By Anna Rider · Contributing Writer
For over 50 years, “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) has been on the air, delighting audiences of young and old alike.
Lorne Michaels’ SNL has featured comedy giants since 1975, serving as a career launch-point for countless big names. Heard of Will Ferrell? Amy Poehler? Pete Davidson? Or Adam Sandler? All of these famous actors and comedians were featured on the iconic comedy show.
Not only has the platform served as a jumping-off point for major names, but in the words of New York Times author Andrew LaVellee, it has also permeated society so thoroughly that it has “changed the way we talk.”
So, what’s new with the show this year? SNL’s current season marks its 51st year and the debuts of five new featured players.
Tommy Brennan, a stand-up comedian who was named the “New Face of Comedy” in 2023 at the Just for Laughs Festival, joins the main cast this season. Brennan’s debut performance was on the classic “Weekend Update” segment, where he discussed his childhood in the Midwest in his signature stand-up style. Kam Patterson, a stand-up comedian and actor from Orlando, Fla., also joins as a featured player this season. Known for his observational comedy and shock humor, the young comedian also made his first SNL appearance on “Weekend Update.”
If you enjoy the “Please Don’t Destroy” skits, you’ll be happy to learn that Ben Marshall, an SNL writer since 2021, has joined the main cast as a third featured player. You might recognize a fourth new addition to the show, Jeremy Culhane, from the online comedy platform Dropout or his appearances in “American Vandal,” “Heathers” and “The Sex Lives of College Girls.”
Finally, Veronika Slowikoska joins the cast as the first Canadian SNL cast member hired in 31 years. The addition of Slowikoska to the cast also marks the first female Canadian member hired since 1981. You might recognize her name from Slowikoska’s hilarious online sketch comedy, or her podcast “nevermind.,” founded in 2023 with her friend and cohost, Kyle Chase.
Ashley Padilla and Jane Wickline, both of whom joined the cast in 2024, are returning this year as featured players. SNL’s classic “Weekend Update” segment is still manned by fan favorites Michael Che and Colin Joost. Both Che and Joost have returned this season as repertory players. The pair have served as “Weekend Update” anchors longer than any past SNL cast members and continue to surpass Seth Meyer’s four-year-long record as hosts of the segment.
Repertory players Mikey Day, Andrew Dismukes, Chloe Fineman, Marcello Hernández, James Austin Johnson, Sarah Sherman, Kenan Thompson and Bowen Yang have also returned to “Saturday Night Live” this season. Past cast member Darrell Hammond returns as well for his 11th season as SNL’s announcer.
With fresh new additions and classic, well-loved veterans, this season of “Saturday Night Live” is sure to entertain! Tune in to NBC at 11:30 p.m. on Saturdays to watch the show live or check out episodes on Peacock. If you don’t have live television and can’t score your roommate’s Peacock login info, you can always watch SNL sketches and segments on their YouTube channel!
