The Season 50 finale of Saturday Night Live (SNL) saw a lack of concrete indications about the cast’s future, despite speculation surrounding longtime veterans’ potential departures. A 17-member cast featuring six veterans with seven or more seasons on the show was revealed, including Colin Jost, Michael Che, and Kenan Thompson.
While there were no explicit signs of changes during the finale, Jost’s Weekend Update segment hinted at his potential succession to SNL boss Lorne Michaels. In a joke swap with Che, Jost jokingly said “Retire b*tch! Let me run the show” and later revisited the subject when congratulating Michaels on SNL’s 50-year milestone.
Veterans like Michael Che have publicly stated their intention to leave after this season, but no hints were given during the finale. Other long-time cast members have hinted at potential exits in interviews, but there were no clear indications of that in the show.
The absence of sendoffs for longtime cast members, such as Kristen Wiig’s farewell in 2012, was also notable. The only hint of a possible exit came from new cast member Sarah Sherman, who was jokingly told she would be leaving during Scarlett Johansson’s opening monologue.
Despite the speculation and hints, it seems business as usual for SNL. With decisions on departing cast members typically made in August-early September, fans will have to wait and see if any changes come to fruition.
Source: https://deadline.com/2025/05/saturday-night-live-season-50-finale-cast-lorne-leaving-1236402717