Bowen Yang is officially leaving Saturday Night Live after this weekend’s episode, marking the end of an incredible seven-season run, according to various sources. This finale will be extra special as he will be joined by his Wicked co-star and dear friend, Ariana Grande, who will take on hosting duties. Cher, a long-time favorite of Yang, will be the musical guest.
This sendoff is perfectly timed, considering Yang played Glinda’s assistant Pfannee in the Wicked films, making both the show and Cher’s performance a dream come true for him.
A representative from SNL has yet to respond to a request for comment from Rolling Stone regarding Yang’s exit.
Back in 2022, Yang, a five-time Emmy nominee, expressed to E! during the Emmy Awards just how thrilling it would be to work with Cher, stating, “I would do anything with her.” As recently as 2024, he shared with Kelly Clarkson that his ultimate dream guest has always been Cher, saying, “You and Cher together would blow my mind.”
Yang began his journey with SNL as a writer in 2018 during Season 44. He became a featured player in Season 45 and was promoted to the main cast in Season 47.
Looking ahead, Yang is already working on other projects with his Las Culturistas co-host, Matt Rogers. They’re set to co-write and star in a new comedy film for Searchlight, inspired by a podcast episode titled “Why didn’t Chris and Dan get into Berghain?” which follows two Americans trying to get into a super exclusive nightclub.
Yang will also lend his voice to a character opposite Bill Hader in an upcoming adaptation of The Cat in the Hat.
This season has seen a number of high-profile exits as creator Lorne Michaels hinted at shaking things up. Other well-known artists like Ego Nwodim, John Higgins, Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker, Rosebud Baker, and Emil Wakim have also departed the show before Season 51 kicked off.
