SNL Awaits Emmy Results as Season 51 Approaches

Saturday Night Live faces Emmy Awards night with 30 nominations while cast changes shake up the upcoming 51st season premiering October 4.

The iconic NBC sketch comedy show enters the 2025 Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony hosted by Nate Bargatze tonight with significant recognition for its milestone 50th anniversary season. Among the nominations, cast member Bowen Yang earned a Supporting Actor in a Comedy nomination, while the show’s anniversary specials swept multiple categories.

Major Cast Overhaul Sets Stage for Season 51

The Emmy recognition comes amid unprecedented cast changes ahead of Season 51’s October 4 premiere. Five veteran performers have departed: Heidi Gardner after eight seasons, Ego Nwodim after seven seasons, Devon Walker, Michael Longfellow, and featured player Emil Wakim.

“The hardest part of a great party is knowing when to say goodnight,” Nwodim wrote on Instagram announcing her surprising departure. Gardner’s exit was particularly unexpected, as she was previously believed to be returning.

New Faces Join Historic Season

Five new featured players will debut in Season 51: Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson, Veronika Slowikowska, and Ben Marshall from the comedy trio Please Don’t Destroy. Marshall’s promotion marks a significant change for Please Don’t Destroy, which will stop making videos for the show.

The returning cast includes Kenan Thompson entering his unprecedented 23rd season, alongside Bowen Yang, Chloe Fineman, Mikey Day, Sarah Sherman, Marcello Hernández, Andrew Dismukes, and James Austin Johnson. Michael Che and Colin Jost will continue as Weekend Update anchors for their 12th consecutive season.

Looking Ahead to Historic Milestone

Season 51 will feature SNL’s 1,000th episode, adding historical significance to the cast transformation. Creator Lorne Michaels previously indicated plans for major changes after wanting to avoid disruptions during the celebratory 50th season.

No host or musical guest has been announced for the October 4 premiere, though speculation continues among fans. The show airs live on NBC at 11:30 p.m. ET and streams on Peacock.