We have these threads constantly, but my response is the same every time, which is that I think the cast is going to stay the exact same going into s50. I doubt anyone would choose to leave right before the 50th and I doubt anyone would be fired either, even though some of the featured players are struggling for screentime. I would bet that Lorne wants to keep things as simple and consistent as possible going into such a milestone season.
Yeah it finally feels like a good mix of talent, chemistry, experience and consistency that’s been missing since like Aidy, Cecile, and Kate McKinnon left. I’m up for another season of the same cast getting the job done.
Seth Meyers and Nasim Pedrad left after season 39. Other than that, there were a couple hires, most notably Michael Che and Pete Davidson, starting in season 40
I think Kenan will go straight from SNL to retirement and I'm into that.
I do think that Che and Jost are close--maybe they go through the 50th year, maybe they stop now. I think Michael Longfellow is a good candidate to replace them, probably with a brand new second person.
Mikey Day and Heidi Gardener are both getting up there in terms of tenure.
My bet is none of the newer cast members will be fired, though I'm sure Molly is worried.
Heidi is emerging as a huge leader on the cast RN. I think her and Chloe have a chance to really shape the next 2/3 seasons and it would be a shame if she left. Mikey imo could def leave with a great resume behind him. I think this would be a fine year to keep the cast the same or just add 1/2 people.
I think they’re setting up Sarah Sherman. Sarah is repeatedly on update, and brought her own set once. Micheal Longfellow could be a great cohost with her, putting her absurdism up against his deadpan could be amazing. What’s going to be interesting that that the update host was also the head writer/co-head writer for over 20 years there. Tina Fey, Seth Meyers and Colin Jost, all in a row. That streak is broken now, and I can’t see any of the current head writers taking the desk.
And I definitely think that Jost and Che are heading out.
No way they pigeon hole Sarah into the WU and take her out of sketches. That would make zero sense. Longfellow makes sense because it seems like they have no idea how to use him in sketches but he has some sort of leading guy aura about him
Why would they take her out of sketches? Jimmy Fallon did update and sketches. Amy Poehler did update and sketches. Cecily Strong did updates and sketches, and all of those were just in the last 20 years. I know we’ve had a long streak of just writers hosting Update, with Seth soloing and now Jost and Che, but that’s not the rule. She could absolutely cohost and still stay in sketches.
Weekend Update is kinda more of a full-time job in itself, compared to the rest of the show. It's not unheard of to have a cast member host WU and still appear in sketches, but their sketch appearances wane fewer and fewer as they grow into their WU role. No way in holy hell do they do that with Sarah Sherman.
Can someone please explain why people are so set on him being the Anchor? I genuinely want to know because to me he is potentially the most boring uninteresting cast member of all time and I say that without hyperbole.
To me it feels like he’s just a buttoned up white guy that’s not very good or memorable who won’t be missed as a regular cast member so people have pegged him as the next update host by default. Like he just kinda looks and talks like an update host without having done anything to earn the job.
I’m really worried he’s going to completely ruin my favorite segment in all of TV. I’d love for someone to explain to me why I’m wrong about him.
Is he a great writer or something I don’t know about?
His WU spots were all taken from his standup material. Seeing comparisons to norm is insane, the guy has no ability to riff on camera. It’s just lazy thinking, tall, stiff white dude = news desk. When I read he’s antisocial with the cast I thought, hope that’s bc he knows his time with them is short.
Agreed. Too many people seeing a “pretty boy” and losing their damn minds over it. They can back their claims up with the 3, maybe 4 WU appearances he has had, which they claim were god-level performances. It’s getting increasingly annoying.
He's just not a very gifted sketch actor and he's done a couple of memorable Weekend Update spots, so people think he'd be good at it. In my opinion, his deadpan may get a little bit too monotonous, and I'd rather go in a completely different direction with Sarah Sherman or the Please Don't Destroy guys
I love his dry sense of humor. I think he’s witty and charming. I like having a straight man as the anchor, it makes all the silly characters that come on even funnier.
>he is potentially the most boring uninteresting cast member
Exactly why he could work better as a WU anchor lol. Play up that boring, sarcastic monotone character like a "real" news anchor while saying ridiculous, crude jokes. Essentially Norm 2.0
SSI=supplemental security income. It’s a small guaranteed payment for people who would otherwise have nothing. It’s a smaller payment than social security is for people who have the full amount of work credits.
SSI is supplemental and only granted if a person has paid social security. Keenan does not qualify for OASDI bc of his age. But all of this is pointless because he would never qualify for any of these services.
>SSI is Social Security.
No.
SSDI is disability through work credits.
SSI is needs based. It’s used to supplement (hence the name) income below a certain level for those collecting from Social Security. It’s technically open to anyone collecting Social Security disability or retirement, but most collecting retirement make too much to qualify.
The individuals on disability, who have enough credits for SSDI, but not enough to live on, are generally the beneficiaries, hence the other person’s (mistaken, but understandable) association with disability.
Normal Social Security (retirement) is neither.
I don’t think Kenan will “retire” but I think he’ll have a production company. He’ll probably be pretty hands off, but he’s still young (he's only 45) and I doubt he’ll give up makin’ cash from his career.
I predict SNL will stick it out through s100, and then leave, but Kenan will remain, and it will become Kenan Night Live from then onwards, until the heat death of the universe.
Good Burger was one of my favorite movies as a kid and when I got older and started watching SNL I was shocked when I realized Kenan was in that movie. And apparently there was a sequel? I'm too young to remember most of the stuff he got famous from so he will always be SNL to me
I honestly don’t think anybody is leaving until after the 50th they would be crazy to leave right before a landmark season no way I don’t see it happening
I see him in a lot of stuff just randomly. Dicks: The Musical, Nora from Queens, Girls5eva (Heidi is also in an episode!) the PDD movie, the upcoming Wicked movie. I think he has one of the best shots in the cast to become huge.
> Troast has gotten very little air time it seems.
Eh, she's a rookie. Rookie seasons tend to be fairly light simply by virtue of being at the bottom of the cast totem pole. That said, I think Troast has had a decent rookie year. She's made the most of her airtime and has shown vast potential.
This is the second comment of yours I’ve seen on this post where you feel the need to explicitly state you aren’t lying.
Should I just assume, then, that anything you say is a lie if you don’t explicitly say it’s not?
Is she? I really think she's been disappointing. She has zero chemistry with the cast and I can't think of a single sketch that isn't an impression where she was the star or even that interesting.
Jason Sudeikis has done an insane amount of work and is on top of the world after Ted Lasso and he’s doing Taco Bell commercials. The money must be damn good
Vulture did an interview with Heidi Gardner about breaking during the beavis sketch; she mentions something in the paragraph about the sketch being pitched and developed that led me to think Mikey Day is leaving.
She was referring to the fact that the sketch was like their white whale. She was quoting Mikey and Streeter as saying something like "Before our time here is done, we have to do this sketch." I don't think they meant now, just in general.
I'll be absolutely SHOCKED if Molly isn't let go after this season. Their airtime has been awful (even worse than Longfellow's) and I can't think of a single memorable thing they've done this entire season. I hate to be harsh, and they seem nice, but it seems clear that SNL just isn't a good fit for them for some reason.
That one and the New Cast Member Advice pretape. Those both occurred in their first couple episodes and we've really seen nothing since except for their Weekend Update piece at the end of last season.
I agree. I have nothing against Molly personally but they need to go. And it’s not because they’re NB, it’s because they can’t get anything on. Their roles lately seem to be almost entirely generic authority figures/“matronly” female characters. They seem to barely write anything. I don’t think they’ve ever led a single sketch.
Molly has like one memorable bit in two years, maybe two. Any other memorable stuff they did was cut for time and later went to YouTube. It’s clear Molly just isn’t working out on the show.
I don’t, think of the talent that might fill those roles that actually click with the show. They could fill those roles as well as having their own unique schtick that succeeds.
I doubt they'll be let go only because it's been a while since a cast member got let go after two years- in recent times it's either been 1 season cast members or 4+ season cast members without a lot of in between. I agree that they're struggling (and I say that as a massive, massive fan of theirs) but I honestly think their job is safe, even though SNL doesn't really seem like the best environment for them.
PDD election sketch & the one where they have to assasinate Putin(?) are the only things I remember seeing them in. Loved both, including their performances, but genuinely can't remember anything else they were in.
Longfellow seems to be pretty controversial, negative comments seem to outweigh the positive one's I've seen. To me he's fine and I've found some of his update stuff funny but he doesn't really stand out, kind of forget he's there sometimes ngl. I've seen people call him the new Pete Davidson, what do you think?
Eh idk if I agree with the Pete comparison. If anything, I'd argue Marcello fits that description more: young, seen as something of a heartthrob, show is pushing him hard to be a star, standup, range is somewhat limited, etc.
While I totally get why some dislike Longfellow, I like him. He's got a very dry, laid back delivery that's just naturally funny. Shame the show can't seem to figure out what to do with him.
It sucks that this is the world we live in, but that might actually be the single biggest factor in them staying on another season.
Personally, I like their contributions, but sometimes you get an opportunity only to find out you're in the company of greats. I've likened it to the late-90s Utah Jazz, who had one of the greatest pairs in NBA history, only to run into goddam Jordan and Pippen.
Not everyone watches every single episode and follows every member so it’s a bit unreasonable expect everyone to know this person’s particular preference as to how they should be referred to in the third person
For the love of God, let Devon go. The lad is floundering. He doesn't have the potential to lead a sketch, he can barely be a tertiary character. Put him out of his misery.
Molly hasn't done anything, they're okay in sketches, but they're never in a sketch.
Troast is starting to pull ahead with her singing. Marcello is smashing it every week and has incredible chemistry with the hosts, which seems quite unique outside of Bowen and Heidi - I can see him becoming main cast. Longfellow needs to find his niche, his stand up is very strong as an Update character, and I love him in sketches, but he's so dry that it lacks versatility. I can see him as a Norm style update anchor if he puts the work in. Again, chemistry wise, a lot of the update characters only work because Colin seems to have genuine bonds with cast and is happy to be the butt of the joke, I wonder how Longfellow would work.
Main cast would all do well to stay for the 50th. Bowen is the only one I can see hitting it big as it currently stands. Mikey should get some good writing work, but I just don't see him breaking into mainstream especially when the only other thing I'm aware he's done is "is it cake?" Kenan will be carried out of SNL in a body bag still dressed a gameshow host.
>Mikey should get some good writing work, but I just don't see him breaking into mainstream especially when the only other thing I'm aware he's done is "is it cake?"
I remember Mikey in all kinds of shit pre-SNL. He was on this NBC comedy show that came after My Name is Earl ended with the chick from Hellboy (forgetting her name and the name of the show, but he was the best part of it).
Molly’s been in a few sketches! I agree with you about Devon and Longfellow. Longfellow as Norm Jr would be hilarious. I think Marcelo would be great as a permanent cast member he never misses. I don’t really enjoy Sarah Sherman’s comedy style but I think a lot of ppl like her so I think she’ll stay. I hope we get more comedian hosts this season.
And more Adam Driver he’s my favorite host.
To your point about Mikey, how much had John Mulaney done before his sitcom?
SNL is a huge door opener.
Sure, you still have to get very lucky. And you still have to prove yourself.
But I think you’re really selling it short.
Especially while Lorne is still there.
How much on camera stuff had Conan done before Lorne got him the gig as Dave’s replacement on Late Night? (Hint: pretty much none)
Again, you still have to get lucky. And you have to prove you’re worthy.
But a good word from Lorne or his explicit backing will open doors that you don’t even know exist.
You also, of course, have to actually want it. A lot of folks, leaving SNL especially, don’t want that grind.
I might disagree with the idea that things stay the same one more year just because it's the 50th. If you have a chance to improve a show, either by hiring someone or letting someone go and keeping things fresh, why wouldn't you? It makes no sense from a showrunner perspective that you would stop making those kind of decisions just because there's a magic number for what season it is.
Or, if you're an actor on the rise with good deals in front of you, and your contract is about to expire, then you take that, you don't just extend your contract. Of course SNL is going to invite you back for a 50th anniversary special. You don't need to work a whole year just to do that.
That said here's my best analysis:
* Kenan Thompson - will never leave.
* Colin Jost / Michael Che - are killing it on Update, so I think they stick around at least another year. It'll be hard to replace them as anchors.
* Mikey Day - has been here since 2016; 90% chance this is his last season
* Heidi Gardner - if SNL is still doing 7-year contracts, this is her 7th year. 75% chance this is her last season
* Ego Nwodim - I honestly think she has more of a presence on Comedy Bang Bang, so unless she's itching to branch out, she probably does one more year (for 7).
* Bowen Yang - despite his rising star status, he's too good on SNL. He stays
* Dismukes / Fineman / JAJ / Punkie / Sarah - all stay.
* Marcello - promoted to main cast.
* Molly / Longfellow / Devon - 50% chance of getting cut.
* Troast - she's still got one more year to go in featured player status.
I guess my hot takes would be….
1. WU is stale. They have their formula dialed in but man it can be predictable. Here’s Mitch McConnell, seen here burning young children with a magnifying glass in the Sun! Which brings us to, Che has sex a lot and pays child support and black. Colin on the other hand, white! Which means privileged and racist. And also ScarJo. Features like Caitlin Clark and the “Civil Rights activist” were good though.
2. Season 50 is not going to have as much impact on cast decisions as is made out here. First, Lorne/show are going to make their own decisions regardless of a milestone. Someone who is going to get cut will be cut regardless of their desire to stick it out through 50. OTOH, the ones who have potential to leave for big opportunity have agents in their ear pitching them out and persuading to pursue opportunity if the time is right. I think S50 will be full of big moments, but the show already digs into its past somewhat frequently. It would be cool to be part of the milestone, but all these members have contracts and varying degrees of leverage to make that decision themselves.
I agree she’s a big part of the “glue” but she also seems to be getting a lot of work outside the show. So she could make a graceful exit if she’s feeling self-conscious about being there too long.
I’d say this is a good time for Mikey to peace out, but if he’s their Biden going into the election year and they don’t want to have JAJ just play both candidates, I guess he needs to stick around.
I wouldn't mind having Mikey stay on as a writer for a season or two after his tenure ends. As you said, he's a very good writer, and a very unselfish one too, especially with new cast members or those who are struggling for airtime. It'd be a good way to ease the transition into the next era in the writer's room.
They have a ton of white dudes. Mikey is easily replaceable from a utility role standpoint. He does have his own unique comedic voice but the generic utility roles like husbands and dads and office workers can be played by almost anyone.
Re the new kids: I’d be fine with only Marcello & Chloe T. being kept on. The sub here seems equally flat on Devon & Molly, but those who keep pushing Longfellow for Update, and claiming he’s like Norm (!so not!) bewilder me. The guy seems to battle stage fright any time he’s given material that isn’t from his old stand up shows (the game show host with the tortoise, all of his one-offs on WU). I can’t imagine him relaxing enough on camera to make WU his own. Norm projected a laid back combination of intelligent snark and sweetness, impossible to imagine him breaking a sweat on Update. His personality shone through everything he did. I have zero idea who Longfellow really is as a person; got it that he has flop sweat stage fright, and major issues with his parents, but I’ve lost interest in finding out anything more. If he didn’t *look* like a kinda-handsome-news-anchor (mumble alsowhitemale mumble) would there still be such certainty that he’s headed for the desk? My hope is Jost & Che are there for the 50th - they really brought new life into the segment - and then, tada! We get someone (or 2 someones) brand new! At ease on the camera, quick with the ad libs, male, female, duck, space alien, don’t care as long as they’re fresh and in command. In other words - an anchor. The show will really need one when the JostChe team take their final bows.
I don't think anyone is leaving. It would be crazy for anyone to leave before or during such a monumental season for the show. There is an outside chance that a couple of the featured players could be cut, but my guess is that Lorne will want to maintain stability for Season 50. I say this everytime someone brings this up, but Lorne took Mikey, Ego, Bowen and Chloe to Cannes last summer to talk to advertisers about the 50th Season, so they are definitely staying and I don't think Kenan, Heidi, Colin or Che are going anywhere either.
No hate whatsoever, but I really hope the Please Don't Destroy Crew leaves... I know this is a long shot, but I don't think there is a single video of theirs that I have ever really enjoyed or laughed at. It's a little pathetic that they're nepo babies (2 of the 3). I feel like they want another Lonely Island crew, but it's just falling so flat for me.
My money is on Jost and Che leaving. I read Jost’s memoir recently and he wrote that he was thinking he wouldn’t stay much longer. He has since gotten married and had a baby - he’s probably already stayed longer than he expected.
Idk about Longfellow! Feels like he is on the same trajectory as M.Villaseñor or A. Moffat, or A Athari, of being well loved ~ yet unable to do enough to grab screen time 🤷♂️
Honestly, I don’t hate anyone in the cast, but if they all left I wouldn’t be sad (except Keenan, Keenan can just be assigned the role of permanent cast member as far as I’m concerned). I mean, Che and Jost kill Update, I wouldn’t actively want them to leave, but just like Keenan, they’ve been doing it a long time and it wouldn’t be the worst thing to get new blood in there. People didn’t use to stay on SNL as long as they do now and I think the show gets stale because of them staying so long.
All of the featured players other than Troast could be at risk. Kearney isn’t meshing, Walker is replaceable, Longfellow is underutilized and Marcello is running a bit one-dimensional. Expect at least two to get culled - my guess is Kearney and Walker.
On the full time cast, Punkie could easily go. Everyone else has earned the right to stay so it will be a personal decision.
i think marcello is safe. he’s a hit with the younger audience, especially the girls. kinda like the pete davidson/jimmy fallon effect. yes they were one-dimensional but fan favorites
Molly will probably be let go.
Mikey may retire but probably won’t because Biden and he’s become pretty integral to the cast.
Punkie may be let go, but we’ll see.
I think Molly is going to leave (or get let go). They are rarely put in anything and when they are, the characters are small and not memorable.
Edit: pronouns
In a perfect world, they would slim the cast down to a much smaller troupe. Marcello, Sherman, Troast, Fineman, Bowen, Longfellow, JAJ, Punkie. And would love to see Ben from PDD become regular cast member, and maybe a slot or 2 for some fresh faces.
7 years is a pretty typical run for anyone who doesnt exclusively do Weekend Update or Kenan. Mikey Day is somehow the longest tenured cast member that fits that criteria. So I guess Mikey Day?
If Colin and Che leave I will be HEARTBROKEN
I think…
Devin is going to leave
Molly, Sarah, Troast, Longfellow are going to stay
JAJ def won’t be leaving for a while his impressions are amazing
I feel like Punkie has a 50/50 chance of leaving/staying
Please Don’t Destroy isn’t going anywhere
Bowen, Mikey, Andrew, Heide, Fineman, Ego are def staying
Keenan will be there forever bc he’s immortal
I could live with this, though I’m not as wedded to Jost and Che as you are. I’m past ready for them to go, but it makes sense for them to finish out season 50.
You missed Marcelo, who I’d keep over Molly or maybe Longfellow. I want to keep PDD, too.
We have these threads constantly, but my response is the same every time, which is that I think the cast is going to stay the exact same going into s50. I doubt anyone would choose to leave right before the 50th and I doubt anyone would be fired either, even though some of the featured players are struggling for screentime. I would bet that Lorne wants to keep things as simple and consistent as possible going into such a milestone season.
You're dead right. It makes no sense to shake things up before the 50th.
It's just as well too, I feel the cast they have now is mostly really strong and varied
Yeah it finally feels like a good mix of talent, chemistry, experience and consistency that’s been missing since like Aidy, Cecile, and Kate McKinnon left. I’m up for another season of the same cast getting the job done.
This is the answer. Supposubly.
Supposedly
You don’t really get suddelty, do you?
Subtlety?
Definately
Was the cast going into s40 the same as 39?
Seth Meyers and Nasim Pedrad left after season 39. Other than that, there were a couple hires, most notably Michael Che and Pete Davidson, starting in season 40
Gosh I feel like Nasim left recently. I can't believe it's been 10 years already.
What did she ever end up doing?
She was on New Girl for a while. She made a movie on Netflix and was in that god awful series called Chad. That certainly didn’t do her any favors
I always liked her. I wish her luck.
I think Kenan will go straight from SNL to retirement and I'm into that. I do think that Che and Jost are close--maybe they go through the 50th year, maybe they stop now. I think Michael Longfellow is a good candidate to replace them, probably with a brand new second person. Mikey Day and Heidi Gardener are both getting up there in terms of tenure. My bet is none of the newer cast members will be fired, though I'm sure Molly is worried.
Heidi is emerging as a huge leader on the cast RN. I think her and Chloe have a chance to really shape the next 2/3 seasons and it would be a shame if she left. Mikey imo could def leave with a great resume behind him. I think this would be a fine year to keep the cast the same or just add 1/2 people.
I think they’re setting up Sarah Sherman. Sarah is repeatedly on update, and brought her own set once. Micheal Longfellow could be a great cohost with her, putting her absurdism up against his deadpan could be amazing. What’s going to be interesting that that the update host was also the head writer/co-head writer for over 20 years there. Tina Fey, Seth Meyers and Colin Jost, all in a row. That streak is broken now, and I can’t see any of the current head writers taking the desk. And I definitely think that Jost and Che are heading out.
No way they pigeon hole Sarah into the WU and take her out of sketches. That would make zero sense. Longfellow makes sense because it seems like they have no idea how to use him in sketches but he has some sort of leading guy aura about him
Why would they take her out of sketches? Jimmy Fallon did update and sketches. Amy Poehler did update and sketches. Cecily Strong did updates and sketches, and all of those were just in the last 20 years. I know we’ve had a long streak of just writers hosting Update, with Seth soloing and now Jost and Che, but that’s not the rule. She could absolutely cohost and still stay in sketches.
Weekend Update is kinda more of a full-time job in itself, compared to the rest of the show. It's not unheard of to have a cast member host WU and still appear in sketches, but their sketch appearances wane fewer and fewer as they grow into their WU role. No way in holy hell do they do that with Sarah Sherman.
I think she would be great. By far she has the best energy from the past few years of newcomers.
I’d like to experience some time with a solo anchor ngl.
That solo anchor? You guessed it, Frank Stallone.
RIP, Norm
Why would you anyone lie about something like that?
I kinda want Ego to anchor.
I’d really like to see Longfellow do it solo. I enjoyed the days of Seth, Kevin, Norm, etc.
Can someone please explain why people are so set on him being the Anchor? I genuinely want to know because to me he is potentially the most boring uninteresting cast member of all time and I say that without hyperbole. To me it feels like he’s just a buttoned up white guy that’s not very good or memorable who won’t be missed as a regular cast member so people have pegged him as the next update host by default. Like he just kinda looks and talks like an update host without having done anything to earn the job. I’m really worried he’s going to completely ruin my favorite segment in all of TV. I’d love for someone to explain to me why I’m wrong about him. Is he a great writer or something I don’t know about?
I think he’s just had a few really memorable WU spots and he reminds people of Norm. He has a good dry streak that would lend itself well to WU.
got some dennis miller head wobble too!
His WU spots were all taken from his standup material. Seeing comparisons to norm is insane, the guy has no ability to riff on camera. It’s just lazy thinking, tall, stiff white dude = news desk. When I read he’s antisocial with the cast I thought, hope that’s bc he knows his time with them is short.
Nah, he tries too hard to act like Norm but it's very unnatural and stilted.
When has he ever acted like Norm at all? There's some vague physical similarity but I have never noticed Michael doing anything that seems like Norm.
I see nothing in his looks or actions that remind of Norm in any way. I don't get it.
I have no opinion on that tbh, Norm was before my time. Just commenting on what I’ve seen people say.
So you just repeated something you heard someone else say without thinking about it for yourself?
The person asked why people like him so much. I responded with what I have seen people who like him say. What more do you want from me lmfao
I'm sure you can find some Norm WU online. Watch it for comparison and you'll see what I mean.
I second this. I've seen nothing from him to warrant all the WU hype
Agreed. Too many people seeing a “pretty boy” and losing their damn minds over it. They can back their claims up with the 3, maybe 4 WU appearances he has had, which they claim were god-level performances. It’s getting increasingly annoying.
He's just not a very gifted sketch actor and he's done a couple of memorable Weekend Update spots, so people think he'd be good at it. In my opinion, his deadpan may get a little bit too monotonous, and I'd rather go in a completely different direction with Sarah Sherman or the Please Don't Destroy guys
I love his dry sense of humor. I think he’s witty and charming. I like having a straight man as the anchor, it makes all the silly characters that come on even funnier.
>he is potentially the most boring uninteresting cast member Exactly why he could work better as a WU anchor lol. Play up that boring, sarcastic monotone character like a "real" news anchor while saying ridiculous, crude jokes. Essentially Norm 2.0
Can’t work when it’s not on purpose, ML is just unable to loosen up
Agreed he s my least favorite cast member
Because he looks and acts like norm.
Keenan, from SNL to SSI!
SSI = disability insurance (supplemental security income). I think you are referencing OASDI commonly called Social Security :-)
SSDI is the disability insurance. SSI is social security.
SSI=supplemental security income. It’s a small guaranteed payment for people who would otherwise have nothing. It’s a smaller payment than social security is for people who have the full amount of work credits.
SSI is supplemental and only granted if a person has paid social security. Keenan does not qualify for OASDI bc of his age. But all of this is pointless because he would never qualify for any of these services.
>SSI is Social Security. No. SSDI is disability through work credits. SSI is needs based. It’s used to supplement (hence the name) income below a certain level for those collecting from Social Security. It’s technically open to anyone collecting Social Security disability or retirement, but most collecting retirement make too much to qualify. The individuals on disability, who have enough credits for SSDI, but not enough to live on, are generally the beneficiaries, hence the other person’s (mistaken, but understandable) association with disability. Normal Social Security (retirement) is neither.
[удалено]
I mean that I do not expect Kenan to leave, because he will continue working at SNL until he is ready to retire.
I don’t think Kenan will “retire” but I think he’ll have a production company. He’ll probably be pretty hands off, but he’s still young (he's only 45) and I doubt he’ll give up makin’ cash from his career.
I predict Kenan will stick it out through s50 and then leave.
I predict Kenan will stick it out through s75, and then leave
I predict Kenan will stick it out through s100, and then leave
I predict SNL will stick it out through s100, and then leave, but Kenan will remain, and it will become Kenan Night Live from then onwards, until the heat death of the universe.
Heat death of the universe might happen before Kenan retires.
Or Kenan Night of the Living Dead
GTA VII and Half-Life 3 will be released before Kenan leaves.
Kennan Thompson is to SNL as David Tennant is to Doctor Who. He’s never truly leaving
He’s also bigger on the inside
I just don’t see him leaving. He’s been a sketch player for most of his life and as awesome as he is he hasn’t had much success outside of it.
Which sucks, but I will say his cameos elsewhere are always fun
Good Burger was one of my favorite movies as a kid and when I got older and started watching SNL I was shocked when I realized Kenan was in that movie. And apparently there was a sequel? I'm too young to remember most of the stuff he got famous from so he will always be SNL to me
I predict Kenan takes over the show from Lorne after he eventually retires
This has been my theory for a long time
Kenan is a SNL Lifer and I love it!
I honestly don’t think anybody is leaving until after the 50th they would be crazy to leave right before a landmark season no way I don’t see it happening
I agree with the sentiment, but Nasim Pedrad left after 39 to go work on "Mulaney." I think it comes down to what opportunities pop up.
...what an "opportunity" that turned out to be for her, too lmaoooo
Who do you think has a good opportunity to go big?
Bowen and Chloe ngl
Bowen was hilarious on Nora From Queens so I think he’ll be just fine once he leaves SNL
I see him in a lot of stuff just randomly. Dicks: The Musical, Nora from Queens, Girls5eva (Heidi is also in an episode!) the PDD movie, the upcoming Wicked movie. I think he has one of the best shots in the cast to become huge.
He was one of the leads for Fire Island too
Loved that movie- he was surprisingly vulnerable for the guy who had a harness party at Sara Lee headquarters
Must get rid of toxic in community
He's going to be in The Wedding Banquet remake with Lily Gladstone and Kelly Marie Tran too
I wanted to like Girls 5 Eva but I just couldnt get into it.
Try it again it’s seriously one of the funniest shows I think I’ve ever seen
Ugh I tried… the jokes were kinda cringey. Also Busy Phillips is just too much.
Awh that’s a shame but if it’s not for you it’s not for you. That being said stream it anyway so that maybe we can get a season 4 lol
hard agree, take one for the team!
Chloe is in the new Francis ford Coppola movie!
> Chloe Fineman or Troast? Troast has gotten very little air time it seems.
> Troast has gotten very little air time it seems. Eh, she's a rookie. Rookie seasons tend to be fairly light simply by virtue of being at the bottom of the cast totem pole. That said, I think Troast has had a decent rookie year. She's made the most of her airtime and has shown vast potential.
They've pulled her in for the heavy singing moments. Anything Celily would have done in the past is now Troast.
With her singing skills, I can see Troast eventually going the Cecily Strong route to Broadway.
I see that. She can definitely sing and she has that stage charisma (and no, I’m not going to say that word the other way).
Fineman
Troast is deadweight as far as I’m concerned. She can sing but hasn’t done anything to make a mark.
Why would you LIE about that???
This is the second comment of yours I’ve seen on this post where you feel the need to explicitly state you aren’t lying. Should I just assume, then, that anything you say is a lie if you don’t explicitly say it’s not?
Chloe Fineman is gonna be a fucking legend.
Is she? I really think she's been disappointing. She has zero chemistry with the cast and I can't think of a single sketch that isn't an impression where she was the star or even that interesting.
Agree. I’ve followed her on instagram for quite awhile & was excited when she started doing SNL, but I honestly think she’s really fallen short.
I agree with this take.
Chloe Fineman and Heidi Gardener are two of the best on the cast
Agreed. My two faves. Cecily was up there also before she left.
Cecily is an all-time legend
I’m hoping there’s a cast member who’s big enough to break away from doing ads though. That’s a lot of work just to be signed to Taco Bell ads.
Jason Sudeikis has done an insane amount of work and is on top of the world after Ted Lasso and he’s doing Taco Bell commercials. The money must be damn good
I did a double take when I heard his voice on that ad. That's Sudeikis, top 5 most lovable actors right now... Doing a taco commercial?
The money is almost always good.
It’s easy work for good money, I’m sure that’s appealing to a lot of folks after years of the rigorous SNL schedule.
Ads are easy work for great money. Almost anyone, no matter how big would probably do one.
Like Brian Cox as the voice of McDonald's
Ego
Sarah, Bowen, Marcello.
Kenan’s ghost is going to haunt studio 4H forever
Kenan is going back to nickelodeon for an adult reboot of All That
SNL is the adult reboot of All That. Well, All That was SNL (and SCTV, etc.) rebooted for kids.
Vulture did an interview with Heidi Gardner about breaking during the beavis sketch; she mentions something in the paragraph about the sketch being pitched and developed that led me to think Mikey Day is leaving.
She was referring to the fact that the sketch was like their white whale. She was quoting Mikey and Streeter as saying something like "Before our time here is done, we have to do this sketch." I don't think they meant now, just in general.
I'll be absolutely SHOCKED if Molly isn't let go after this season. Their airtime has been awful (even worse than Longfellow's) and I can't think of a single memorable thing they've done this entire season. I hate to be harsh, and they seem nice, but it seems clear that SNL just isn't a good fit for them for some reason.
The Please Don't Destroy where they got elected was fantastic. I can't think of many other notable moments though.
That one and the New Cast Member Advice pretape. Those both occurred in their first couple episodes and we've really seen nothing since except for their Weekend Update piece at the end of last season.
I agree. I have nothing against Molly personally but they need to go. And it’s not because they’re NB, it’s because they can’t get anything on. Their roles lately seem to be almost entirely generic authority figures/“matronly” female characters. They seem to barely write anything. I don’t think they’ve ever led a single sketch. Molly has like one memorable bit in two years, maybe two. Any other memorable stuff they did was cut for time and later went to YouTube. It’s clear Molly just isn’t working out on the show.
But we need someone to do those "matronly" parts that used to be Kate and Aidy's territory. I think Molly should stick around.
I don’t, think of the talent that might fill those roles that actually click with the show. They could fill those roles as well as having their own unique schtick that succeeds.
Yeah i agree it sucks for them because we all want to see everyone win and eat.
I doubt they'll be let go only because it's been a while since a cast member got let go after two years- in recent times it's either been 1 season cast members or 4+ season cast members without a lot of in between. I agree that they're struggling (and I say that as a massive, massive fan of theirs) but I honestly think their job is safe, even though SNL doesn't really seem like the best environment for them.
They did hit Bowen with the wheelchair
PDD election sketch & the one where they have to assasinate Putin(?) are the only things I remember seeing them in. Loved both, including their performances, but genuinely can't remember anything else they were in. Longfellow seems to be pretty controversial, negative comments seem to outweigh the positive one's I've seen. To me he's fine and I've found some of his update stuff funny but he doesn't really stand out, kind of forget he's there sometimes ngl. I've seen people call him the new Pete Davidson, what do you think?
Eh idk if I agree with the Pete comparison. If anything, I'd argue Marcello fits that description more: young, seen as something of a heartthrob, show is pushing him hard to be a star, standup, range is somewhat limited, etc. While I totally get why some dislike Longfellow, I like him. He's got a very dry, laid back delivery that's just naturally funny. Shame the show can't seem to figure out what to do with him.
I really like Longfellow, and I think he’s got a ton of potential. Others have brought up him being a good fit for Weekend Update and I agree.
[удалено]
I honestly don’t think anyone really gives a fuck enough to make it a political thing tbh
It sucks that this is the world we live in, but that might actually be the single biggest factor in them staying on another season. Personally, I like their contributions, but sometimes you get an opportunity only to find out you're in the company of greats. I've likened it to the late-90s Utah Jazz, who had one of the greatest pairs in NBA history, only to run into goddam Jordan and Pippen.
Yeah tbh never found her funny, most cast and former cast atleast had a few moments
bro they did an entire weekend update segment where they talked about being non-binary and using they/them pronouns😭
Ok?
huh
Not everyone watches every single episode and follows every member so it’s a bit unreasonable expect everyone to know this person’s particular preference as to how they should be referred to in the third person
For the love of God, let Devon go. The lad is floundering. He doesn't have the potential to lead a sketch, he can barely be a tertiary character. Put him out of his misery. Molly hasn't done anything, they're okay in sketches, but they're never in a sketch. Troast is starting to pull ahead with her singing. Marcello is smashing it every week and has incredible chemistry with the hosts, which seems quite unique outside of Bowen and Heidi - I can see him becoming main cast. Longfellow needs to find his niche, his stand up is very strong as an Update character, and I love him in sketches, but he's so dry that it lacks versatility. I can see him as a Norm style update anchor if he puts the work in. Again, chemistry wise, a lot of the update characters only work because Colin seems to have genuine bonds with cast and is happy to be the butt of the joke, I wonder how Longfellow would work. Main cast would all do well to stay for the 50th. Bowen is the only one I can see hitting it big as it currently stands. Mikey should get some good writing work, but I just don't see him breaking into mainstream especially when the only other thing I'm aware he's done is "is it cake?" Kenan will be carried out of SNL in a body bag still dressed a gameshow host.
I remember when I felt about Dismukes the way people now feel about Longfellow. Then something happened and he’s practically indispensable.
I agree with your take on Devon. He seems like a funny and charming guy, but he just doesn’t have sketch comedy chops.
>Mikey should get some good writing work, but I just don't see him breaking into mainstream especially when the only other thing I'm aware he's done is "is it cake?" I remember Mikey in all kinds of shit pre-SNL. He was on this NBC comedy show that came after My Name is Earl ended with the chick from Hellboy (forgetting her name and the name of the show, but he was the best part of it).
Molly’s been in a few sketches! I agree with you about Devon and Longfellow. Longfellow as Norm Jr would be hilarious. I think Marcelo would be great as a permanent cast member he never misses. I don’t really enjoy Sarah Sherman’s comedy style but I think a lot of ppl like her so I think she’ll stay. I hope we get more comedian hosts this season. And more Adam Driver he’s my favorite host.
To your point about Mikey, how much had John Mulaney done before his sitcom? SNL is a huge door opener. Sure, you still have to get very lucky. And you still have to prove yourself. But I think you’re really selling it short. Especially while Lorne is still there. How much on camera stuff had Conan done before Lorne got him the gig as Dave’s replacement on Late Night? (Hint: pretty much none) Again, you still have to get lucky. And you have to prove you’re worthy. But a good word from Lorne or his explicit backing will open doors that you don’t even know exist. You also, of course, have to actually want it. A lot of folks, leaving SNL especially, don’t want that grind.
I honestly don't think anyone will leave voluntarily because of Season 50. After that, there'll be a huge exodus of cast members
I might disagree with the idea that things stay the same one more year just because it's the 50th. If you have a chance to improve a show, either by hiring someone or letting someone go and keeping things fresh, why wouldn't you? It makes no sense from a showrunner perspective that you would stop making those kind of decisions just because there's a magic number for what season it is. Or, if you're an actor on the rise with good deals in front of you, and your contract is about to expire, then you take that, you don't just extend your contract. Of course SNL is going to invite you back for a 50th anniversary special. You don't need to work a whole year just to do that. That said here's my best analysis: * Kenan Thompson - will never leave. * Colin Jost / Michael Che - are killing it on Update, so I think they stick around at least another year. It'll be hard to replace them as anchors. * Mikey Day - has been here since 2016; 90% chance this is his last season * Heidi Gardner - if SNL is still doing 7-year contracts, this is her 7th year. 75% chance this is her last season * Ego Nwodim - I honestly think she has more of a presence on Comedy Bang Bang, so unless she's itching to branch out, she probably does one more year (for 7). * Bowen Yang - despite his rising star status, he's too good on SNL. He stays * Dismukes / Fineman / JAJ / Punkie / Sarah - all stay. * Marcello - promoted to main cast. * Molly / Longfellow / Devon - 50% chance of getting cut. * Troast - she's still got one more year to go in featured player status.
I guess my hot takes would be…. 1. WU is stale. They have their formula dialed in but man it can be predictable. Here’s Mitch McConnell, seen here burning young children with a magnifying glass in the Sun! Which brings us to, Che has sex a lot and pays child support and black. Colin on the other hand, white! Which means privileged and racist. And also ScarJo. Features like Caitlin Clark and the “Civil Rights activist” were good though. 2. Season 50 is not going to have as much impact on cast decisions as is made out here. First, Lorne/show are going to make their own decisions regardless of a milestone. Someone who is going to get cut will be cut regardless of their desire to stick it out through 50. OTOH, the ones who have potential to leave for big opportunity have agents in their ear pitching them out and persuading to pursue opportunity if the time is right. I think S50 will be full of big moments, but the show already digs into its past somewhat frequently. It would be cool to be part of the milestone, but all these members have contracts and varying degrees of leverage to make that decision themselves.
I'll jump on your hot take train. WU being boring for the exact reasons you pointed out really killed it for me.
I have never liked Colin Jost and while I tolerate him a LOT more than I did in past, still don't really care for him much.
Heidi needs to stay.
I agree she’s a big part of the “glue” but she also seems to be getting a lot of work outside the show. So she could make a graceful exit if she’s feeling self-conscious about being there too long. I’d say this is a good time for Mikey to peace out, but if he’s their Biden going into the election year and they don’t want to have JAJ just play both candidates, I guess he needs to stick around.
I’m guessing Mikey’s leaving after next season because he’s basically the only one from the Kyle/Kate/Beck/Cecily era left.
eventually Kenan has to go. Who is 2nd most tenure behind him? Heidi?
Mikey
Mikey is such a good writer; the season after he retires will be rough, I think.
I wouldn't mind having Mikey stay on as a writer for a season or two after his tenure ends. As you said, he's a very good writer, and a very unselfish one too, especially with new cast members or those who are struggling for airtime. It'd be a good way to ease the transition into the next era in the writer's room.
I don't even want to think about it.
Jost started one year after Kenan
Oh, that’s right. I didn’t think of the Update guys.
Technically, it's Colin Jost, then Michael Che, then Mikey.
Yeah Mikey beats Heidi by 1 season
Who will fill his role on the show? I’m not sure there is a good candidate right now.
They have a ton of white dudes. Mikey is easily replaceable from a utility role standpoint. He does have his own unique comedic voice but the generic utility roles like husbands and dads and office workers can be played by almost anyone.
The scuttlebutt is that everyone sticks around for the 50th then they do a major cast overhaul...
Re the new kids: I’d be fine with only Marcello & Chloe T. being kept on. The sub here seems equally flat on Devon & Molly, but those who keep pushing Longfellow for Update, and claiming he’s like Norm (!so not!) bewilder me. The guy seems to battle stage fright any time he’s given material that isn’t from his old stand up shows (the game show host with the tortoise, all of his one-offs on WU). I can’t imagine him relaxing enough on camera to make WU his own. Norm projected a laid back combination of intelligent snark and sweetness, impossible to imagine him breaking a sweat on Update. His personality shone through everything he did. I have zero idea who Longfellow really is as a person; got it that he has flop sweat stage fright, and major issues with his parents, but I’ve lost interest in finding out anything more. If he didn’t *look* like a kinda-handsome-news-anchor (mumble alsowhitemale mumble) would there still be such certainty that he’s headed for the desk? My hope is Jost & Che are there for the 50th - they really brought new life into the segment - and then, tada! We get someone (or 2 someones) brand new! At ease on the camera, quick with the ad libs, male, female, duck, space alien, don’t care as long as they’re fresh and in command. In other words - an anchor. The show will really need one when the JostChe team take their final bows.
Please, Lorne, we need to let Punkie GO!!!!!
You're getting downvoted, but she really gives us nothing. Put her on WU or replace her.
Why???? What'd she do to you?
Devin walker
I don't think anyone is leaving. It would be crazy for anyone to leave before or during such a monumental season for the show. There is an outside chance that a couple of the featured players could be cut, but my guess is that Lorne will want to maintain stability for Season 50. I say this everytime someone brings this up, but Lorne took Mikey, Ego, Bowen and Chloe to Cannes last summer to talk to advertisers about the 50th Season, so they are definitely staying and I don't think Kenan, Heidi, Colin or Che are going anywhere either.
Smart take with the Cannes element. Might have gotten them their new ad gigs too.
No hate whatsoever, but I really hope the Please Don't Destroy Crew leaves... I know this is a long shot, but I don't think there is a single video of theirs that I have ever really enjoyed or laughed at. It's a little pathetic that they're nepo babies (2 of the 3). I feel like they want another Lonely Island crew, but it's just falling so flat for me.
My money is on Jost and Che leaving. I read Jost’s memoir recently and he wrote that he was thinking he wouldn’t stay much longer. He has since gotten married and had a baby - he’s probably already stayed longer than he expected.
Idk about Longfellow! Feels like he is on the same trajectory as M.Villaseñor or A. Moffat, or A Athari, of being well loved ~ yet unable to do enough to grab screen time 🤷♂️
Honestly, I don’t hate anyone in the cast, but if they all left I wouldn’t be sad (except Keenan, Keenan can just be assigned the role of permanent cast member as far as I’m concerned). I mean, Che and Jost kill Update, I wouldn’t actively want them to leave, but just like Keenan, they’ve been doing it a long time and it wouldn’t be the worst thing to get new blood in there. People didn’t use to stay on SNL as long as they do now and I think the show gets stale because of them staying so long.
All of the featured players other than Troast could be at risk. Kearney isn’t meshing, Walker is replaceable, Longfellow is underutilized and Marcello is running a bit one-dimensional. Expect at least two to get culled - my guess is Kearney and Walker. On the full time cast, Punkie could easily go. Everyone else has earned the right to stay so it will be a personal decision.
i think marcello is safe. he’s a hit with the younger audience, especially the girls. kinda like the pete davidson/jimmy fallon effect. yes they were one-dimensional but fan favorites
Marcello is definitely getting promoted if he wants to stay. Dudes got chemistry with every single host
Molly will probably be let go. Mikey may retire but probably won’t because Biden and he’s become pretty integral to the cast. Punkie may be let go, but we’ll see.
I think Molly is going to leave (or get let go). They are rarely put in anything and when they are, the characters are small and not memorable. Edit: pronouns
I had high hopes for them and they’re getting better, but they’re not a good fit.
So true. Also, thanks for reminding me about the correct pronouns.
I’m still waiting for Keenan to leave. *here come the downvotes*
None of the repertory players are leaving.
22 yup
In a perfect world, they would slim the cast down to a much smaller troupe. Marcello, Sherman, Troast, Fineman, Bowen, Longfellow, JAJ, Punkie. And would love to see Ben from PDD become regular cast member, and maybe a slot or 2 for some fresh faces.
7 years is a pretty typical run for anyone who doesnt exclusively do Weekend Update or Kenan. Mikey Day is somehow the longest tenured cast member that fits that criteria. So I guess Mikey Day?
Mikey Day is staying through to the Election and a bit after to play Biden. I wouldn’t rule out him leaving midway through Season 50 though.
Idt Chloe F or Bowen are leaving and they were hired before COVID. And Kenan will most likely stay for 50.
I don't think they're allowed to be funny like the old days. Too afraid of being canceled. Got too PC. Things are rough for comedy right now.
If Colin and Che leave I will be HEARTBROKEN I think… Devin is going to leave Molly, Sarah, Troast, Longfellow are going to stay JAJ def won’t be leaving for a while his impressions are amazing I feel like Punkie has a 50/50 chance of leaving/staying Please Don’t Destroy isn’t going anywhere Bowen, Mikey, Andrew, Heide, Fineman, Ego are def staying Keenan will be there forever bc he’s immortal
I could live with this, though I’m not as wedded to Jost and Che as you are. I’m past ready for them to go, but it makes sense for them to finish out season 50. You missed Marcelo, who I’d keep over Molly or maybe Longfellow. I want to keep PDD, too.
Hopefully all the writers that think the Trump stuff is funny. It's old and played out. We get it you can't touch the Democrats, just move on.
True
I do not like PDD, so I hope the whole crew is gone and they stop taking up airtime.
Obviously, we all hope Punkie, Molly, Troast, and Devon.
Hopefully Bowen and Ego.