Saturday Night Live is heading into season 51 with one of its most significant cast reshuffles in years, and the choice of hosts for the October lineup makes it clear that SNL wants stability. After losing a handful of key performers, SNL is relying on proven names and trusted veterans to guide the show through its first crucial weeks back on the air.
Before season 51 even begins, the show is already navigating the departures of Heidi Gardner, Ego Nwodim, Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker, and Emil Wakim. For longtime viewers, Gardner’s exit is the most jarring. A breakout in her own right, Gardner built a reputation as one of the show’s most versatile performers across sketches, “Weekend Update” characters, and impressions. Nwodim leaves after six seasons, during which she provided her own sharp comedic edge and recently nailed down several recurring roles.
Meanwhile, Longfellow, Walker, and Wakim represented part of the newer wave of talent, and their exits mark a setback in what had seemed like SNL’s effort to develop the next generation of cast standouts. That kind of turnover leaves the show in a delicate spot. New cast members Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson, and Veronika Slowikowska will have to make a strong first impression with audiences as they warm up to the new faces.
In response to the uncertainty, SNL is clearly looking for hosts who can carry the weight of the show without needing to be taught how the machine works. On October 4, global superstar Bad Bunny returns to Studio 8H to host for the second time after serving as a musical guest last season. He also proved his comic chops during last year's 50th anniversary special. Doja Cat will also be on the season 51 premiere as the musical guest.
The following week, October 11, belongs to Amy Poehler. Few people know SNL better than Poehler, who spent seven years as a cast member and became one of the defining cast members of her era. Her return as host guarantees that at least one episode this season will feel effortless. Role Model will take the stage as the night's musical performer.
Then on October 18, Sabrina Carpenter takes over as host and musical guest. Carpenter is riding a career high as a chart-topping pop star and a recognizable personality who has already won SNL fans with her sharp sense of humor, thanks in part to cameos over the past couple of seasons.
By stacking the first three episodes with hosts who either have direct ties to SNL or the kind of star power that commands attention, the show is signaling that it’s not going to let behind-the-scenes changes shake its footing. Season premieres always matter, but this year the stakes feel higher, especially with the broader late-night landscape. Viewers tuning in this fall may not see Gardner or Nwodim, but they’ll see a show that knows how to steady itself with familiar faces until the new cast has a chance to make its mark.