NBC’s Saturday Night Live is entering Season 51 with a refreshed lineup, adding Kam Patterson, Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Ben Marshall, and Veronika Slowikowska as new featured players.
The move comes after a wave of departures, with Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, Emil Wakim, and Devon Walker leaving the show. Writers Celeste Yim and Rosebud Baker also confirmed their exits, setting the stage for one of SNL’s most notable roster shakeups in years.
Season 51 premieres October 4 on NBC and Peacock, airing live at 11:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. PT.
Meet the New Cast Members
- Kam Patterson – Stand-up comedian and regular on Netflix’s live comedy podcast Kill Tony. He’ll next appear in the streamer’s comedy film 72 Hours alongside Kevin Hart and SNL’s Marcello Hernández.
- Tommy Brennan – Selected as a Just for Laughs New Face of Comedy in 2023, he has also performed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
- Jeremy Culhane – Known for viral comedy videos, Culhane is a regular on Dropout TV and a performer with Upright Citizens Brigade in Los Angeles.
- Ben Marshall – Former SNL writer and member of Please Don’t Destroy, the comedy trio behind popular digital shorts and sketches.
- Veronika Slowikowska – Canadian comedian known for viral sketches on TikTok and Instagram, with acting credits in Tires and What We Do in the Shadows.
Who’s Leaving SNL Season 51
- Heidi Gardner – Exits after eight seasons, having participated in more sketches than any other cast member last year.
- Michael Longfellow – Joined in Season 48 and was promoted to main cast in Season 50.
- Emil Wakim – Departing after just one season.
- Devon Walker – Leaving after two seasons.
Writers Departing
- Celeste Yim – Writing supervisor since 2023, Yim joined in 2020 and was the show’s first out trans writer.
- Rosebud Baker – Joined in Season 47, contributing to Weekend Update and other sketches.