key players who had become integral to the show's recent success, leaving fans with a mixture of sadness and anticipation for their next career moves. The exits of three prominent cast members—Heidi Gardner, Devon Walker, and Michael Longfellow—were the most discussed in the comedy world.
Heidi Gardner: The Character Queen
Heidi Gardner’s departure ends a seven-year run that saw her develop some of the most memorable and bizarre recurring characters of the past decade. Gardner was a master of the grotesque and the specific, turning seemingly small roles into iconic figures. Her most celebrated characters include the perpetually confused teen film critic Bailey Gismert, the gravel-voiced Angel (every boxer’s girlfriend), and the overly earnest Goop staffer Baskin Johns. Her exit leaves a significant void in the show’s character-driven sketches. She reportedly left to pursue other projects, following the traditional path of successful SNL alumni.
Devon Walker and Michael Longfellow: Brief but Bright Runs
The departures of Devon Walker and Michael Longfellow after relatively short stints were a surprise to many. Walker, known for his calm, dry delivery and sharp observational humor, was often praised for his unique comedic voice. Longfellow quickly established himself as a talented stand-up comic and a strong presence on Weekend Update, often delivering snarky, self-deprecating commentary. Their exits, alongside others like Punkie Johnson, Molly Kearney, and Chloe Troast, signal Lorne Michaels's commitment to a major generational overhaul for Season 51. Devon Walker, in particular, shared on social media that entertainment jobs can be "little life chapters," suggesting a move to new creative endeavors.
The New Faces: Stand-Up, Viral Sketches, and a PDD Promotion
The new class of Featured Players is arguably the most diverse and exciting group of hires in years, reflecting the modern comedy landscape where talent is discovered across stand-up clubs, improv stages, and viral video platforms. The five new additions, including the promotion of a key writer, are set to define the show's comedic identity for the next few seasons.
Ben Marshall: The Please Don't Destroy Crossover
One of the biggest internal moves is the promotion of Ben Marshall from writer to full repertory cast member. Marshall is one-third of the viral sketch comedy trio Please Don't Destroy (alongside John Higgins and Martin Herlihy). While the trio has been responsible for some of the show's most popular pre-taped digital shorts in recent years, Marshall’s promotion signifies a new, more integrated role on the live stage. This move is reminiscent of past writer-to-cast transitions and suggests a continued emphasis on the PDD style of absurdist, meta-comedy.
Stand-Up Stars: Tommy Brennan and Kam Patterson
The show is leaning heavily into the stand-up world with the hiring of Tommy Brennan and Kam Patterson. Brennan is a New York-based stand-up who honed his craft in the rigorous Chicago comedy scene and was recognized at the 2023 Just For Laughs festival. Patterson, an Orlando native who moved to the burgeoning Austin comedy scene, is best known for his frequent, fan-favorite appearances on the popular stand-up podcast Kill Tony, giving him a pre-existing, dedicated fanbase. Both bring a raw, road-tested stand-up edge to the ensemble.
Veronika Slowikowska and Jeremy Culhane: Digital and Improv Powerhouses
Rounding out the new Featured Players are two comedians with strong sketch and digital backgrounds. Veronika Slowikowska is a Canadian comedian who gained significant online traction for her original, quirky internet sketches. Her hiring marks the first Canadian comic to join the cast since 1998, a significant nod to the show's roots. Jeremy Culhane, an alumnus of Texas Christian University (TCU), is known for his sharp improv background and has also found success as a viral TikTok comedian. These hires demonstrate Lorne Michaels’ strategy of pulling talent from every corner of the modern comedy world, from traditional improv to new media.
The Veterans: The Anchors of Studio 8H
While the departures generate headlines, the core strength of SNL lies in its veterans. The return of the show’s most established stars ensures a stable foundation for the new cast to build upon. Kenan Thompson, now entering his 22nd season, continues his incredible run as the show’s longest-tenured performer, an unparalleled feat of longevity and versatility. His presence alone is a constant source of reliable comedy.
Furthermore, the return of Colin Jost and Michael Che to the Weekend Update desk provides the necessary continuity for the show's political and topical satire. Their decade-long partnership is one of the most successful in the segment's history, offering a steady, two-sided comedic perspective on the week's news. The continued success of breakout stars like Bowen Yang, Marcello Hernández, and Chloe Fineman means that the show's impressions and character work remain in excellent hands, promising a Season 51 that is both familiar and excitingly new.
The 2024–2025 cast is a fascinating mix of old-school talent and new-school energy. The significant shakeup, featuring the departure of fan-favorites and the introduction of a new class of stand-up and digital stars, suggests that Season 51 is poised to be one of the most transformative in Saturday Night Live history. All eyes are now on Studio 8H to see which of the new faces will emerge as the next generation of comedic superstars.
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