Overview

• A Oct. 3 farewell in New York hosted by Punkie Johnson at the Riff Raff Club brought together Heidi Gardner, Devon Walker, Michael Longfellow, Emil Wakim, John Higgins, Chloe Troast and Molly Kearney.
• Speaking to People at the event, Chloe Troast said leaving the show was "really hard" and added, "You don't get a cushion when you fall."
• Johnson described SNL as a "different monster" that "throws you in the water" without a "life jacket," while saying the experience made her more resilient.
• Season 51 premiered Oct. 4 with Bad Bunny hosting and Doja Cat as musical guest, introducing Veronika Slowikowska, Kam Patterson, Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane and newly promoted cast member Ben Marshall.
• Reflections on the exits varied, with Devon Walker calling the environment "toxic as hell" at times and Michael Longfellow expressing gratitude, as Lorne Michaels defended turnover as key to the show's reinvention.