As the world attempts to regain its footing and get back to some form of normality, many Americans are beginning to re enter their respective workplaces. Among those are the cast and crew of comedy’s most influential variety sketch show for close to fifty years, Saturday Night Live. This storied institution of entertainers and creators has brought us some of the most talented performers and writers of several generations. Icons such as Will Ferrell, Eddie Murphy, Adam Sandler, Tina Fey, Amy Pohler…I could extend this list by at least 15 more notable names, but I’ll digress without nearing the tip of the iceberg. So many casts have come and gone over the years, some to venture off and find new opportunities, but many cast members leave the show to focus more and continue on the works they began while still doubling as a live performer every Saturday night. We’ll dive into what the most recent cast has been working on during their time at SNL, but more importantly, what they’ve been working on during their extended hiatus between season 45 and the upcoming season 46, which is set to premier Oct. 3. This list will not be in order by personal favorite, we’ll stick with alphabetical order. (For the record Kate McKinnon is my favorite cast member.)
Beck Bennett:
A lot of us were first introduced to Beck Bennett through his commercials with AT&T where he interviewed children for their “It’s Not Complicated” campaign. Before that, the Illinois bread comic was a part of a sketch comedy group that included several future SNL members. He would join the cast of SNL on its 39th season to further his comedic resume. Bennett landed a role in the sequel of the 80’s reboot Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. In the 2020 version released Aug 28th, Bennett plays Deacon Logan, brother of Keanu Reeves’s character Ted Logan.
Aidy Bryant:
Aidy moved Chicago after leaving her hometown of Phoenix, AZ to attend Columbia College where she received her B.A. in 2009. While in Chicago, she participated in her college’s comedy study program and went on as a performer for the trifecta of Chicago improve, ImproveOlympics (IO), The Second City, and Annoyance Theatre. Bryant was introduced to the world via SNL when she joined the cast in 2012, and her light has only shined brighter ever since. Aside from a slew of guest appearances and recurring roles on shows like Comedy Bang! Bang!, Broad City, and Documentary Now!, just to name a few, Bryant also received an Emmy Nomination in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Bryant continues her acclaimed career as she portrays the fictional character Annie Easton in her original HULU series SHRILL. The series is an adaptation of Lindy West’s memoir Shrill: Notes from Loud Woman, and Bryant is a credited writer for the show as it goes into its 3rd season.
Michael Che:
While his fellow castmates all received some form of theatre training whether classical or comical, he trained himself on the stages of numerous Comedy Clubs throughout the boroughs of New York. Born on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, Che received his high school education at LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, where he studied painting. He would soon find his way to open mics around the city that would launch his career as a performer. His future co-worker Colin Jost would recommend him to SNL as a potential writer in 2013, and shortly after that in 2014,he began appearing on-air as a correspondent for The Daily Show. When the position of Co-Anchor for The Weekend Update became available, Che won the spot making him the first African-American Co-Anchor of the segment’s history. In 2017 he would become another first as it was announced that he would be the co-head writer of SNL alongside buddy Colin Jost, making him the first African-American to hold the position. Last month Che hosted a virtual comedy hour at Cornell University where he engaged in a Q&A with students. He also continues to speak out against systemic racism.
Pete Davidson:
Another New York native, Davidson got his start in the circuit of New York comedy clubs as well. The Staten Island born comedian got his small screen beginning on several MTV and MTV2 shows where he gained enough recognition to get his first televised comedy special which aired on Comedy Central. Pete would make a few more appearances on the MTV2 show Nick Cannon Presents: Wild N Out before he made his 2014 debut on SNL. He’s been in popular movies like Trainwreck, Set It Up, and What Men Want. In 2019 he played Tom Zutaut, an Elektra Records Executive, in the 2019 biopic of rock group Mötley Crüe The Dirt. Showing that he’s also a talented screenwriter, Davidson also starred in King of Staten Island, which he wrote and executive produced. Pete will also play Blackguard in the upcoming DC sequel Suicide Squad 2.
Mikey Day:
This writer, comedian, actor, and producer gained national recognition on Nick Cannon: Presents Wild N Out as an original cast member in 2005 where he also worked as a consulting producer for the MTV2 improv show. He was trained at the acclaimed improv and sketch comedy school The Groundlings, based in Los Angeles, CA. Mikey has worn all four of his professional hats working on various shows leading up to his hiring at SNL as a writer in 2013. In 2016 he was promoted to cast member and is responsible for writing one of the most memorable original characters in recent show history, portrayed by Tom Hanks during the Halloween season, David S. Pumpkins. As of lately, Day has a roll in the upcoming Adam Sandler movie Hubie Halloween premiering Oct 7th on Netflix. He also continues his voice over work as various characters including DeadPool on the Adult Swim show Robot Chicken. Mikey also Co-wrote the upcoming reboot of the Disney classic Home Alone, which will stream on Disney +.
Heidi Gardner:
When it comes to taking a leap of faith, Heidi definitely knows a thing or two about it. After growing up in Kansas she attended both the University of Kansas and the University of Missouri before dropping out, saving $600 over a summer, and moving to Los Angeles. For nine years she worked as hairstylist in LA where she also auditioned for and got into The Groundlings theatre classes. Three years later she was hired by SNL and joined the cast for its 43rd season. Heidi appeared in the Netflix original Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs the Reverend, which released in 2020. She was also cast in the star studded Audible Original Comedy Heads Will Roll co-written by SNL castmate Kate McKinnon.
Colin Jost:
After graduating Harvard, this Staten Island born comedian was hired at the age of 23 as a writer for SNL. After climbing the ranks and becoming a co-head writer in 2012, the show’s creator Lorne Michaels asked if Jost would be willing to appear on camera as a Weekend Update anchor. Colin would accept the opportunity and replace Seth Meyers who had recently left to start Late Night with Seth Meyers. Since 2015, Jost has served as both co-head writer and co-anchor of Weekend Update sharing both positions with real life friend Michael Che. Colin released his memoir entitled “A Very Punchable Face” this past summer on July 14th and has since earned the distinguished honor of being listed as a New York Times Best Seller. He’s been employed by SNL for 15 years and in his book Jost hints at a possible exit after the upcoming election.
Kate McKinnon:
In 2007 when LogoTV premiered The Big Gay Sketch Show, Kate was a part of its original cast and remained with the show for the run of the series. She was able to continue performing as she became a regular in the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre shows located at home in New York. Before joining the cast of SNL, in 2012, Kate mainly did voice over work for shows like Robotomy and The Venture Bros. on Cartoon Network. To say that she made a splash on the show would be both cliché and under defined. Her performance on the show has earned the actress 2 Primetime Emmy Awards, bringing her total nominations to 7. Captivating embodiments of celebrities like Iggy Azalea, Ellen Degenerous, and even Justin Beiber have electrified the SNL audiences over her tenure. The stand-out funny woman doesn’t stop at celebrities, she’s been able to take a number of political figures, both male and female, and bring to life in a way only she can. Her portrayal as former Presidential Nominee Hillary Clinton won the hearts of viewers and she’s only added to the legend that is Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg with rendition of the judge and coining the term “Ginsburn”. This year McKinnon released the scripted audio comedy Heads Will Roll, which she co-created with her younger sister Emily Lynne. She continues to lend her voice to the PBS animated series Nature Cats as her character Squeeks, for which she’s been nominated for Daytime Emmy Award.
Alex Moffat:
This Chicago native was able to build his comedy chops at several of the best improvisational training centers, The Second City, ImproveOlympics (IO), and Annoyance Theatre. In 2016, Moffat made his debut on SNL and has garnered laughter for his portrayals of Eric Trump, Anderson Cooper, and his recurring Weekend Update character, The Guy Who Just Bought a Boat. Since the break, Alex has completed filming of the upcoming comedy movie Dating In New York directed by Jonah Feingold. He has also continued his work on the Bill Burr created Netflix animated series F is for Family.
Kyle Mooney:
Born in San Diego, CA, Kyle began writing and performing in the improv group formed by SNL alum Amy Poehler Upright Citizens Brigade in 2007. That same year he teamed up with future SNL cast member Beck Bennet and future SNL writer Nick Rutherford to form the sketch comedy group Good Neighbor. The group also included Dave McCarey who would also join SNL as a segment director. Mooney scored a role in the 2020 comedy/thriller Spree which released August 14 of this year. Kyle also continues to lend his voice to the animated fantasy series The Shivering Truth. I would also highly recommend that you check out his 2017 film Brigsby Bear, which Mooney wrote and starred in. (Trust me, it’s amazing!)
Ego Nwodim:
Going coast to coast…to coast again, Ego was born in Maryland and made her way to the University of Southern California where she earned her degree in biology. In California she began taking classes and performing at UCB. Nwodim gained notoriety as a performer and earned a number of guest appearances on tv shows leading up to 2018 when she was hired as a featured player for SNL. Coming into the show’s 46th season, producers announced September 8th that Ego Nwodim had been promoted to main cast member. In 2020 Ego has kept busy with a rom-com wrapping up this year that doesn’t have a release date as of yet called The Broken Heart Gallery, and Disney’s release of the comedy Magic Camp,which she stars alongside comedic actor Adam Devine.
Chris Redd:
Originally from St. Louis, MO, Chris moved outside of Chicago at 8 years old. Initially he had dreams of becoming a rapper, and when things didn’t pan out, he took advantage of the comedy breeding ground that is The Second City Chicago. He soaked up everything he could learn as an understudy and writer for the comedy troupe traveling the U.S. and Europe. Just before joining the cast of SNL in 2017, Redd earned a role in the 2016 movie produced by SNL alum Andy Samberg, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, and released his first half hour special on Comedy Central’s Comedy Central Stand-Up Presents. In 2019 he followed that up with his debut comedy album But Here We Are. In 2018 Chris won an Emmy for his input and performance of the heartfelt ode to our former President entitled, “Come Back, Barack”. Redd joined the star studded ensemble on the audio comedy Heads Will Roll .He’s also just completed the horror/comedy Vampires vs. The Bronx releasing Oct. 2 on Netflix. The movie will be produced by SNL creator Lorne Michaels, as he will also produce the new tv series Kenan, developed by cast member Kenan Thompson in which Chris Redd will also star.
Cecily Strong:
Cecily’s comedic path took her from Chicago to the west coast where she attended California Institute of the Arts graduating with a BFA in theatre. Her path led her back home to Chicago where she sharpened her skills performing and writing for Second City Conservatory and iO Chicago. In 2012 Strong got the call that she’d wanted since she was a little girl mimicking SNL sketches she learned from watching them on VHS. Her debut on the show came in its 37th season, and she was later asked to become the co-anchor of the Weekend Update segment. She would fill the role until being moved back to the main cast to focus on her character building and appear in more sketches-a move that I love because it brought one of my favorite original characters of recent years, “The Girl You Wish You Hadn’t Started a Conversation with at a Party”. Currently Cecily is in post-production for a short film entitled Sparring Partner, and she’s also been working with her former SNL castmate Bobby Moyniham on his comedy central animated series Loafy.
Kenan Thompson:
Coming in as the most tenured SNL cast member of all time! The Atlanta born comedic performer made his way into the living room of kids across the nation in the 90’s starring the Nickelodeon take on kid sketch comedy All That and soon after in his own show sharing the title with co-star Kel Mitchell in Kenan and Kel. After also gaining some movie credits under his belt, Kenan went through auditions and was hired on the show in 2003 before the show’s 29th season, which brings his total number of years on the show to an impressive 17 years! As of right now, Kenan is preparing for the premier of his self-titled tv comedy series Kenan, which he will also executive produce. During the break, Kenan has done guest spots on various shows and podcasts including serving as a guest judge on America’s Got Talent and interviews by fellow comedians such as Ron Funches and Seth Meyers. Kenan also has his own podcast You Already Know, with his longtime friend Tani Marole tackling issues of the day in open discussions.
Melissa Villasenor:
To use cheap Segway, Melissa actually gained national recognition from her comic impressions on America’s Got Talent where she was a semifinalist in the 6th season of the show. Born in California, the comic got her start at a Laugh Factory Camp in LA when she was 15. Melissa continued to gain notoriety in 2010 when she earned a coveted spot of any standup comic on the rise when she made the list of New Faces and performed at the Just for Laughs Montreal Comedy Festival. In 2016, Villasenor was hired to SNL after not being selected roughly seven years prior when she auditioned in 2009. Melissa has completed a short film during their hiatus called Dangerous Women in which she plays the film’s lead role. She will also appear alongside fellow SNL cast members of present and past in Adam Sandler’s Hubie Halloween streaming on Netflix Oct. 7th. In no way however is this comedic actress a one trick pony, last year in 2019 she released her debut studio album Dreamer, which is truly worth a listen! Staying in touch with her stand-up roots she also keeps in touch with her fans via IG live and has also performed at several socially distanced comedy shows.
Chloe Fineman:
Chloe was raised in California where she lived until attending college at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts. In 2011, she graduated and left for California where she moved to LA and began performing at the UCB theatre. By 2018, she was recognized by the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal as a “New Face” of comedy. In 2019, SNL began its 45th season in which Fineman would make her debut. Since the break, Chloe has completed a short film entitled Ramona and the Jimmy’s this year where she plays the lead character Ramona.
Bowen Yang:
Originally Bowen was hired on SNL as a writer back in 2018; he brought his unique comedy mind to the show after gaining high praises from his podcast Las Culturistas, co-hosted by fellow comedian and friend Matt Rogers, which launched in 2016. Yang has also performed improv with the UCB. In 2019, he was offered a position on the cast and debuted that season proudly making Bowen Yang the very first Asian cast member in the show’s history and the 3rd openly gay cast member. Since becoming a cast member, Bowen has also expanded his acting resume by appearing in the series Awkwafina is Nora from Queens and the Netflix original Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
The anticipation for season 46 can be attributed to an array of things. Historically, election years have always brought the show it’s highest numbers in terms of viewership; this season is sure to exceed those of prior election seasons. Lorne Michaels revealed in an article with Vulture that legendary comedic actor Jim Carrey would be stepping in this season to portray the role of Presidential Nominee Joe Biden. There’s beauty to this partnership because back in 1980, Carrey, a then unknown comedian, auditioned for the late night sketch show and was rejected. Former cast member Maya Rudolph is set to reprise her role as Vice Presidential Nominee Senator Kamala Harris, which does not come as a shock. Rudolph won the Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series at this year’s awards for her portrayal as the California Senator. Rounding off impersonations of the three most popular names in American politics will be longtime friend of the show Alec Baldwin as he brings his dead on embodiment of Donald Trump. This season we will see all the familiar faces from the prior, with the addition of three new featured players: Lauren Holt, Punkie Johnson, and former writing staff member Andrew Dismukes. There’s been so much to take in and process since the show ended, but one thing Saturday Night Live excels at is providing their audience with a fresh, humorous take on the topics and issues that affect us all. So now we know exactly when the show will return, we know what the cast has been up to since the last season ended, and we even have some fresh faces and high profile cameo appearances to look forward to. The show will kick-off with host and SNL alum Chris Rock alongside musical guest, Houston native and member of Time’s 2020 List of Most Influential People, Megan Thee Stallion. All we need now is to hear those seven words, first uttered by Chevy Chase back in 1975 and has continued through every single show ever since: LIVE FROM NEW YORK, IT’S SATURDAY NIGHT!
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