Big changes are coming to Saturday Night Live as the show prepares for its milestone 50th season, which premieres on September 28. Three comedians have been cut from the cast, while three new faces will be joining the lineup.
The new featured players are Ashley Padilla, Emil Wakim, and Jane Wickline. Meanwhile, Marcello Hernandez, Michael Longfellow, and Devon Walker, who were previously featured players, have been promoted to the main cast.
However, Chloe Troast, another featured player, will not be returning after just one season. Troast shared the news on Instagram, saying, “I wish I was going back to be with all the amazing friends I made there, it truly felt like home. But it wasn’t in the cards.”
In addition to Troast, cast members Punkie Johnson and Molly Kearney have also been let go ahead of the 50th season.
Kearney, who made history as the show’s first nonbinary cast member, expressed gratitude for their time on SNL, while Johnson noted that her departure was mutual. “There are no hard feelings,” Johnson said, adding, “I didn’t really feel like I fit.”
As for the new comedians joining the cast, they bring a range of comedic backgrounds. Ashley Padilla is a member of the Groundlings sketch troupe and has appeared on Curb Your Enthusiasm and NBC’s Night Court.
Jane Wickline has gained a sizable following on TikTok, where she creates character-based sketches and participates in the TikTok comedy show Stapleview.
Stand-up comedian Emil Wakim, who has opened for Roy Wood Jr., Nikki Glaser, and Hasan Minhaj, made his television debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in 2022.
Known for his sharp, observational humor, Wakim jokes about his Lebanese-American heritage, including a bit on the Israel-Palestine conflict, quipping that he “looks like both sides.”
SNL returns just in time to cover the final stretch of the presidential race. Maya Rudolph is expected to reprise her role as Kamala Harris, while James Austin Johnson will likely continue his portrayal of Donald Trump.
However, it remains unclear who will play the vice-presidential picks, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance or Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
Though fans have suggested Steve Martin for Walz due to their physical resemblance, Martin declined, stating, “I’m not an impressionist.”
Several possible contenders for the roles, including Paul Giamatti, Lewis Black, and Danny DeVito for Walz, and Aidy Bryant, Taran Killam, and Zach Galifianakis for Vance are presented.
Meanwhile, comedian Tim Heidecker, eager to take on the role of Vance, even created an audition tape featuring himself in heavy eyeliner to campaign for the part.