Ego Nwodim is leaving “Saturday Night Live” after seven seasons on the show, she announced Friday, becoming the latest in a rash of high-profile departures ahead of the program’s 51st season.
Nwodim acknowledged her “unforgettable” tenure with “SNL” and said she had decided to leave.
According to her Instagram Story, “The hardest part of a great party is knowing when to say goodnight.”
She thanked “SNL” creator Lorne Michaels and other cornerstones of the show for their support.
“Week after week on that stage taught me more than I could have ever imagined, and I will carry those memories (and that laughter) with me always. now please invite me to your wedding, “Nwodium.
The news follows a string of recent cast departures as the storied program prepares for its 51st season. Devon Walker, Emil Wakim and Michael Longfellow have said they’re leaving the show. Multiple news outlets reported that cast mainstay Heidi Gardner was also departing the show.
Michaels previously said he anticipated changes following the show’s historic 50th season. No cast members had announced their departure following the season’s conclusion.
In an interview with Puck that ran last month, Michaels answered “yes” when asked if he expected to “shake things up.”
The new season starts Oct. 4.
Meanwhile, five new cast members have been announced for the upcoming season.
Ben Marshall, already an “SNL” writer, will become a featured player, along with newcomers Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson and Veronika Slowikowska.
ADDITIONS
All new cast members will be joining the show as featured players.
Marshall first joined the “SNL” writing staff in 2021, along with the other members of his comedy trio, Please Don’t Destroy. Digital shorts from Please Don’t Destroy, which includes John Higgins and Martin Herlihy, have been featured on “SNL” for the past four seasons. The group is currently on tour together. (Higgins confirmed Tuesday he is departing the “SNL” writing staff.)
Brennan has performed on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and was selected as a Just for Laughs New Face of Comedy in 2023. Culhane, a regular on Dropout TV, is known for his viral videos and also performs with the Upright Citizens Brigade in Los Angeles.
Patterson is a regular on the live comedy podcast “Kill Tony,” hosted by Tony Hinchcliffe. The stand-up comedian also appears in Netflix’s “72 Hours.”
Slowikowska, known for her viral online comedy sketches, has appeared in “Tires” and “What We Do in the Shadows.”
Scarlett Johansson got her revenge! On May 17, the actress hosted the Season 50 finale of “Saturday Night Live” with musical guest Bad Bunny and made an appearance on “Weekend Update” to get payback on Michael Che for his NSFW joke about her during the Christmas episode.
