‘Saturday Night Live’ Wraps Season 51 With No Cast Goodbyes In Finale, Leaving Changes For Offseason
The Season 51 finale of 'Saturday Night Live' featured Will Ferrell as host but did not include any cast farewells, leaving potential changes to be determined during the offseason. Longtime cast members like Colin Jost, Michael Che, and Kenan Thompson remain under contract, with no public indications of imminent departures. The show continues to balance veteran presence with rising featured players like Ashley Padilla.
- ▪Will Ferrell hosted the Season 51 finale, marking a nostalgic return without any cast goodbye moments.
- ▪Colin Jost and Michael Che performed their full 'Joke Swap' segment, but ended without a traditional sign-off.
- ▪Kenan Thompson, the longest-tenured cast member, had only a brief cameo, while Mikey Day and Ashley Padilla were prominently featured.
- ▪There has been little internal discussion about cast departures, and most veterans are expected to return for the next season.
- ▪Lorne Michaels has been occupied with the launch of 'Saturday Night Live UK,' potentially delaying cast decisions until later in the summer.
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| Canonical URL | https://deadline.com/2026/05/saturday-night-live-season-51-finale-leaving-52-cast-changes-1236907003/ |
| Publication time | Sun, 17 May 2026 06:37:00 +0000 |
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'Saturday Night Live' NBC The host of the Saturday Night Live‘s Season 51 finale, Will Ferrell, exemplifies the typical trajectory of a successful SNL cast member: He spent seven seasons on the NBC late-night comedy program before embarking on a big Hollywood career. Things have changed over the past decade, with popular cast members staying longer than the standard six or seven years while juggling SNL with other film and TV projects. Related Stories Late Night TV Will Ferrell Shows Up As Jeffrey Epstein To Yuk It Up With Old Pal Trump For Blistering ‘SNL’ Cold Open Late Night TV Weekend Update Joke Swap’s Biggest Casualty Was Nearly Colin Jost’s “Award-Winning” Hair: “Send In The Barber” There are currently six veterans who have been on the show for six or more seasons: Colin Jost (13),…
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