Saturday Night Live Season 50 Finale: No Cast Goodbyes as NBC Prepares for Upcoming Departures

The Season 50 finale of Saturday Night Live was full of emotions, but it didn’t reveal many changes to the cast. While there were jokes about cast member Sarah Sherman leaving and Colin Jost taking over from Lorne Michaels, the atmosphere felt familiar rather than transitional.

The current cast features a mix of veterans and newer faces. Colin Jost, Michael Che, Mikey Day, Heidi Gardner, Ego Nwodim, and Kenan Thompson—who’s the longest-serving SNL cast member—have all been staples for several seasons. However, changes might be looming.

Longtime cast members used to get heartfelt sendoffs, like Kristen Wiig did in 2012. Nowadays, it feels more casual, even when Jost expressed his gratitude towards Scarlett Johansson, the evening’s host and his wife, with flowers.

Che hinted he might leave during a standup show, but he didn’t make any farewell remarks during the finale. Other veterans have hinted at potential departures, but nothing was confirmed this time. It felt like another typical episode.

Sarah Sherman, a newer addition, was humorously called out during Johansson’s monologue. She looked surprised at the suggestion she was leaving, making it clear this was all part of the fun.

Bowen Yang, another recent star, received warm farewells during the curtain call, marking how far he’s come since starting as a writer.

Speculation about Jost stepping up as the next leader when Michaels retires continues. Michaels, who hinted he might step down after the 50th milestone, later clarified that he doesn’t have immediate plans to leave.

During a recent Weekend Update, Jost joked about wanting to take over, humorously suggesting, "Lorne, retire, let me run the show." It reflects the playful dynamics behind the scenes that fans love.

As for departures, it’s typical for cast members to announce their plans in the weeks following the finale. Traditionally, decisions about returning cast are made by early September, so we may see some announcements soon.

In a world filled with uncertainty—especially when it comes to long-running shows like SNL—change is the only constant. As this milestone season closes, we wait to see what’s next for the beloved sketch series.

For more insights on the future of SNL, you can read this trusted article from Deadline.

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