US EditionLorne Michaels Says ‘Saturday Night Live’ Season 51 Will Have Cast Changes
Lorne Michaels confirmed a significant cast rotation for Saturday Night Live season 51, with James Austin Johnson continuing as Donald Trump among the ensemble changes.
- Lorne Michaels, the 80-year-old producer of Saturday Night Live, confirmed a cast shakeup for Season 51 with announcements due in about a week.
- He delayed major casting changes through the 50th season to avoid disruptions, especially considering the recent election and anniversary events.
- Michaels said he involved many voices in decisions but retains final control, and auditions for incoming cast members took place earlier this month.
- He confirmed James Austin Johnson will continue impersonating Donald Trump "for the foreseeable future" and joked he cannot predict what happens between 10 and 11 p.m. on show nights.
- The announced shakeup suggests a reinvention pressure as the show nears its century mark, with Season 52 set to debut October 4, 2025, at 11:35 p.m. ET.
17 Articles
17 Articles
‘SNL’ cast shakeup coming in about a week: Lorne Michaels
(NewsNation) — “Saturday Night Live” head honcho Lorne Michaels has confirmed there will be cast changes ahead of the show’s new season in October. Speaking to Puck, Michaels, 80, confirmed that there will be a big cast shakeup for “SNL’s” 51st season. Last season marked 50 years that the show had been on the air, with NBC airing an “SNL50” anniversary special that saw a slew of celebrities who’ve hosted the show and the return of old favori…
Lorne Michaels says ‘Saturday Night Live’ season 51 will have cast changes
FILE - Lorne Michaels attends the Apple Original Film premiere of "Killers of the Flower Moon" at Alice Tully Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File) FILE - Lorne Michaels attends the Apple Original Film premiere of "Killers of the Flower Moon" at Alice Tully Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File) Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels say…
Lorne Michaels confirms 'SNL' cast members will exit the show before season 51
The season 50 finale didn't include any notable cast departures, though Michaels revealed in a new interview he wants to reinvent the upcoming season.Will Heath/NBC via Getty 'SNL' cast members Bowen Yang, Ego Nwodim, Kenan Thompson, Heidi Gardner, Marcello Hernandez, and Sarah ShermanKey PointsSNL head Lorne Michaels confirmed there will be cast changes before season 51.At the end of season 50, no cast members announced they'd be exiting the sh…
Lorne Michaels Promises a Big Shake-Up Is Coming to 'SNL' Next Week
Puck's Matt Belloni spoke to Lorne Michaels in the first interview that the SNL head has given since SNL50, and he opened up with a few more details about the anniversary show, although there was nothing terrifically insightful. He mentioned... Read more...
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