After it was revealed {that a} handful of solid members of Saturday Evening Dwell weren’t returning for season 51 of the beloved sketch comedy present, one key participant has been confirmed to be returning by his personal spouse. Devon Walker, Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, and Emil Wakim will all be exiting the present earlier than season 51 commences manufacturing, and Please Do not Destroy’s John Higgins is departing as effectively.
SNL has added 5 new solid members for season 51, together with Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Ben Marshall, Kam Patterson, and Veronika Slowikowska. The primary episode of the long-running sketch comedy sequence’ new season will premiere on Saturday, October 4, 2025, on NBC and also will be obtainable to stream on Peacock. Kenan Thompson has now been on the present for the longest of any solid member, with 22 years.
Colin Jost, who’s a “Weekend Update” host, has been confirmed as returning to SNL for season 51 by his spouse, beloved actress Scarlett Johansson. Johansson spoke solely with Leisure Weekly whereas selling her directorial debut, Eleanor the Nice, and she or he was questioned about whether or not Jost was returning.
Johannsson responded with an affirmative however transient reply that confirmed Jost was not leaving the present. Take a look at Johansson’s remark under:
Scarlett Johansson: “He’s going back to work.”
What This Means For SNL
Colin Jost throughout Weekend Replace on Saturday Evening Dwell.
Customized Picture by Yailin Chacon
Along with the departure of 5 of its solid members, SNL can be shedding a author, Celeste Yim. Yim made historical past once they grew to become the primary overtly non-binary author for the acclaimed comedy present. Yim made a heartfelt assertion relating to their departure, however described the work expertise as troublesome.
Colin Jost first joined SNL as a employees author in 2005.
Yim will not be the one particular person not returning for SNL who has claimed the present has a poisonous surroundings. Walker opened up briefly about his expertise with toxicity within the office whereas serving as a solid member on the present. Additionally, Wakim implied on social media that he was fired from the present somewhat than leaving, which exhibits SNL could also be purposely trying to reinvent itself with new gamers.
Our Take On Colin Jost Returning To SNL
Based mostly on Johansson’s feedback, Jost is returning to SNL, and that may be a constructive growth as a result of the present appears to be altering rigorously, and retaining Jost will maintain some familiarity throughout the present. Having 4 solid members go away and including 5 new ones who’re very completely different politically and socially from the departed feels pointed.
Hopefully, SNL doesn’t change too drastically, as a result of it’s a present that brings so many individuals pleasure and has been that for such an extended whereas, and it comprises a system that retains it profitable. Shaking up the solid may impression the system of the present, however retaining acquainted faces like Jost and Thompson on Saturday Evening Dwell may stabilize the state of affairs.