The Real Reason Why These Stars Left SNL

[@NickiSwift]

Who have been your favorite stars that appeared on SNL over the years?

[@henrythompson5224]

Cecily, Kristen, Kate, Amy, Sasheer, Vanessa, Aidy, Keenan, Bill, Fred, Jason, Seth, Will, Mikey.

[@surryals]

Eddie Murphy, Adam Driver & Jonah Hill for have a lot of funny skits.

[@scottdoesntmatter4409]

Sounds like the problem was Lorne Michaels, not the cast members. This explains why SNL isn't funny, and hasn't been for many decades.

[@TheBeezusjones]

Definitely Kristen Wiig , Will Farrell, Kate Mckinnon , Fred Armisen, Aidy Bryant , Kyle Mooney .. ❣️

[@rpgmancy]

Kristen Wiig, Kenan Thompson, Kate McKinnon, Cecily Strong, Jason Sudeikis, Seth Myers, Will Ferrell, and RIP Norm MacDonald, Chris Farley and Phil Hartman

[@goldenagenut]

Vanessa Bayer was hilarious on SNL! She made her mark on that show and went on to the next chapter. The Totinos sketches were a riot!

[@waynej2608]

Definitely. Esp the one with Kristen Stewert.

[@moncorp1]

I like her fat knees

[@kmallory100]

​@@waynej2608 OH Sebine

[@Gusfer-ze8lw]

are you CRAZY?? she was one of the worst and most boring on SNL, she is not funny (at all), she is not beautiful, she isn´t anything

[@Guitarbarella]

Did you see Vanessa play Evie the emotional vampire in What we do in the shadows? Hilarious fight scene-lol

[@deirdre108]

Vanessa, Kate, and Cecily--three of my all-time favorites.

[@unknown-lf6zx]

Me too! I love Kristen Wig too!

[@aarondigby5054]

​@unknown-lf6zx Kate, Cecily, Kristen, Molly, Cheri, love these four, now I'm loving Heidi, Chloe and Sarah.

[@deirdre108]

@@unknown-lf6zxI consider Kristin Wiig to be the greatest comedian on SNL. Unbelievably talented.

[@teecee313]

They really hit the jackpot with those 3

[@alanvallazza9781]

They were pretty good together along with Aidy Bryant

[@WaitingtoHit]

I don't think it's a coincidence that Bayer and Moynihan chose to leave after Pharoah and Killam, their friends, were dumped like trash. That was such a strong cast; Lorne really blew it.

[@voxveritas333]

Lorne must be powermadcrazy by now. They need someone new in command or the show will crash and burn soon. Hasn't been as good for some time now.

[@WaitingtoHit]

@@voxveritas333 There were rumors that Lorne might pass the torch to Seth Meyers soon. He would be a fantastic choice.

[@emu314159]

To quote Al Pacino in The Recruit, he has "a scary eye for talent," but he doesn't always know what to do with it.

[@GregorioStyreco]

@@WaitingtoHit that would be the best thing that could happen to SNL. Seth Meyers Era was the best of them all.

[@america1st721]

strong cast? May I assume you don't watch much SNL?

[@patriciarivas5369]

Cecily and Kate are definitely missed.

[@kalyn7220]

Aidy too

[@waynej2608]

Vanessa and Nassim, also.

[@ScottParisi]

Eddie and Joe, too.

[@dimitar297]

Kate was very boring the way she always had to remind everyone that she is a lesbian. Like Che always talks about being black. Yawn.

[@wienersmcbutts]

@@dimitar297Kate “make a goofy face” McKinnon. Yawn indeed

[@landonandvinceryan9034]

Vanessa Bayer I know was loved on SNL, but not enough IMO. Very underrated and one of the most versatile and truly funny talents on the show! Then you learn some of her personal journey, and it just makes you admire her that much more. Seemingly sweet and lovely lady as well.

[@jimmymapes3411]

Vanessa Bayer was awesome in every skit she did. Whether it was Jakob Bar Mitzvah Boy, Jen Aniston or those many commercials, or anything else, she was great.

[@swolf4741]

I especially loved her as Miss Meadows the Creative Writing/Poetry teacher.

[@aarondigby5054]

@@swolf4741 Ms Meadows was my favorite poetry professor because she really cared.

[@aarondigby5054]

@@swolf4741 Ms Meadows is my favorite poetry professor because she cared

[@Gusfer-ze8lw]

are you CRAZY??? Vanessa is exactly like Maya Rudolph, you can watch them for hours until deeply fall asleep

[@swolf4741]

@@Gusfer-ze8lw well that can be good or bad I think. I personally find her delightful.

[@rickvince]

Beck Benett is easily in my all time top 5. Can't wait to see more of him.

[@schtuff.8207]

Hes in a pretty great ITYSL sketch in season 3 :)

[@roccochiero5117]

Omg. Boss Baby with Cameron Diaz is classic with Beck! He’s the man!

[@davidl570]

Miss that guy! Another big loss to the show.

[@MisterE-yi2es]

Nasim Padrad: At some point you have to leave (SNL)..... Kenan Thompson: Hold my beer.....

[@luismarroquin3031]

Kenan is Kenan- no one can beat him!!!!

[@MisterE-yi2es]

@@luismarroquin3031 no. Lorne's just gotten lazy.

[@onedayatatime1494]

I'm surprised he hasn't been fired yet he's been there for like 20 years

[@aarondigby5054]

​@onedayatatime1494 the longest tenured cast nember in SNL's history.

[@onedayatatime1494]

@@aarondigby5054 but what's weird about Kennan is that he doesn't age at all he has to be in his mid forties by now and he looks 30 ..wtf ...

[@evdombrowski1]

That 2010s crew was awesome… closest thing that felt like the good ole days of the 80s/90s. Will be tough to find that level of cast chemistry again

[@MKins71]

It broke my heart when Kate, Aidy and Cecily left. They were the glue that held that show together. Cecily’s final show was so sad especially for Colin Jost. You could tell he was upset when he did Weekend Update and never smiled during the entire skit. I was wondering what was wrong with him but then it was obvious. That ending and the one where Mick Jagger sang She’s A Rainbow for Kristen Wiig on her final show are legendary.

[@wmlau69]

Taran Killam and Jay Pharoah were solid performers so its just strange they got let go.

[@anotherjewishsharpnicholas9425]

Jay is a nasty person. I'm sure he constantly pissed people off.

[@wmlau69]

@@anotherjewishsharpnicholas9425 really? I never heard any stories about that.

[@WaitingtoHit]

@@anotherjewishsharpnicholas9425 Not according to Vanessa Bayer . . .

[@rccc974]

He can do some impressions but he isn't that funny.

[@aarondigby5054]

@wmlau69 that's the 'shrooms talking, he left because he got backlash for asking SNL to hire a black female cast member to play black females in skits. He decided to leave/let go or whatever

[@leojones1964]

Jay and Taran getting booted the same year was a massive loss. Bayer is one of my absolute favorites, and it's so funny that even in this compilation, Kyle Mooney is still cut for time.

[@landonandvinceryan9034]

Kyle Mooney was OK, but not near the same level as those featured here.

[@rebeccamcnutt5142]

😂

[@leojones1964]

@@landonandvinceryan9034 To each their own mate. I think Mooney is at least on par with Beck, and his humor was ahead of the zeitgeist because he'd be at home in the current cast.

[@SteveSegovia]

Fun Fact: Taran Killam was on both Mad TV and SNL. I believe the only person to do so.

[@erinmalone2669]

Jeff Richards was on both. But you would have to search the internet to find Memories Because they are very few and fleeting.

[@kaylamarie1691]

And I believe he was also on Wild N' Out too!

[@aarondigby5054]

​@@erinmalone2669and Debra Wilson if I'm not wrong

[@thedogpound8813]

Chris Rock did both

[@sandraandrews9907]

​@aarondigby5054 I know she did MadTv, but not SNL, if I recall correctly.

[@arontamas5639]

Beck Bennett's reason to leave due to family obligations are honorable..... !! So rare to hear decisions like this from a man, so refreshing!

[@Kanoog]

Or a woman.

[@bothellkenmore]

I recognize his voice on Buffalo Wild Wings commercials.

[@kevin10001]

He was great on the show and it cool they noticed him from really good AT&T commercials

[@drachenmarke]

Who?

[@CMUBruin]

Taran and Cecily are two of the most talented SNL performers ever. Not only funny as hell in skits but wow, can they really sing. I wonder if Cecily has any Broadway musical aspirations...Taran has already been there and done that.

[@LFire12]

Keenan aside, Taran was the funniest guy on the show in the wake of Bill Hader and Fred Armisen's departures. So versatile, talented and put everything into his sketches. He and Cecily especially were fire together. That said Jay Pharaoh was criminally underused as well. Was gutted when they were both let go.

[@Actheman1978]

I will never understand why they let Taran Killam leave, but kept Pete Davidson.

[@ScooterOnHisWay2024]

Pete Davidson is a no talent stooge.

[@itsonlysound]

Maybe he had too many opinions? Seems like when Seth went, Lorne was less interested in the opinions of the cast members

[@balajay8921]

I'm still baffled by Pete Davidson...

[@kevin10001]

I know Pete rarely was put in sketches and when he was put in any it didn’t work I think he was kept around just cause he amused loran

[@squamish4244]

Really popular with the audience? Or was he? Idk. I think his mental health problems magnified under the stress of fame, however.

[@wavvy87oww]

It’s amazing Kenan has been that show for 20 years when you hear so many cast members saying they hated it and get burn out when their 7 years is up

[@RolandDeschain1]

The problem at SNL is that when it started the established a work rate and a schedule that was only possible because everyone at the time was on cocaine. Many, many cast members have spoken of how trying to maintain that work load sober is nearly impossible. It's probably why the show is so sloppy now. Jay Mohr wrote a great book about his year at SNL called 'Gasping for Airtime', and how being on that show drove him to near-fatal panic attacks and eventually stealing ideas out of sheer desperation.

[@hollerinwoman]

That is a great point, and I hadn't thought about that. But it makes perfect sense!

[@realpan114]

if uve tried it before then when ure on pressure it feels an easy choice to do it again. but if uve never tried this shit before then im 100% positive u wouldnt feel the need

[@phraze410]

SNL should just do a new espiode once a month and show re runs the other 3 Saturdays.

[@davef3179]

Why does every SNL member insist you can't stay there forever? Kenan has been doing it forever and he's never gotten stale (at least IMO)

[@fulton560]

He’s Ellen Pompeo.

[@KnowPhere]

He’s definitely gotten stale. But if he’s collecting easy checks can’t be mad

[@Bonbonbon739]

I love Kate McKinnon but God I LOVED Cecily

[@waynej2608]

We all LOVED Cecily! 👍

[@hotfudgecake]

I cried during her last episode 😢

[@ggcntrl]

let’s love both of them this comment seems really backhanded

[@ontheruntonowhere]

I'm Team Cecily. The strongest cast member since Wiig.

[@lkf8799]

She's a powerhouse.

[@daniellewis2133]

Vanessa Bayer was such a cutie.

[@aarondigby5054]

The sexiest teeth in the business belongs to Vanessa Bayer.

[@danikahholdman2609]

This is not an indication of who’s the most talented but my most favourite SNL skits always end up involving Vanessa. The Santa one with Ryan Gosling, the fidget spinner one and Totino. The last year saw the exit of so many talents all at once - Beck, Aidy, Chris, Cecile and Kate. Ego is the one who makes me laugh the most now.

[@aarondigby5054]

Ego doesn't have but so much range, looks like skits have to be tailored for her to really shine.

[@82jp]

So wild to hear different cast members having such wildly different experiences in the show. I imagine a lot of it has to do with the shifting combination of personalities during any given season.

[@Shorty_Lickens]

Yeah the producers will pull in anyone they think can contribute to the show but sometimes clashing personalities get in the way. They got lucky in the mid 90's when they had a bunch of funny people who also worked well together. It hasnt been like that for a long time, not since Phil Hartman left for NewsRadio and Chris Farley died young.

[@82jp]

@Shorty_Lickens idk. I think the samberg/wiig/hader/armisen years were good. They had a lot of talented people on the show. There was also a point where strong and McKinnon were part of a really well-balanced cast: Mooney & Bennett, Davidson, Leslie Jones. And Kenan Thompson 8s the GOAT.

[@dielaughing73]

But also the performer's expectations and attitude. If you're there for only a year and don't understand why you don't get much screen time, you probably weren't going to work out long-term.

[@Nokia1975__]

Sasheer’s reason for leaving said a lot. I wonder if she’ll ever go into more detail.

[@charlesbikle4823]

She never brought anything to the table- she was basically an extra.

[@imnotgivingmynametoamachine683]

@@charlesbikle4823 You must have intimate behind the scenes knowledge to know that!

[@annt7384]

Jay Pharoah is so talented and it’s just plain weird how little they saw that.

[@feet300]

They did the same thing to Eddie Murphy back in the day. Lorne Michaels is kinda toxic.

[@prall0915]

Jay was awesome!

[@tedmich]

Taran too, he was usually wasted in poor skits IMO

[@kennedy4257]

The craziest thing was Kate McKinnon, Melissa Villasenor, Aidy Bryant, and Pete Davidson leaving all together with Cecily following a year after. Something else happened and it wasn't because they all just coincidentally decided to leave in the same time frame.

[@cc1k435]

The pandemic ended and other things went back into production.

[@erinmalone2669]

Vanessa Bayer was fantastic in what we do in the shadows.

[@KitC916]

Thumbs up for Daria❤

[@jimmynodean]

theres a lot of subtle Lorne shade. He really dropped the ball on a lot of talent

[@KitC916]

Meanwhile few producers are as much of a legend as Lorne. Way to bite the hand that feeds you.

[@LtNduati]

What's interesting is that I didn't like Cecily Strong for most of her time at SNL, but 2019 to 2022 Strong was different, and I think ultimately she was one of the last few reasons why I kept turning into it, and once Colin Jost and Michael Che leave weekend updates that's for sure it for me.

[@landonandvinceryan9034]

💯 AGREED with all you said. Strong was different in a good way towards her end. And currently, Weekend Update is the only must-see part of SNL left, and its been that way for a few years now. What’s considered talent is different now and the legendary talent from the 70s-early 2000s has aged out with modern-day “talent” vanilla, at best. I had a sliver of hope for last week’s Emma Stone episode per hers from years past were solid, but the pathetic writing totally flatlined the entire episode apart from WU. Once Che & Jost move on from SNL, the very last of true greatness on SNL is gone.

[@brendaweber2124]

I feel like Ego Nwoden is currently going through something similar...I don't recall seeing her in the latest show hosted with Dakota Johnson and when Elordi was on her presence was very limited and she looked really down...I love her!!

[@PigdogEsq]

Word around the comedy community was that Killam and Pharoah's agents asked for more money (since they were "stars") and Lorne Michaels responded with a "you're fired, instead." So much for "never given a reason why."

[@BansheeMilk]

For those of you who are curious, that last guy who killed himself, Charles Rocket, was also the dad in Hocus Pocus

[@MrDash03]

And Nicolas Andre in Dumb & Dumber

[@danielmiller3596]

That one never made sense. Honestly had Epstein vibes, even if we don't know details that make sense supporting

[@dillilyeverage315]

I'm the Kenan of my job. I desperately want to leave but I've been there so long I don't know how to leave.....help!

[@wylier]

Just say the f word live on the air, as Charles Rocket did. :-)

[@MattTelepenko]

This was an amazing video. Thanks for doing all that research and finding all this info. And that suicide hotline at the end was a heartwarming touch. You never know who that could've helped. Subscribed.

[@emu314159]

"The real reason why these stars left SNL." Taran Killam: "No reason was ever given why they didn't pick up my contract."

[@Uarehere]

Listen to Carvey & Spade's Fly on the Wall podcast. This is a very common occurrence at SNL.

[@mojo500100]

Kate is pretty much irreplaceable, and I’d been bummed about missing Beck Bennett--but turns out he left for the best of reasons. Wishing all good things for the Bennett family! 😊

[@landonandvinceryan9034]

Agreed 💯! Beck was great and sounds like an even greater man.

[@KimBouchard]

And what about Alex Moffatt and Kyle Mooney?

[@gregorygoguen2574]

I was just going to ask about both of them especially Mooney who I always felt never got the credit for how good he was.

[@amonrodriguez3518]

@@gregorygoguen2574it was sad when Kyle left. He was also on Norm Macdonalds Sports Show, he played norms nephew lol, definitely worth checking out

[@gregoryroth9638]

Kyle was the lamest cast member EVER.

[@amonrodriguez3518]

@@gregoryroth9638 wow, lol sorry for your sense of humor. Kyle was awesome. And norm MacDonald liked em so, if he’s got uncle Norms approval. Then ya your sense of humor… sucks

[@blueelf217]

I miss a few of these guys, especially Aidy. That Zoom sketch had me in tears I laughed so hard.

[@robsolf]

Vanessa Mayer was adorable. Anybody that could look so sweet while presenting so much toothiness is a rare feat.

[@aarondigby5054]

Vanessa Bayer had the sexiest teeth, can imagine tongue kissing her and chill bumps run down my spine.

[@patrickkiplimo4927]

Bayer

[@emu314159]

I would say sweetness hardly excludes toothiness . Jack McBrayer, Jim Nabors, etc.

[@warrenrandall6936]

As a Brit I never saw SNL until i watched KZbin and I would rank Hader and Wiig as the best in the last 20 years. The quality of writing can be poor due to the frequency of output so the performers need to be on top of their game.

[@aarondigby5054]

Maya Rudolph.

[@RoboCatTrainer]

Fellow Brit here. Not seen enough of Haden or Wiig but Whiskers r us if gold! Kate instantly won my heart!❤😻

[@JLo83]

Will Ferrell was honestly great on the show before them stealing every scene he was in just being himself. But yes, during their time Hader and Wiig were the best

[@amonrodriguez3518]

Hader is awesome. You’re definitely not wrong

[@Guitarbarella]

You missed Vanessa Bayer’s standout role as Evie the emotional vampire in What we do in the shadows-such a funny lady.

[@COMPFUNK2]

As long as Melissa was on the show, she seemed to only be relegated to featured player-type roles; she was like the new Abby Elliott.

[@WaitingtoHit]

Yeah, that was a major mistake; she's hilarious.

[@aarondigby5054]

​@@WaitingtoHitMelissa Villasenor, right?

[@KitC916]

Melissa was definitely under-used

[@luistorres9331]

Kate McKinnon is definitely on the Mount Rushmore is SNL cast members.

[@Mitzi73]

My jaw dropped when I found out what happened to Jay Pharoh.😢😢

[@emu314159]

I really wish mine had. I was just kind of shaking my head. The only place a Black star will be recognized and treated well by the cops is probably Staten Island, specifically members of the WuTangClan. I think it was the RZA that told a tale of being stopped there, and the cop was like, Oh shit, the RZA!

[@amonrodriguez3518]

Same I had never heard that. It’s just like “we’re still letting this happen!?”

[@nycava0520]

I really think Jay Pharaoh’s talents weren’t never really promoted.

[@johnhein2539]

No Norm? I mean, I know it was the OJ jokes, but I always love seeing Norm.

[@dgillies5420]

I feel like 2021-2022 is when SNL took its deepest dive ever. It was one of the most powerful casts of my entire lifetime (i have watched it on and off since aged 13 - 1975-present) and to see this comedy dream team break up has been soul-crushing !!

[@jones2277]

we always knew snl to be the white In Living Color. very mainstream and safe. not terribly funny.

[@emu314159]

Yeah, there's a bunch of modern classic clips that include stars that left in that year or the few before.

[@remyasmar418]

For me when Kate and Cecily left the show was no longer the same. 😢

[@REfan001]

I don't even want to know what will happen if Kenan ever leaves

[@wylier]

I think he can always get a job in fast food. 😛

[@daniellewis2133]

Jebediah Atkinson needs his own movie.

[@aarondigby5054]

Jeremiah Atkinson is a classic, Colonel Angus is another won, SNL has plenty of gut busting skits through the yesrs.

[@jjbeerj]

NEXT!!!

[@JoeVideoed]

I thought Jay Pharoah was hilarious & it mystified me why he wasn't used more often.

[@KitC916]

Vanessa and Cecily "Pornstars" series of sketches were the best!

[@dielaughing73]

DID SOMEBODY SAY "HOW'S IT HANGING?"

[@playerthirteen9695]

Mulaney, Disney's live action Aladdin and Chad underscore that it was NOT a good career choice.

[@wylier]

Yet she probably got paid plenty to do those roles.

[@OGChrisWall]

16:06 ending took a turn.

[@bradleylambie6115]

I was like “oh”

[@macdreezy794]

2022 was a bloody year for SNL

[@gorgeousgeorge5173]

Gillis was SNL's biggest loss. As an Asian, not only did I find him not offensive, but bro was hilarious and still is.

[@greymattermatters404]

why is Pete Davidson hailed as a talent?

[@PeterBrown-mz4nv]

Good question.

[@nordimejia5790]

no idea...

[@tucsonamama]

Obviously you haven’t seen “I’m Just Pete.”

[@TheRealLifty]

He is a funny guy in most sketches

[@georgethornburg9259]

Lol he was the new Jimmy Fallon of ruining skits

[@maxheadrom3088]

Moynihan and the "What's up with that" dude - a.k.a Kenan Thompson - were some of the best actors I've seen on SNL!

[@viperrecords3288]

Taran and Bobby were born to do sketch comedy. I was upset they left. Beck and Kyle leaving hurt too.

[@BrooklynEwms32LAKERS]

Vanessa Bayer..Was Hilarious as (Rosa The Mexican Maid) in those " The Californians" Skits..😂😅

[@sunsetrider45]

Jay Pharaoh is massively talented.

[@DoneBrokeDatBack]

Shane Gillis honestly dodged a bullet. His comedic style would've been neutered there and he wouldn't have flourished.

[@timumbra2476]

Yeah dawg

[@igotfriendsinlowplaces2971]

Gillis is the goat. SNL didn’t hire him because he’s actually funny

[@Jojo-gx8gv]

Sasheer’s podcast with Nicole is my favorite!

[@nilfux]

Killam in "A River Wild" is badass. Also, I love that for you is a pretty good show. Original for sure.

[@ccramit]

Bobby Moynihan is probably my favorite recent alum. Dude was so versatile and hilarious. He could play a the straight man, or the looney psycho. Loved his sketches.

[@erinfield1943]

Oh my god the police thing with the knee on Jay Pharoah's neck. Makes me nauseous

[@daveidmarx8296]

Interestingly enough, Charles Rocket wasn't even the first person to drop the f-bomb in that night's episode as Prince was the musical guest, and just minutes earlier had played the song "Partyup", where he sang the line, "Fighting war is such a fucking bore". This apparently went completely unnoticed at the time.

[@Jonifico]

"First Iranian-born cast member" is so specific it's kinda funny.

[@JetPackDino]

Vanessa Bayer also has a hilarious recurring role on "What We Do in the Shadows." She's the best

[@rodprops]

I really miss Kate McKinnon! She was my favorite!

[@jones2277]

my favorite was chris redd.

[@morallybankrupt1461]

Killam has been in comedy since mad tv, he deserves his success.

[@okkysakti9088]

I like Bill Hader and Vanessa Bayer

[@voxveritas333]

The first five seasons were some of the best and they did them with only SIX cast members. Now it takes 15 or more.

[@wylier]

They actually had seven main players, to split hairs. They also used additional talent when needed, just like with more recent seasons.

[@markmorris8532]

I don't think it necessarily "takes" more members to do the show. I think it just may be a case of them liking more members, or finding it works better with more members.

[@gabrieljude2478]

Love how the narrator is talking normal right up until she mentions Rockets body being found in a field and it being a suicide. She changes her voice and gets very serious with out warning 😂.

[@ontheruntonowhere]

hilarious 🙄

[@FunkyLeesh]

Taran Kilim was my favorite! I can't figure out why he wasn't more valued.

[@landonandvinceryan9034]

Yeah, he was FANTASTIC. So many memorable characters and impressions from him. My favorite though that is still on rewatch for me is his Jebediah Atkinson creation from Weekend Update-classic!

[@momerathramirez5205]

Instead of talking about Shane Gillis you should have talk about Kyle Mooney: a real SNL cast member who wasn't fired before his debut on the show.

[@igotfriendsinlowplaces2971]

The insideSoCal sketches were hilarious

[@AimingWanderously]

Taran Killam & Jay Pharoah were both outstanding. Can't believe they let them go.

[@TryMyMartini]

Vanessa Bayer is a beast of a talent!!

[@zacheryspencer]

When I was younger I wanted to be on SNL.. I think with my looks and personality and just loving to laugh and do impressions I would have had a blast.. and definitely a hit, but my life just never went that way to be an actor on TV

[@felicitousfeline9956]

I’d like to know why Aristotle Athari left after one season, 2021-2. I had been hoping to see more of him, especially his memorable robot character, Laughingtosh 3000.

[@sws212]

Easy: he didn't bring anything to the table and they fired him. SNL is built around the guest of the week and the ideas that guest likes. Newbies stick around by pitching ideas to the guest and you can tell who came up with the sketches by their presence in it. Athari only had like 2-3 characters with the robot recycled from his old comedy routines and maybe 10 actual appearance where he said anything significant through his time. Some of the other new cast easily had twice that. Not saying he wasn't funny but some people aren't the right fit for the job.

[@KitC916]

He was lousy. Sarah Sherman and Dismukes can go, too. New cast is weak sauce

[@whothennow24]

The soft voice you suddenly put on for the suicide message was hilarious.

[@juzoli]

This is a tough job, even if it is fun. Their week is VERY busy, from Monday to Saturday, then repeat 2 more times before a break. It is good when you are young, but beyond 30-35, when you are having a family, it is hardly sustainable. No wonder that most left after 5-10 years.

[@Uno-mv7wz]

I miss Pharoah and Bayer (I had a such crush on Vanessa) Love to see Jay and Vanessa in the future :)

[@MasonHP]

Seems like a toxic environment and very little is actually humorous any longer.

[@busywl69]

Wow, this was actually informative. Nice one! Vanessa Bayer has the smile I would fight to keep!

[@Mrcats1973]

There is one girl that was on the show, around 2021, that no one ever talks about. I cant remember her name because she didnt have any characters, she only spoke about 10 words the whole season she was on and generally looked like an over enthusiastic extra. Then she was gone.

[@chrisjaybecker]

Sasheer was electric in the 'Black Jeopardy' sketch with Louis C.K.

[@lanaistheneworange3013]

Video ends with suicide note. Didn't see that coming.

[@eezyclsmooth9035]

Interesting piece. Answers a lot of Mysteries. Makes you give a ton of props to, Keennan Thompson. The longest running cast member in the show's history.

[@Hellfurian1972]

Pete was the most lackluster person on the show...so glad he is gone.

[@massimosquecco8956]

Isn't strange that 4 or 5 leading female comedians left the show together in 2022? There's certainly something that you are; telling us. Cant 't be a coincidence, come on. What happened?

[@ES-qt6yo]

They were on a very demanding intense show for a decade. Andy and Kate were very good friends and also wanted to branch out.

[@sws212]

If you look at the records of SNL tenures, those 4 or 5 were in the top 10 longest terms or pretty close to it. A lot of the cast that left in the last season were there a lot longer than they should've been compared to the norm, partly because of their bonds and partly because Lorne wanted (and still does want) to make it to Season 50 with a decent cast so he paid a premium to extend their contracts. Eventually one broke apart and the rest followed.

[@kevintucker6931]

Zamata was amazing. Sad loss :(

[@Uarehere]

Nope.

[@mishmohd]

Thank you Nicki, you know, watching this clip to the last second and appreciating your unique cadence, I can't help but think that they're all prisoners of the legacy system: NBC, CBS, ABC, etc. SNL sheltered them from the disruption of podcasts and streaming apps. Thanks again Nicki.

[@Idkanymorelol.]

I rlly miss the 2010s cast.

[@todd5082]

What’s the difference between acting as character in a movie or tv show that offends someone and being a standup comedian offending someone with your act??

[@voxveritas333]

What about Leslie Jones. SHE is missed.

[@Twin2Jr]

As much as I loved her, I don't miss her fumbling lines.

[@joecoffey4199]

​@@Twin2Jrand constantly breaking character.

[@Indomita506]

Nah

[@cerhn]

She is breaking amazing in her rounds as a daily show host.

[@cerhn]

Also, the Olympics. Nobody can deny that Olympic coverage

[@ShiranaiSonzaisha]

Well that escalated slowly

[@aiai-j7i]

I loved Killam!!!