The 17-person ensemble currently features six veterans that have been on the show for seven or more seasons: Jost, weekend update co-host Michael Che, Mikey Day, Heidi Gardner, Ego Nwodim, and Kenan Thompson, the longest-serving cast member in SNL history at 22 seasons.
The cast was clearly well aware that people tuned in last night waiting for updates—not just of the weekend variety. “It’s been a great season, and Sarah is leaving. We’re all gonna miss you next year,” Johansson sang in her musical opening monologue, prompting mock shock from Sherman, whose name hasn’t really come up in lists of potential departures. The episode also addressed rumors that Jost may be on a shortlist to take over for Lorne Michaels when the stalwart leader eventually retires. “It’s SNL‘s 50th season, so I want to take a moment to say something to our boss, Lorne Michaels. Lorne, retire bitch! Let me run the show,” the comedian was forced to say during his and Che’s semi-annual joke swap.
Che himself spurred on some of this speculation when he told the audience at a stand-up show in February that he was “not coming back, don’t worry,” per New York Post. One doesn’t usually make serious announcements during a comedy set, however, and he didn’t give any indication last night that he had actual plans to follow through. Bowen Yang, who told People that he would leave the show “at some point” last month, was also spotted giving extra long hugs at goodbyes, but the episode seemed more concerned with convincing fans that he was straight (again) than eulogizing his six seasons.
This isn’t to say that cast members won’t announce their departures in the weeks and months to come. Deadline reports that Michaels traditionally makes decisions about who to ask back in mid-August to early September ahead of the next season’s premiere later that fall. For now, though, all is quiet on the SNL front.
