Saturday Night Live went several seasons without losing any Not Ready for Primetime Players, but before this season started, they lost more than their fair share.
Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant, Kyle Mooney, Pete Davidson, Alex Moffat, Melissa Villaseñor, Aristotle Athari, and Chris Redd all said their goodbyes before September. And yesterday, they lost one more. Cecily Strong announced that she will not be part of the variety show in 2023.
“My heart is bursting. I have a lot of big huge life changing love to unpack, so this is what I can say tonight 💙,” she said. “I’m sorry I’ve been a little quiet about it publicly. I didn’t want the extra pressure on something already so emotional for me. And I’m so grateful I got to have these wonderful past six shows to help me ease into it and get to meet and laugh and probably overly hug Molly, Marcello, Devon, and Michael who I think are not only brilliantly funny but really great humans. I am ready to go, but I’ll always know home is here. I’ve had the time of my life working with the greatest people on earth.”
Strong had been on SNL for 11 seasons. Who do you think will be next?
“As many of our fans know Nick [Zinner] has had pneumonia over the past month and it’s been an up and down recovery process. The band’s top priority is supporting Nick through a full recovery,” the band said in a statement. “We are deeply thankful and expectedly heartbroken we cannot rise to these occasions. It’s been a tough week, and it’s been a tough year on the health front for us alongside so many artists who are committed to connecting with audiences amidst a pandemic. We send our love to our fans and supporters, thank you for your understanding and well wishes, it means the world to us. Wishing you a healthy and happy rest of 2022, we’re looking forward to a strong return in 2023.”
Hopefully, Zinner will be better soon, and the band will be back performing live again!
Back to SNL, since the show must go on, it will go on with Lizzo as the musical artist. That is unless Martin Short throws a coin at her.
Keke Palmer wasn’t the only one with a surprise on Saturday Night Live yesterday. Kenan Thompson reunited with Kel Mitchell, and they brought back their two most famous characters, Kenan & Kel.
How was it to see them together again? Let’s just say it is all that!
And hopefully, this is just a preview of them bringing back their characters for something more because we can never get enough of them.
The Not Ready for Primetime Players are jumping ship because Saturday Night Live lost its 8th person since May.
First, Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant, Kyle Mooney, and Pete Davidson announced their departures during the season finale. Then came Alex Moffat, Melissa Villaseñor, and Aristotle Athari. And now, Chris Redd is joining them by leaving the late night variety show.
“Being a part of SNL has been the experience of a lifetime,” Redd said in a statement. “Five years ago, I walked into 30 Rock knowing that this was an amazing opportunity for growth. Now, with friends who have become family and memories I will cherish forever, I’m grateful to Lorne Michaels and to the entire SNL organization. From the bottom of my heart, I can’t thank you all enough.”
You have to wonder, who’s next? Hopefully, it won’t be Kenan Thompson who needs to stay until the series ends.
The news isn’t all bad at 30 Rock, they added Marcello Hernandez, Molly Kearney, Michael Longfellow, and Devon Walker to the lineup.
SNL will be back with all-new episodes on October 1st.
UPDATE: SNL announced who will be hosting the first three episodes of the season, and who the musical guests will be.
Saturday Night Live lost 7 Not Ready for Primetime Players, and today NBC announced that they are getting 4 new ones for season 48. They are Marcello Hernandez, Molly Kearney, Michael Longfellow, and Devon Walker.
The 4 replace Aristotle Athari, Aidy Bryant. Pete Davidson, Kate McKinnon, Alex Moffat, Kyle Mooney, and Melissa Villaseñor.
SNL will be back with new episodes on October 1st.
