Fans of “Saturday Night Live” have received updates about the cast at a neckbreaking pace. This includes multiple exits, the addition of new cast members, and then what many thought was a final list of returners. Now, Ego Nwodim has announced that she won’t be returning for season 51 of SNL.
She took to her Instagram account on September 12 to post the announcement. Nwodim stated, “The hardest part of a great party is knowing when to say goodnight. But after seven unforgettable seasons, I have decided to leave SNL.”
Nwodim continued, “I am immensely grateful to Lorne for the opportunity, to my castmates, the writers, and the crew for their brilliance, support, and friendship. Week after week on that stage taught me more than I could have ever imagined, and I will carry those memories and that laughter with me always.”
The ‘Saturday Night Live’ Cast was Previously Confirmed
NBC previously confirmed the returning cast members for “Saturday Night Live” season 51. According to Deadline, the cast was set to include Nwodim, as well as Kenan Thompson, Michael Che, Colin Jost, Marcello Hernández, Mikey Day, Andrew Dismukes, Chloe Fineman, James Austin Johnson, Sarah Sherman, and Bowen Yang.
Ashley Padilla and Jane Wickline were also expected to return as of September 8. The new cast members for SNL season 51 are Ben Marshall, Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson, and Veronika Slowikowska.
Of course, this all came after multiple cast members were announced to be leaving. They include Heidi Gardner, Michal Longfellow, Devon Walker, Emil Wakim, and John Higgins. In addition to cast changes, season 51 of “Saturday Night Live” will lose a couple of its writers. They are Celeste Yim and Rosebud Baker.
Some of these “Saturday Night Live” cast members and writers, like Ego, decided to leave the show for various reasons. However, several cast changes resulted from a shakeup for the show, which creator Lorne Michaels has publicly discussed.
Nwodim Has Quite a Bit to Offer the World of Entertainment
Nwodim first joined “Saturday Night Live” during the show’s 44th season as a featured comedian. However, she has since become a fixture on the show. Not only that, but Nwodim has also built a career outside the series.
According to IMDb, she has appeared in Peacock’s “Pokerface” and “Mr. Throwback.” The actress also appeared in Netflix’s “Little Brother.” Her credits also include “Good Burger 2,” “Miracle Workers,” and more. Leaving “Saturday Night Live” will more than likely give her more time to pursue other projects.
