The Great Shakeup: Everything You Need To Know About The SNL Season 48 Cast (8 Exits, 4 New Stars)

The 48th season of Saturday Night Live (SNL) marked one of the most significant cast shakeups in the show's history, ushering in a dramatic "transition year" as described by executive producer Lorne Michaels. As of December 13, 2025, the season is a crucial point of reference for the show's evolution, following the departure of eight veteran and featured players and the introduction of four fresh faces to the legendary Studio 8H. This seismic shift created an atmosphere of both uncertainty and excitement, positioning the remaining veterans as the new foundation for the iconic sketch comedy series.

The sheer scale of the turnover—losing eight established performers—forced a radical re-evaluation of the show's dynamics, giving a new generation of comedians a chance to define the next era of Saturday Night Live. The new cast members, all rising stars in the stand-up and sketch comedy world, were tasked with filling the massive void left by some of the most beloved performers in recent memory. This deep dive explores every key player, the major exits, and the future of the show’s dynamic.

The New Faces of Studio 8H: A Deep Dive into the Season 48 New Cast

In the wake of the largest cast exodus in decades, four new featured players were hired to join the ensemble, bringing a diverse range of comedic styles and backgrounds to the show. These new recruits were immediately thrust into the spotlight, becoming the focal point of the show's "transition year."

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Marcello Hernandez: The Cuban/Dominican Stand-Up Star

• Full Name: Marcello André Hernández-Gonzáles
• Birth Date: August 19, 1997
• Background: Cuban and Dominican descent, born in Miami, Florida.
• Career Highlights: Hernandez was a prolific stand-up comedian since the age of 18. His comedy often draws from his Latin American heritage, family life, and cultural observations. He quickly gained recognition for his energetic, observational style before joining the SNL cast.

Molly Kearney: The First Non-Binary Cast Member

• Full Name: Molly Kearney
• Birth Date: May 2, 1992
• Background: American stand-up comedian and actor from the Midwest.
• Career Highlights: Kearney is notable for being the first openly non-binary cast member in Saturday Night Live history, using they/them pronouns. Prior to SNL, they were a rising star in the Chicago and Los Angeles comedy scenes, known for hosting their own stand-up events.

Michael Longfellow: The Arizona Stand-Up Veteran

• Full Name: Michael Longfellow
• Birth Date: January 31, 1994
• Background: Stand-up comedian and writer from Phoenix, Arizona, later based in Los Angeles.
• Career Highlights: Longfellow was an established touring stand-up comedian before his SNL hire. He was one of eight comedians selected for the inaugural Netflix's "Introducing..." showcase at the 2022 Netflix Is a Joke Festival, a significant industry nod that preceded his move to Studio 8H.

Devon Walker: The Writer and Comedy Central Alum

• Full Name: Devon Walker
• Birth Date: February 13, 1991
• Background: American stand-up comedian, actor, and writer who began his career in Texas.
• Career Highlights: Walker's resume includes being featured in the 2017 Comedy Central “Up Next” showcase. He also served as a writer for the Netflix animated series Big Mouth and the Freeform show Everything's Trash, showcasing his versatility in both performance and writing before joining the SNL cast.

The Massive Exodus: 8 Stars Who Said Goodbye to SNL

The transition year was necessitated by an unprecedented wave of departures, totaling eight cast members. This mass exit included some of the most recognizable and longest-tenured performers on the show, leading to a significant shift in the show's comedic identity and topical authority.

The departures were announced in two waves: four after the Season 47 finale, and four more in the weeks leading up to the Season 48 premiere.

The Veteran Departures (Announced May 2022)

• Kate McKinnon: A 10-season veteran and one of the show's biggest stars, known for her incredible range and impersonations (e.g., Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Kellyanne Conway).
• Aidy Bryant: A 10-season veteran celebrated for her unique characters and body-positive comedy.
• Pete Davidson: An 8-season player whose unique, self-deprecating style and "resident young person" sketches defined a generation of the show.
• Kyle Mooney: A 9-season veteran known for his distinctive, surreal, and often awkward pre-taped segments.

The Mid-Offseason Departures (Announced September 2022)

• Chris Redd: A 5-season veteran and Emmy winner known for his impressions, particularly Kanye West. His departure was a surprise just weeks before the premiere.
• Melissa Villaseñor: A 7-season veteran celebrated for her spot-on celebrity impressions and musical talent.
• Alex Moffat: A 7-season veteran, often appearing in Weekend Update segments and known for his "Guy Who Just Bought a Boat" character.
• Aristotle Athari: A featured player who left after just one season.

Lorne Michaels openly referred to Season 48 as a "transition year," acknowledging the challenge of replacing such a large and talented group of performers. This massive turnover was seen by many as a necessary reset, allowing the show to find new voices and topical authority after a long period of stability.

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The Veterans Holding Down the Fort: Full Returning Cast List

Despite the significant departures, a strong core of veteran and mid-career performers returned for Season 48, providing the necessary stability for the show to navigate the transition. This group was instrumental in maintaining the show's quality and ensuring a smooth integration of the new featured players.

Repertory Players

The backbone of the season was the returning repertory cast, many of whom stepped up to take on more screen time and leading roles.

• Kenan Thompson: The longest-tenured cast member in SNL history, providing a crucial, experienced presence.
• Cecily Strong: A veteran player known for her incredible character work and depth.
• Michael Che & Colin Jost: The co-anchors of "Weekend Update," whose consistency is a cornerstone of the show's format.
• Mikey Day
• Chloe Fineman
• Heidi Gardner
• Punkie Johnson
• Ego Nwodim
• Bowen Yang: A breakout star who became one of the most prominent faces of the new era.

Featured Players

The returning featured players solidified their positions, moving into their second or third seasons ready to make the jump to repertory status.

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• Andrew Dismukes
• James Austin Johnson: Known for his uncanny and timely political impressions, particularly Donald Trump.
• Sarah Sherman: Celebrated for her unique, absurdist, and often loud-mouthed style of comedy.
• *The new featured players (Hernandez, Kearney, Longfellow, Walker) also rounded out this list.

The Transition Year Legacy: Hosts, Guests, and Topical Authority

Season 48’s large cast change was immediately visible in the structure of the show, with the remaining veterans carrying the bulk of the screen time and the new members getting a chance to develop their voices.

The season premiere, hosted by Miles Teller with musical guest Kendrick Lamar, set a high-stakes tone. The show quickly moved through a series of high-profile hosts and musical guests, including Jack Harlow (who served as both host and musical guest), Amy Schumer with Steve Lacy, and Aubrey Plaza with Sam Smith. The finale was hosted by Jennifer Coolidge with musical guests Foo Fighters.

This period of instability, as Lorne Michaels noted, is often when the show's next great era is forged. The departure of major impressionists forced the show to shift its focus, relying more on original characters and the unique comedic perspectives of the new featured players and the established younger cast, such as Bowen Yang and Sarah Sherman. The Season 48 cast, therefore, is not just a list of names, but a snapshot of a major creative pivot that will define Saturday Night Live for years to come.