Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · September 2, 2025 · Entertainment

SNL Bloodbath: Five New Stars Amidst a Cast Exodus!

Saturday Night Live has added five new cast members amid a massive shake-up with four stars being axed so far (the season 48 cast are shown)

SNL SHAKEDOWN: Five New Cast Members Join, Four Favorites Booted Out

The Saturday Night Live (SNL) drama train is chugging along at full speed, and we've got all the juicy deets for you! In a shocking move, the long-running late-night comedy show has added five fresh faces to its cast, but don't worry, it's not all sunshine and rainbows. Four beloved favorites have been given the ax, leaving fans reeling.

Meet the newcomers: Ben Marshall, Veronika Slowikowska, Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, and Kam Patterson are the lucky ones who've earned a spot on the coveted cast list for Season 51. But before we dive into their backgrounds, let's get to the messy part – the departures.

Ben Marshall (right) was part of the Please Don't Destroy trio who would do digital shorts in previous years but he has now been promoted to the actual cast for the upcoming season 51

The Shocking Ouster of Heidi Gardner

Heidi Gardner, the talented actress and comedian, has left SNL after an impressive eight-season run as a featured player. Yes, you read that right – eight seasons! The Missouri-born star joined the show in 2017 during Season 43, and was promoted to the main cast just two years later. She's written and starred in countless iconic sketches, including her hilarious character Bailey Gismert, a teen movie critic who often appeared on Weekend Update segments.

Gardner's also donned wigs and prosthetics to impersonate high-profile celebrities like Reba McEntire, Oscar-winner Mikey Madison, and Kim Kardashian. Her impressive resume includes appearing in the show's 50th-anniversary special alongside fellow SNL alums. It's no wonder fans are still reeling from her departure.

The trio were known for their digital shorts which were often off-beat and played on SNL every few weeks as some of the more popular clips included A-list hosts including Taylor Swift, Dakota Johnson, and Timothee Chalamet

Michael Longfellow: The Short-Lived Star

Just three seasons ago, Michael Longfellow joined SNL as a featured player and quickly became known for his Weekend Update segments. However, it seems that wasn't enough to save him from the chopping block. The 31-year-old comedian's exit comes just after being part of the show's cast for Season 48.

Longfellow's brief tenure might have been due to Lorne Michaels' announcement about a "significant shake-up" ahead of Season 51. It seems that Longfellow was one of the unfortunate casualties in this mass exodus.

Last week, many were shocked as Daily Mail confirmed that fan favorite Heidi Gardner has exited the show after an impressive eight-season run as furious viewers called for SNL to be cancelled amid the ongoing cast exodus; seen in February

Emil Wakim: The Unexpected Exit

In an Instagram post, Emil Wakim shared some devastating news – he won't be returning to SNL next year. The 27-year-old comedian, who began his tenure with the show during Season 50, expressed gratitude for his time at Studio 8H but hinted that it wasn't his decision to leave.

Wakim's Instagram post read like a heartfelt goodbye letter: "It was a gut punch of a call to get but I'm so grateful for my time there. Every time I scanned into the building, I'd think how insane it is to get to work here." He even included photos of his time at SNL, including appearing on Weekend Update with Colin Jost and Michael Che.

Gardner joined SNL in 2017 during season 43 as a featured player along with now-former SNL stars Luke Null and Chris Redd. She was promoted to main cast two years later

The Chicago-born comedian holds the distinction of being the first SNL cast member of Lebanese heritage. His exit has left fans wondering what really went down behind closed doors.

Devon Walker: The Rocky Romance

Last Tuesday, Devon Walker announced his departure from the show after three seasons in an Instagram post that compared his time at SNL to a "rocky romance." He joked about the job being "toxic" at times but stopped short of naming names. When reached out for comment by our team at thescholarlynote.com, Walker chuckled and declined to discuss further.

The news of the 42-year-old comedian's exit comes shortly after it was revealed that cast members Michael Longfellow, Emil Wakim and Devon Walker would not be returning for season 51 on NBC

Walker's exit seems more like a mutual decision rather than a forced departure. In his Instagram post, he mentioned preparing to take off overseas and even revealed plans to star in a prestige drama alongside Julianne Moore upon his return.

The Newbies: A Closer Look

Ben Marshall, the newest member of the SNL cast, was part of the popular digital shorts group Please Don't Destroy. As one-third of this comedic trio, he's made waves with off-beat sketches that often feature A-list hosts like Taylor Swift and Timothée Chalamet. With his promotion to the main cast, fans are wondering if the rest of the Please Don't Destroy crew will follow suit.

It was also confirmed by Daily Mail on Thursday that SNL cast member Michael Longfellow is leaving the hit show after just three seasons; seen in February

The other newcomers include Veronika Slowikowska, Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, and Kam Patterson. Their backgrounds and past work might be less familiar to some, but one thing's for sure – they've all earned a spot on this highly competitive stage.

SNL Season 51: What's Next?

As the dust settles from these shocking cast changes, fans are eagerly awaiting the premiere of SNL Season 51. The show will kick off on October 4 at 11:30 PM ET on NBC and Peacock, following a summer hiatus since May 17.

Longfellow (R) is seen with fellow ousted SNL stars Devon Walker and Emil Wakim

The remaining regulars, including Colin Jost, Bowen Yang, and Kenan Thompson, are sure to bring their A-game as they take the stage alongside their new castmates. Will this fresh batch of comedians breathe new life into SNL, or will the drama continue? Only time will tell, but one thing's for certain – it'll be a wild ride!