Bowen Yang quits ‘Saturday Night Live’ after six years
Bowen Yang is bidding farewell to “Saturday Night Live” after joining the show in 2018 and rising from writer to fan-favorite standout cast member.
Bowen Yang is leaving Studio 8H.
USA TODAY has learned that the 35-year-old Yang, who enjoyed great success on the show, will be leaving the cast of Saturday Night Live during Season 51. According to reports from Today.com and People, Yang will be leaving the show after the December 20th episode.
USA TODAY has reached out to SNL and Yang for comment.
The comedian joined the cast of “SNL” in 2018 and quickly gained a cult fan base, going from writer to featured contestant to Gold Star cast member.
His unexpected farewell comes as the show enters its 51st season and follows several high-profile departures. Ego Nwodim and Heidi Gardner, who starred on the famous sketch comedy show for several years, shocked fans by announcing they would not be returning before its October premiere. Their departures come amid a wave of departures, including Michael Longfellow and Emir Wakim.
“SNL” is widely known as one of the most popular comedy shows in the industry, and many stars have since used their appearances on the show to gain wider fame. Amy Poehler, Tina Fey and Maya Rudolph are just a few of the names that once appeared on the list after the famous “Live from New York” announcement.
Yang, on the other hand, appears to be in a position to make that transition easier. With co-starring roles in both Wicked and Wicked Part 2, there’s little doubt that the comedian is a true performer on the big screen. His podcast, “Las Culturistas,” which he co-hosts with his friend Matt Rogers, has also received independent praise.
iHeart Media shows regularly feature big stars like Reese Witherspoon and former first lady Michelle Obama, and spawned the popular awards show that now airs on Bravo.
News of Yang’s departure comes as her Wicked co-star Ariana Grande is scheduled to host the show this Saturday, December 20th, and Cher is scheduled to appear as a musical guest. Before leaving the role, at the 2024 Writers Guild of America Awards ceremony, Yang mentioned Cher’s name as her dream SNL host, telling USA TODAY, “Cher. It’ll always be Cher.”
Contributor: Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY
