SNL Season 51 Cast Members Revealed: Returning Favorites, Departures & Fresh Faces for the 2025 Premiere

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE SEASON 51 CAST SHAKE-UP: WHO’S IN, WHO’S OUT, AND WHAT TO EXPECT ON OCTOBER 4 Studio 8H is gearing up for one of its biggest overhauls in years. NBC has confirmed five new featured players for Saturday Night Live’s season 51 debut on October 4, 2025, at 11:30 p.m. ET: Ben Marshall, Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson, and Veronika Slowikowska. Their arrivals follow the exits of longtime staple Heidi Gardner and rising comics Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker, and Emil Wakim, who each confirmed their departures in late August. NEW FEATURED PLAYERS AT A GLANCE • Ben Marshall – Co-founder of Please Don’t Destroy, SNL’s in-house digital short trio; promoted from writer to on-camera performer. • Tommy Brennan – Just for Laughs “New Face” 2023; known for high-energy stand-up on The Tonight Show. • Jeremy Culhane – Viral TikTok comedian and Dropout TV regular with UCB roots. • Kam Patterson – Orlando-bred stand-up and Kill Tony favorite; appears in Netflix’s upcoming “72 Hours.” • Veronika Slowikowska – Canadian sketch star with one-million-plus Instagram followers; credits include “What We Do in the Shadows” and “Tires.” DEPARTURES THAT OPENED THE DOOR After helping shepherd the landmark 50th season, veterans Heidi Gardner (eight seasons) and Michael Longfellow (three seasons) opted to move on. Newer players Devon Walker and Emil Wakim also received “gut-punch” calls that their contracts would not be renewed. Lorne Michaels hinted in August that “a lot of change” was imminent once the anniversary festivities ended, promising a refreshed lineup ahead of the election cycle. WHO’S STAYING Returning repertory and featured cast include Kenan Thompson, Colin Jost, Michael Che, Mikey Day, Bowen Yang, Ego Nwodim, Chloe Fineman, Andrew Dismukes, Sarah Sherman, James Austin Johnson, and Marcello Hernandez. Thompson—now entering his record-extending 23rd season—acknowledged the turnover as “bittersweet” but typical of SNL’s rhythm. WHY THIS CAST MATTERS 1. Digital-native reach: Marshall, Culhane, and Slowikowska bring millions of Gen Z followers, positioning SNL to dominate TikTok and Instagram highlight culture. 2. Stand-up credibility: Brennan and Patterson infuse fresh live-room energy, essential for cold opens and Weekend Update chemistry. 3. Election-year playground: With Donald Trump impressions locked to James Austin Johnson, the new voices expand the bench for political satire. WHAT TO WATCH FOR ON PREMIERE NIGHT • First impression: Expect at least one Please Don’t Destroy-style digital short featuring Marshall to introduce the cohort. • Debut Weekend Update bits: Che and Jost traditionally give rookies a quick desk segment to showcase a signature character. • Host synergy: NBC has not yet revealed the season-opener host, but past patterns suggest an A-list actor or musician with viral potential. HOW TO TUNE IN Saturday Night Live season 51 premieres live coast-to-coast on NBC and streams simultaneously on Peacock at 11:30 p.m. ET / 8:30 p.m. PT on October 4. Live episodes will continue to stream on Peacock next-day for on-demand viewing. BOTTOM LINE Searches for “SNL cast members season 51” are surging because the show is undergoing its most dramatic personnel shift since the early 2010s. With five fresh faces, four notable exits, and a presidential election looming, season 51 is poised to redefine late-night comedy’s power rankings—and viewers won’t have to wait long to see whether the gamble pays off on October 4.