Bowen Yang Back as Saturday Night Live Finalizes Season 51 Cast

Saturday Night Live (SNL), NBC’s long-running sketch comedy institution, has confirmed its full cast for the highly anticipated 51st season, set to premiere October 4, 2025. The finalized cast features 18 comedians, blending veteran regulars and rising newcomers. Returning cast members include Bowen Yang—SNL’s first Chinese American and one of its first openly gay male cast members—alongside fellow stalwarts like Mikey Day, Andrew Dismukes, Chloe Fineman, Marcello Hernandez, James Austin Johnson, Ego Nwodim, Sarah Sherman, and Kenan Thompson. The “Weekend Update” desk remains unchanged with the return of Michael Che and Colin Jost, promising continued in-depth satire and topical humor .

Season 51 also introduces five new featured players: Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Ben Marshall, Kam Patterson, and Veronika Slowikowska. This infusion of fresh perspectives is expected to invigorate the show’s comedic landscape, especially as SNL faces the departure of several familiar faces, including Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker, and Emil Wakim .

Since joining SNL in 2019, Bowen Yang has emerged as a groundbreaking force for LGBTQ+ visibility in mainstream comedy. As one of the few openly queer cast members in the show’s history, Yang’s presence has resonated deeply with LGBTQ+ audiences. His performances—ranging from sharp political satire to poignant character work—have earned critical acclaim and reinforced the importance of authentic queer voices in media .

Yang’s continued role is especially significant following the recent exits of Celeste Yim, an openly trans, non-binary writer who contributed five seasons and helped shape SNL’s comedic direction. Yim’s work behind the scenes advanced the show’s commitment to queer inclusion, and their departure signals a new chapter in the show’s evolving narrative .

While Yang remains the most high-profile queer performer on SNL’s current roster, the show’s history with queer representation has been steadily growing. Past seasons have featured openly queer comedians and writers whose contributions have expanded the scope of stories and characters depicted on national television. The presence of queer talent in writers’ rooms—such as Celeste Yim and others—has helped ensure that SNL’s sketches reflect a wider range of lived experiences and authentic perspectives .