Another Saturday Night Live Cast Member Announces Exit

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Emil Wakim has said his final goodnights on Saturday Night Live.

As a devoted fan and performer on Lorne Michaels’ renowned sketch comedy series, I am sadly announcing that I won’t be rejoining the cast for season 51 of the iconic NBC show.

As I scroll through social media on August 27th, I, Emil, find myself sharing the bittersweet news: I won’t be gracing the stages of Saturday Night Live next year. It was an unexpected and hard-hitting phone call, but I can’t help but feel immense gratitude for the time I spent there.

He shared that on his friend’s 36th birthday, they were at Six Flags. Upon hearing some news, he took a heartfelt stroll through Bugs Bunny Park, gazing out over Daffy Duck Lake, reflecting deeply on life.

Even though his tenure at Studio 8H is over, the 27-year-old looks back with gratitude for creating numerous cherished moments at 30 Rock.

Having left Studio 8H behind, the 27-year-old now reflects gratefully on all the special memories he made at 30 Rock.

He shared that each time he entered the building, he’d marvel at how extraordinary it felt to work there. It was an experience that was simultaneously terrifying, exhilarating, and fulfilling-one he will deeply miss. He has nothing but gratitude towards Lorne for giving him a chance and significantly impacting his life.

He expressed gratitude for being able to infuse his personal thoughts and ideas into the project, he remarked. He’s eager for the forthcoming phase. Here’s to creating more art without any concessions.

TopMob News has reached out to SNL for comment and has not heard back.

news about Emil’s tearful departure surfaced merely two days following Devon Walker, another cast member, announcing his own departure from the series, marking the end of his three-season tenure.

Apart from some backstage pictures from his time on the show, the 34-year-old posted on Instagram, “I’ve parted ways with my little one.

Devon, famed for mimicking figures like Michael Strahan, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, among others, elaborated on the reasons that led him to part ways.

He spent three years alongside the show, during which time it was both enjoyable and challenging, he penned. At times it was incredibly toxic, but we managed to make the best of a difficult situation, despite the chaos. In essence, we became an unconventional family with our own unique set of challenges.

Regarding what lies ahead for him, it seems that Devon hinted at some upcoming travels and possibly a change in his profession.

He went on to say that he was planning to visit Japan next, and upon his return, he hoped to star in an elite drama. Preferably one featuring Julianne Moore. I hope you’re all staying well-hydrated and making some progress financially today.

Before we reveal the complete Season 51 cast, let’s reminisce about more celebrities who launched their careers on Saturday Night Live… (Keep reading!)

Before Robert Downey Jr. became famous as Iron Man, he was a cast member on Saturday Night Live (SNL) during the 1985-1986 season. Lorne Michaels, the show’s creator, had returned to SNL that year after being away for five years. This period, known as “The Weird Year,” was a challenging time when Lorne was trying to save the show from cancellation, as documented in the Peacock documentary SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night.

Robert Downey Jr., who later hosted SNL in 1996, recalled on The Howard Stern Show that it wasn’t a groundbreaking season, but he looks back on it fondly and considers it valuable training for his career. He even described the experience as “the most exciting week you can have on Earth.

Role: Prominent Act,

Time on SNL: 2004 to 2005,

If you’re ever looking for advice on manifesting your dreams, consider reaching out to Rob Riggle. This talented actor from the movie “Let’s Be Cops” once shared his journey from training to become a pilot to eventually gracing the stage of Saturday Night Live.

In his 2024 appearance on the Diggin’ Deep Podcast, Rob reminisced about never having quit anything in his life. He explained that if he were to ever give up on something, it had to be significant and meaningful. So, he wrote down his aspirations, one of which was to appear on Saturday Night Live. Ten years later, amidst two wars, a marriage, and the birth of a child, Rob made his debut on Saturday Night Live in September 2004, fulfilling his dream. This marked the beginning of his career in show business. In a 2023 interview with The A.V. Club, he emphasized that landing a job on Saturday Night Live was the realization of a long-held dream for him.

Ben Stiller’s tenure on Saturday Night Live was brief – just four episodes back in 1989. According to The New York Times, when he decided to leave, Lorne Michaels, the show’s creator, seemed understanding but thought Ben might struggle with live performances. Ben admitted that he got too nervous on the show and preferred making short films instead. He also had aspirations for his own show on MTV in 1990, called The Ben Stiller Show. Despite leaving early, Ben has occasionally reappeared on the show as a host (in 1998 and 2011) and made surprise appearances over the years. Interestingly, he had initially harbored dreams of being on Saturday Night Live, but eventually felt compelled to leave despite the challenges it presented.

The role: Writer
Time on SNL: 1987 – 1995
You might want to reach out to your friends and let them know that Bob Odenkirk was once a writer for Saturday Night Live. In fact, the star of Better Call Saul is the one who penned the famous sketch where Chris Farley played Matt Foley-a motivational speaker living in a van by the river.

Bob remembered writing this sketch alone in his apartment in Chicago while they were both part of Second City, during a 2021 episode of The Howard Stern Show. He described it as one of the few sketches he wrote that came out just as he envisioned them when he sat down to write. The motivational speaker character emerged perfectly, and Chris Farley took it to new heights.

In addition, Bob won an Emmy for his writing on SNL. However, he has expressed regret about his behavior during that time. During a 2021 episode of PeopleTV’s Couch Surfing, he admitted, “I wish I wasn’t such a stubborn young man. I wish I was a nicer fellow because I had a fantastic opportunity there. I made the most of it, learned a lot about comedy writing, and made some lifelong friends at that show. But I still wish I’d handled things better. Don’t we all wish that about our younger selves?

Function: Lead Performer
SNL Appearances: Two brief guest spots, one in 1981 and one in 1988
If you don’t recall seeing Laurie Metcalf on Saturday Night Live, it’s likely because her appearances were limited to just two brief instances. In an interview with SNL alumnus Seth Meyers on Late Night, she discussed her first appearance in 1981, where she took part in a “man on the street” sketch, and her second in 1988, when she starred in “Laurie Has a Story” alongside Catherine O’Hara.
In her own words, Laurie Metcalf stated that the experience seemed surreal since it was so long ago and it felt like a whirlwind five days she spent in New York. She also mentioned that it was likely her first trip to New York ever, as she didn’t know anyone there and was put up in a hotel. Dressed in a business suit and accompanied by a small film crew, Laurie admitted she was completely out of her element and had no idea what she was doing. However, she recalls pushing through the uncertainty because there is footage to prove it, making her realize just how naive and brave she was at the time.

The Amusing Account of Larry David’s Departure from SNL

Larry David, the renowned creator of Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm, worked as a writer for Saturday Night Live (SNL) between 1984-1985. During this period, his comedic sketches often excelled during rehearsals but were frequently removed from the final show.

On one fateful night, when another sketch of Larry’s was cut just five minutes before the show began, he had reached his breaking point. Walking over to executive producer Dick Ebersol, an outburst ensued: “This show is terrible! I’m quitting! I can’t take it anymore!”

After a moment of self-reflection during his walk home in the cold, Larry realized the financial implications of his hasty decision and returned to work the following week as if nothing had happened. During a writers’ meeting, he even pitched a circus sketch idea, which ultimately secured his position at SNL.

Though his tenure was brief, lasting roughly a year, it was during this time that Larry crossed paths with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who would later star in Seinfeld. Over the years, Larry has returned to host SNL twice and made numerous guest appearances, including playing Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders on the show.

Role: Television Actress
Time on SNL: 1982-1985 (Joined while still in college)

Although Julia Louis-Dreyfus is widely recognized for her performances in Seinfeld and Veep, some may overlook her three-year stint as a cast member on Saturday Night Live. In fact, she was recruited to join the show before even completing her college education.

Despite being married to fellow SNL cast member Brad Hall, Julia admitted that her time on Saturday Night Live wasn’t particularly enjoyable. She confided in Andy Cohen during a 2020 episode of Radio Andy, “I didn’t have tons of fun. No, but I did learn a lot. I was really super young.”

During her interview with Cohen, Julia likened SNL to a comedy graduate school and stated that it significantly impacted the decisions she made in her future career. She recounted, “I set my priorities straight for starters. I came out of that thinking, ‘This wasn’t as fun as I’ve had doing improv shows and Second City and all that kind of stuff back in Chicago. And I need to find that. And if I can’t find that, if it doesn’t exist, I’m not gonna do this.'”

Despite her initial negative experience, Julia has returned to SNL multiple times-making history as the first female former cast member to host in 2006 and reprising her role on the show twice more.

Damon Wayans’ tenure on Saturday Night Live was short-lived. He himself confessed in a 2020 episode of The Breakfast Club that he was let go after seven episodes, following his intentional actions to get fired. During a live show, Eddie Murphy having recently departed, Wayans felt stifled and decided to switch characters, adopting an over-the-top flamboyant gay cop persona in a Miami Vice spoof sketch called Mr. Monopoly. He acknowledged that his execution was not appropriate, and he deserved to be fired on the spot. Interestingly, Wayans was invited back to host SNL later, which he saw as a significant milestone, as it paved the way for him to create In Living Color.

Jenny Slate had a challenging stint as a main performer on Saturday Night Live (SNL) between 2009 and 2010. In an interview with Off Camera with Sam Jones in 2017, she described her experience as both good and disappointing, stating that while everyone was kind to her, she found the environment uncomfortable due to self-disappointment and a lack of alignment with the conservative nature of the show.

She felt humiliated after being fired, believing that her behavior and perceived lack of strength and joy were judged harshly. The experience left her with stage fright, causing her to momentarily abandon stand-up comedy. However, she chose not to let this setback extinguish her passion and shared that she underwent hypnosis to overcome her stage fright.

In the end, Jenny Slate was on SNL for only one season.

Role: Leading cast member
Time on SNL: 1993-1994

During her brief tenure at Saturday Night Live, Sarah Silverman cherishes the memories from her one season.

In a January 2025 episode of The Tonight Show with host Jimmy Fallon, another SNL alum, she reminisced: “I had an amazing time. I got along with everyone and I was feisty. I remember being astonished by how adults behaved. Since I was young, I was just thinking ‘I can’t believe grown-ups are acting like this.’ There were actual fist fights going on when I was there. But it was incredible.”

She also recounted a peculiar activity she used to engage in her office.

“I discovered a craft where you could soak tampons in water and then fling them against a wall, and they would just splatter and stick,” Sarah shared. “They stayed forever… or at least for about a decade.”

Returning to SNL 10-15 years later, she found that her office still bore remnants of her creative past:

“I came back to SNL, and I saw Mike Shoemaker, and he said ‘Guess what’s still in your office?’ It was still there!

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2025-08-27 18:47