‘Saturday Night Live’ Fans Stunned as Michael Longfellow Exits Ahead of Season 51
Another Saturday Night Live cast departure has been announced, and this time, it’s a real shocker. Michael Longfellow, who first joined in Season 48 and seemed primed to join the “Weekend Update” line-up after becoming a repertory player in Season 50, will not return for Season 51.
Deadline was the first to report the news, and fans expressed their shock over the news on social media.
“Taking michael longfellow is a crime im actually so upset over this,” one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “Michael Longfellow leaving snl might be the thing that finally breaks me,” another added. “I was already pretty much over SNL and Michael Longfellow being gone is the nail in the coffin,” said a third.
Longfellow’s departure follows the exits of two additional cast members, Devon Walker and Emil Wakim, along with writers Celeste Yim and Rosebud Baker.
SNL creator Lorne Michaels indicated that the existing cast might not be back when he said in an interview with Puck that he felt the need to “reinvent this season,” after not making any substantial changes for the landmark 50th season last year.
The news of Longfellow’s departure is quite a surprise to Saturday Night Live fans, since he was reportedly testing to become a full-fledged member of the “Weekend Update” team. LateNighter reported on August 25 that he was screen-tested for the comedic weekly news desk, since it was unknown whether current cohosts of the segment Michael Che and Colin Jost would return to it.
Longfellow previously made a splash while guesting on “Weekend Update” segments about such issues as Real ID and TikTok.
Fans will have to wait and see whether any additional departures will be announced before Season 51’s premiere on October 4, but so far, this is quickly becoming a bloodbath for the stars of the show.
Saturday Night Live, Season 51 Premiere, October 4, 11:30/10:30c, NBC
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Not saying this to be mean, but both actors were worthless on the show. Longfellow was rarely on and it looked like they put him on the Weekend Update to throw him a bone. Most of the time he was playing himself although an exaggerated version. Devon Walker also had limited time and honestly he was very generic and made no difference to the skit. This isnt a personal attack on them as there were plenty of former SNL members who could be described the same way and yet became very successful outside the show. As most members have to write for themselves, their acting and comedic skills may never be displayed if they cant write material for themselves. Again, not to be brutal, but them leaving the show wont make any difference. I wish them luck in the next stage of their career . The third guy, i dont remember enough about him to even comment.
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How much longer are you going to write "on X (formerly Twitter)" in your articles? Do you think we are that wholly unaware of such changes? Lordy...
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Please get rid of Kenan Thompson!! He should have left DECADES ago!!
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