Overview

• Colin Jost’s return was first confirmed by Scarlett Johansson, and industry reports confirm Michael Che will again co-anchor Weekend Update with him.
• The roster is set at 18 performers, led by veterans including Kenan Thompson (entering his 23rd season), Bowen Yang, Chloe Fineman, Ego Nwodim, Mikey Day, Sarah Sherman, Andrew Dismukes, James Austin Johnson, Marcello Hernández, and second-year players Ashley Padilla and Jane Wickline.
• Five additions round out the cast: Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson, Veronika Slowikowska, and Ben Marshall, who is promoted from Please Don’t Destroy.
• Departures for Season 51 include Heidi Gardner, Devon Walker, Michael Longfellow, and Emil Wakim, with writers Rosebud Baker and Celeste Yim also exiting.
• Please Don’t Destroy is reconfigured as John Higgins leaves and Martin Herlihy moves to the writing staff, and Season 51 premieres Oct. 4 on NBC and Peacock.