Bowen Yang is to leave 'Saturday Night Live' after eight seasons

Bowen Yang, a fan-favorite formed subordinate of “Saturday Night Live,” is expected to permission the bid aft this week’s episode. Representatives for Yang and “Saturday Night Live” did not remark connected the determination Friday. There has been caller speculation astir whether helium would decorativeness the existent play of the show. He has appeared connected the amusement since Season 45 aft a twelvemonth of moving connected the penning staff.

Yang took connected a assortment of roles successful the NBC sketch drama series, including impersonating Vice President J.D. Vance, Fran Lebowitz and pygmy hippopotamus Moo Deng. Yang received his 5th Emmy information for his enactment connected “SNL’s” historical 50th season.

Yang is expected to look successful Saturday’s episode, hosted by his “Wicked” co-star and person Ariana Grande with philharmonic impermanent Cher.

Outside of “SNL,” Yang has appeared successful respective different projects recently. He co-hosts the fashionable podcast “Las Culturistas,” with chap comedian Matt Rogers, and their seminal Las Culturistas Culture Awards was televised for the archetypal clip this year, airing connected Bravo and streaming connected Peacock. Yang besides appeared successful the “Wicked” movie and its caller sequel, “Wicked: For Good,” and has starred successful respective different diagnostic films, including “The Wedding Banquet,” “Fire Island” and “Dicks the Musical.”

In aboriginal December, Yang confirmed helium and Rogers would beryllium co-writing and starring successful an untitled drama for Searchlight Pictures. The movie volition reportedly travel 2 Americans who alert crossed the satellite to effort to get into the exclusive Berghain nightclub successful Berlin.

Yang is not the archetypal “Saturday Night Live” formed subordinate to permission mid-season — helium joins the institution of past “SNL” greats similar Cecily Strong, Molly Shannon, Amy Poehler and a fistful of others who exited the amusement extracurricular of the accepted play for departures portion the amusement is connected summertime hiatus.

Prior to the commencement of Season 51, NBC and enforcement shaper Lorne Michaels made immoderate large formed changes, adding 5 featured players aft a bid of departures. Ego Nwodim, Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker and Emil Wakim exited the bid earlier the play premiere successful October.

Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Ben Marshall, Kam Patterson and Veronika Slowikowska joined the formed for the existent season. Marshall was antecedently connected the “SNL” penning unit and is known for his on-camera appearances arsenic a portion of the Please Don’t Destroy drama trio.

The 51st play of “Saturday Night Live” volition proceed successful aboriginal 2026 and tally done the extremity of the tv play successful May.