After celebrating its 50th anniversary, Saturday Night Live is entering Season 51 with one of the boldest overhauls in years. The show has added five featured players, restructured the popular digital trio Please Don’t Destroy, and said goodbye to several familiar performers. The changes were confirmed on September 2, 2025, just weeks before the season premiere on October 4. This is also expected to be the landmark thousandth episode, marking a historic moment for the NBC staple.
Meet the Five New Featured Players
Deadline revealed that five comedians are joining the cast as featured players. Each brings a distinct background, suggesting a deliberate effort by producer Lorne Michaels to diversify the show’s comedic arsenal.
- Tommy Brennan — A stand-up comic with late-night credits, Brennan is praised for character-driven humor. His club sets often feature sharply observed impressions, making him a strong fit for the show’s political and pop-culture parodies.
- Jeremy Culhane — A familiar name in the digital comedy space, Culhane has honed his craft with improv troupes and online sketch videos. His fluency with short-form humor fits seamlessly into SNL’s growing emphasis on viral-ready content.
- Ben Marshall — Known to viewers as part of Please Don’t Destroy, Marshall transitions from behind-the-scenes writer and short-film creator to full-fledged cast member. His move signals NBC’s interest in capitalizing on his established following and giving him room to shine on live sketches.
- Kam Patterson — A rising performer with a podcasting and stand-up background, Patterson’s career has accelerated quickly in recent years. His high-energy delivery and willingness to poke fun at internet culture could give him standout moments early on.
- Veronika Slowikowska — Already a scene-stealer on television comedies, Slowikowska brings acting experience and a knack for quirky characters. Her addition broadens the ensemble’s range, especially in roles demanding eccentric, offbeat timing.
Decider noted that these names were finalized after extensive summer auditions, underscoring the producers’ desire to refresh the lineup after a milestone anniversary year.
Please Don’t Destroy Splits Paths
Perhaps the most surprising shift comes from the future of Please Don’t Destroy. The trio — Ben Marshall, Martin Herlihy, and John Higgins — gained fame through their pre-taped shorts. According to Variety, Season 51 officially breaks up the group’s on-air presence. Marshall moves into the cast, Herlihy remains on the writing staff, and Higgins departs altogether. While this means the trio’s signature sketches may no longer appear regularly, the creative DNA they introduced remains threaded through the show’s style.
Notable Departures
Change is not only about arrivals. Several long-time and newer cast members are leaving before the new season. The New York Times reported that Heidi Gardner exits after eight seasons, while Michael Longfellow and Devon Walker depart after three. Emil Wakim, who joined last year, is also out. The exits create opportunities for the incoming talent to establish themselves quickly.
These changes extend beyond performers. Writers Celeste Yim and Rosebud Baker have left, and John Higgins’ exit doubles as both a writing and on-screen departure. The result is a writers’ room in transition, just like the cast on stage.
People highlighted how the simultaneous arrivals and departures amount to one of the most significant shifts since the early 2000s, when SNL last attempted a major generational refresh.
Why Season 51 Matters
For Lorne Michaels and his team, these moves are about more than swapping names. The new recruits bring a mix of stand-up authenticity, improv skill, and digital fluency, all vital to a show competing in a fragmented media landscape. SNL has long relied on a balance of star anchors and promising newcomers. With veterans stepping aside, the spotlight is now firmly on this new class.
The changes also speak to SNL’s willingness to reinvent itself after half a century on the air. Michaels admitted feeling pressure to make bold choices following the anniversary season. The thousandth episode offers a symbolic reset, with new performers like Brennan and Slowikowska tasked with proving themselves quickly to a national audience.
Looking Ahead
When Season 51 premieres on October 4, fans will be watching closely to see how Marshall fares outside of Please Don’t Destroy, how Patterson and Culhane adapt their stand-up and digital voices to live television, and whether Slowikowska and Brennan can establish memorable recurring characters. At the same time, the departures of Gardner, Longfellow, Walker, and Wakim will be felt, especially as the show redefines its ensemble dynamics.
“Saturday Night Live” has thrived on reinvention for five decades. Season 51 represents another pivot — one that leans on fresh voices, evolving formats, and a readiness to let go of traditions when necessary. That willingness to change may be exactly what keeps SNL relevant for its next fifty years.
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