Bowen Yang will leave NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” midway through its current season, with his final appearance set for Saturday’s episode hosted by pop star and actor Ariana Grande, according to the Associated Press.
The departure marks the end of a seven-year run for Yang, who joined the long-running sketch comedy show as a writer in 2018, became a featured player the following season, and was promoted to the main cast two years later. Over his tenure, Yang emerged as one of the program’s most visible performers, earning five Emmy nominations and a devoted fan base.
An “SNL” representative declined to comment on the decision on Friday. Representatives for Yang did not respond to emailed requests for comment.
In an Instagram post shared Saturday, Yang reflected on his time at the show, writing that he loved the work and, above all, the people. He described his years at 30 Rockefeller Plaza as a period that taught him the importance of continuing to show up, even when the wider world felt discouraging.
The 35-year-old appeared in promotional videos for the episode alongside Grande and musical guest Cher, sharing a lighthearted moment with Grande after being playfully slapped by Cher.
A season marked by cast changes
Yang’s exit follows a significant turnover ahead of the Oct. 4 premiere of Season 51. Several cast members, including Ego Nwodim, Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker, Emil Wakim, and John Higgins, departed over the summer, making this one of the show’s more transitional periods in recent years.
While Yang’s mid-season departure surprised some viewers, it was not entirely unexpected. In a September interview with People, he said he had discussed the possibility of leaving with “SNL” creator and executive producer Lorne Michaels. At the time, Yang chose to remain after Michaels encouraged him to stay.
Yang recounted expressing concern that audiences might be tiring of him, a notion Michaels dismissed. According to Yang, Michaels told him there was still more work to do and emphasized how much he was needed on the show. Yang later said Michaels had fundamentally changed his life and that he felt deep gratitude toward both the producer and his colleagues.
Mid-season exits are relatively rare but not unprecedented at “SNL.” Cecily Strong left the show in December 2022 after a decade-long run.
Breakout roles and signature characters
During his time on “SNL,” Yang became known for a range of memorable characters and sharp satirical performances, particularly on the “Weekend Update” segment, which he has cited as his favorite part of the show. Among his most talked-about bits was his portrayal of the Titanic iceberg, a surreal monologue that quickly went viral and helped cement his breakout status.
Other notable roles included sketches lampooning disgraced former congressman George Santos, an irreverent take on an Oompa Loompa, and various pop culture and political spoofs, including a parody of Vice President JD Vance. His work often blended absurdity with pointed cultural commentary, contributing to the show’s digital popularity in recent seasons.
In an October interview with Esquire, Yang said he sometimes felt his work was narrowly defined by others through the lens of his identity. While acknowledging the importance of representation, he pushed back against the idea that his comedy could be reduced solely to being queer or Asian, saying such labels did not fully capture the range of his work.
Yang, the son of Chinese immigrants, was featured on Esquire’s cover this fall. In the accompanying interview, he suggested that work no longer held the same central place in his life, emphasizing instead the value of friendships and creative freedom without feeling constrained by constant output.
Expanding career beyond Studio 8H
Outside of “SNL,” Yang has built a growing career across film, television, and podcasting. He co-hosts the pop culture podcast “Las Culturistas” with fellow comedian Matt Rogers, a show that has developed a strong following for its mix of humor and commentary.
Yang appeared this year in the film adaptations “Wicked” and “Wicked: For Good,” playing the character Pfannee, and co-starred in the remake of “The Wedding Banquet.” His recent credits also include “Dicks: The Musical” in 2023, “Fire Island” in 2022, and a recurring role on Comedy Central’s “Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens” from 2020 to 2023.
Last summer, Yang and Rogers hosted the spoof Las Culturistas Culture Awards on Bravo. In a recent Instagram post, Yang said the pair would return with more pop culture-focused comedy for the awards next year.
Looking ahead after ‘SNL’
Yang has spoken candidly about the emotional complexity of leaving a show that shaped his career. He has credited fellow former cast member Kristen Wiig with offering advice that stayed with him: to enjoy the job fully, knowing how much it would be missed once it ended.
While Yang has not publicly detailed his next steps following “SNL,” his expanding slate of projects suggests he will continue to work across multiple platforms. His departure adds to a period of change for the iconic sketch show as it moves deeper into its 51st season, recalibrating its cast while maintaining its place in American television.
For Yang, the mid-season farewell appears less like an abrupt ending and more like a carefully considered transition — closing one chapter while leaving room for what comes next.
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