Nobody likes cast departures, especially when a person has brought so many funny and memorable moments to a show. As Saturday Night Live gears up for its fifty-first season on NBC, there have been whispers and speculation about which cast members might be leaving and whether fan favorites will stick around for another round of sketches, laughs, and unforgettable live comedy that keeps audiences coming back week after week.
But one beloved SNL star is putting those rumors to rest, making it clear that they want to continue their journey on the show for as long as possible. In a recent interview with Variety, actor and comedian Mikey Day mentioned to the news outlet that fans can likely expect him to be back on the popular late-night sketch comedy show when the new season begins in the fall.
He also expressed his strong commitment to SNL, saying he wants to keep working there for as long as he is able to, even "until it’s sad." In other words, Day is very dedicated and plans to stay with the show for as long as he possibly can, even until the point it might be difficult or emotional to leave.
“I want to work there for as long as I can. I want to work there until it’s sad.”
Day has been with SNL since 2013, when he joined as a writer. After a few years behind the scenes, he was promoted to appear on camera as a featured cast member during the forty-second season in 2016. Then, starting with the forty-fourth season in 2018, he was further promoted to a full repertory cast member, meaning he became one of the main, regular performers on the show.
Viewers have watched Day deliver countless memorable characters and hilarious sketches over the seasons, so it's hard to imagine him not continuing to be a vital part of the show's future. Luckily, it doesn't seem like we will have to worry about that anytime soon, based on his recent comments to Variety.
Although the SNL season 51 cast hasn't been confirmed yet, at least we now have reassurance from some key players about their intentions to stay, easing some of the uncertainty and excitement as fans look forward to the upcoming season. Besides Day, fellow longtime SNL cast member Kenan Thompson also recently spoke out about his commitment to the show in an interview with Page Six. Thompson expressed how he's hopeful for his return, though he hadn't signed a contract at the time.
If Day and Thompson weren't to come back for SNL season 51, this would surely disappoint many fans. Like Day, we just couldn't see the sketch comedy letting Thompson go. Not only is he a fan favorite, but he's also the longest-tenured cast member in the show's history. That has got to mean something, right?
Once NBC officially announces who will be returning and who won't for season 51, we'll be sure to come back and share this juicy information right away. But for now, you must stay tuned to GeekSided!