Old School. Biblically Independent.
By Dustin Rowles | TV | December 19, 2025
We referenced rumors in last week’s episode of SNL recap that Bowen Yang would be leaving after this weekend’s Christmas episode. Those rumors haven’t officially been confirmed by SNL, but Latenighter (and Deadline) is reporting that, according to a number of insiders, Yang is set to depart the show after tomorrow night’s episode, hosted by friend and Wicked co-star Ariana Grande and musical guest Cher.
Bowen Yang has been on SNL for seven seasons as a cast member (and eight as a writer). The move is not exactly surprising after the departures of Ego Nwodim and Heidi Gardner in the offseason. SNL writer and frequent Bowen Yang collaborator Celeste Yim left in August, which we took as a sign that Yang’s days were numbered. As Yang has confessed, he <>did plan to leave, but Lorne Michaels convinced him to stay on a little longer.
With a new roster of featured players beginning to dominate, the timing is good, as he makes way for new talent and continues to explore his career outside of SNL, which includes his “Las Culturistas” podcast with Matt Rogers, as well as a movie he and Rogers recently optioned based on a podcast episode of “Search Engine.”
The veteran SNL player will be missed on the show, but he clearly has a great future ahead of him outside of SNL.
