Overview

• Colin Jost’s comeback was first signaled by Scarlett Johansson at TIFF, with multiple outlets then confirming Michael Che’s return behind the desk.
• Lorne Michaels set an 18-member ensemble featuring veterans Kenan Thompson, Bowen Yang, Ego Nwodim, Chloe Fineman, Mikey Day, Sarah Sherman, Marcello Hernández, Andrew Dismukes and James Austin Johnson.
• Season 50 newcomers Ashley Padilla and Jane Wickline stay on, while five additions join: Ben Marshall, Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson and Veronika Slowikowska.
• Heidi Gardner, Devon Walker, Michael Longfellow and Emil Wakim exit, closing out a summer of turnover ahead of the new season.
• Please Don’t Destroy is reconfigured, with Ben Marshall promoted to on-air cast, Martin Herlihy moving to the writers’ room and John Higgins leaving, as the show targets an Oct. 4 premiere on NBC and Peacock.