Saturday Evening Dwell EP Lorne Michaels promised a large solid shakeup would happen forward of Season 51, and that’s precisely what’s been enjoying out as of late. The previous few days have seen a number of solid members exit the long-running collection, together with Devon Walker, Emil Wakim, Michael Longfellow and Heidi Gardner. Amidst the state of affairs, followers haven’t held again their visceral reactions to the departures. Walker has seen the responses, and he had a humorously direct response to them.
The previous week has seen one or two SNL solid exits reported per day, leaving followers to pay tribute to those that will not grace Studio 8H on a weekly foundation. X has been flooded with responses from followers who’re lower than happy with the strikes. One particular person to react was a consumer named @divineintrvntin, who mourned the truth that their “boys” — Devon Walker and Michael Longfellow – would not be on the present. Walker, the primary solid member confirmed to be leaving this 12 months, reshared that submit and dropped this evaluation:
Y’all appearing like we died lol. We simply getting totally different jobs.
Such a remark is actually on-brand for comic Devon Walker, who was on Saturday Evening Dwell for 3 seasons earlier than exiting. Whereas followers are actually entitled to their emotions, Walker does make a humorous and true level about a few of the posts. The messages vary in tone, however various have seemingly been considerably solemn. If something, Walker’s submit refers to a silver lining, which is the truth that though he and his former co-stars are not on SNL, they nonetheless plan to work elsewhere.
In equity, although, virtually yearly, SNL followers specific dread over casting adjustments forward of a season. Some offseasons for the present have been extra brutal than others in relation to casting, and that’s actually been the case this 12 months. Followers aren’t the one ones who’ve been weighing in both. Through social media, collection alum Punkie Johnson supplied some emotional reactions to seeing lots of her former colleagues go away the present. Present solid member Bowen Yang additionally appeared to reference the state of affairs by way of a submit he shared concerning the “media ecosystem.”
On prime of the solid adjustments, Saturday Evening Dwell has additionally made a large change behind the scenes. There’s been a significant growth involving Weekend Replace, as author Rosebud Baker won’t be returning for Season 51 both. Baker confirmed the information whereas additionally saying some stand-up comedy tour dates for the autumn and winter.
What this all collectively quantities to is a large inventive shift for SNL, as its producers search to maintain every thing contemporary 12 months to 12 months. That’s comprehensible, although, it’s nonetheless wild to assume that Michael Longfellow is out and that Emil Wakim received’t return to the present as properly. Additionally, I actually wouldn’t have had Heidi Gardner’s exit on my bingo card. Nonetheless, as followers proceed to lament these developments, they may be served properly to maintain Devon Walker’s submit in thoughts and do not forget that these actors are nonetheless round and aiming to work.
Saturday Evening Dwell Season 51 premieres as a part of the 2025 TV schedule on October 4 at 11:35 p.m. ET on NBC. It’ll even be out there to stream utilizing a Peacock subscription.