Lorne Michaels has revealed that new blood is key to keeping \u201cSaturday Night Live!\u201d as \u201cfresh\u201d as possible.<\/p>\n
The NBC honcho, 80, shared some rare insight into the major cast shakeups taking place behind the scenes of the late-night sketch comedy show after a slew of well-known names announced they would not be returning.<\/p>\n
Speaking to Derek Hough on the red carpet at the 2025\u00a0Emmy Awards\u00a0on Sunday, Michaels told Extra<\/a> he was \u201cthrilled\u201d with how Season 50 of \u201cSNL\u201d turned out.<\/p>\n Lorne Michaels has revealed that new blood is key to keeping \u201cSaturday Night Live!\u201d as \u201cfresh\u201d as possible. Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cThe 50th anniversary was like two years in the making, but we were really happy about it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n When asked how he manages to keep the comedy show \u201cfresh\u201d after a whopping 50 years onscreen, Michaels admitted that \u201cnew people\u201d is the only way to go.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s essential that we bring new people in every year,\u201d he explained, before sharing how the show\u2019s demographic has a knock-on effect on casting.<\/p>\n \u201cThe longest four years of your life are high school, and I think that\u2019s when people tend to attach to a cast, and that is the age of our audience in a way,\u201d he said. \u201cThe old audience is there, but they fall asleep early.\u201d<\/p>\n The NBC honcho, 80, shared some rare insight into the major cast shakeups taking place behind the scenes of the late-night sketch comedy show. REUTERS<\/p>\n Michaels added that as the audience changes, so \u201cdoes the comedy.\u201d<\/p>\n While the longtime producer was expected to retire at the end of the show\u2019s 50th season this past spring, insiders told The Post that Michaels isn\u2019t going anywhere just yet.<\/p>\n Ahead of the Season 51 premiere on Oct. 4, \u201cSaturday Night Live!\u201d introduced five new featured players following\u00a0a brutal cast shakeup<\/a>\u00a0saw the sudden departure of four beloved stars.<\/p>\n Lorne Michaels and the cast and crew of \u201cSNL50: The Anniversary Special\u201d accept the award for outstanding variety special (live) for during the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 14, 2025. Chris Pizzello\/Invision\/AP<\/p>\n Comedians Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Ben Marshall, Kam Patterson\u00a0and Veronika Slowikowska will all make their \u201cSNL\u201d debuts<\/a> when the sketch comedy series returns to Studio 8H next month.<\/p>\n The Post has confirmed<\/a>\u00a0that Bowen Yang, Ego Nwodim, Chloe Fineman, Kenan Thompson, Colin Jost and Michael Che are all coming back.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Other stars set to return include Mikey Day, Sarah Sherman, Marcello Hern\u00e1ndez, Andrew Dismukes and James Austin Johnson, as well as Season 50 newcomers Ashley Padilla and Jane Wickline.<\/p>\n However, viewers will not be seeing a slew of beloved \u201cSNL\u201d names back on their screens next month, including Devon Walker, Emil Wakim, Michael Longfellow and Heidi Gardner.<\/p>\n \u201cThe 50th anniversary was like two years in the making, but we were really happy about it,\u201d Michaels said. Mary Ellen Matthews\/NBC via Getty Images<\/p>\n Walker, who was promoted to the main cast in 2024, was\u00a0the first to confirm his exit<\/a>. Wakim, who was an \u201cSNL\u201d newcomer and only appeared in a single season,\u00a0quickly followed suit<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tStart your day with all you need to know\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMorning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n Perhaps\u00a0the most surprising departure so far<\/a>\u00a0ahead of Season 51, however, is Gardner.<\/p>\n Although she has not addressed her departure, an insider claimed her\u00a0contract with \u201cSNL\u201d was not renewed<\/a>.<\/p>\n Michaels during \u201cThe New Beatles Offer\u201d skit on \u201cSaturday night Live!\u201d on May 22, 1976. NBCUniversal via Getty Images<\/p>\n