Anchor Colin Jost and anchor Michael Che during Weekend Update on Saturday, May 3, 2025
In the lead-up to the season 50 finale of Saturday Night Live, rumors around which cast members are leaving have been swirling. While none of the rumors have been confirmed, fans of the long-running comedy show are speculating about Mikey Day, Heidi Gardner, Michael Che and Colin Jost.
Generally, SNL announces high-profile departures during the season finale, meaning the rumors will likely be confirmed or disproven live on Saturday, May 17, 2025, during the show. SNL also often sees some newer or behind-the-scenes talent departures in the lead-up to next season.
Gardner joined the cast in 2017 and has become a fixture of the show. Another fixture, Day, started as a writer in 2013 before joining the cast in 2016. While both are rumored to possibly leave, more eyes are on Weekend Update co-anchors Che and Jost.
Similarly to Day, Che joined as a writer in 2013. However, he quickly found a home on Weekend Update, replacing Cecily Strong in 2014. While Che considered leaving in 2022, the same year, he became the second-longest serving Weekend Update host. He is second only to his co-host, Jost.
Jost began his career on the show in 2005 as a writer. He served as the show’s co-head writer twice, from 2012 to 2015 and again from 2017 to 2022 (with Che). He started co-hosting Weekend Update in 2014. In 2021, he became the longest-running anchor of the segment.
While Che talked about leaving SNL during a comedy show at the University of Rochester in February, Jost has been more tight-lipped about his plans. However, with his wife Scarlett Johansson hosting the 50th season finale, it would be a special night to announce his departure if he plans to leave.
If Che and Jost leave, they will notably leave an empty Weekend Update desk for the first time in 25 years (which has not happened since Colin Quinn left the desk in 2000). Quinn was replaced by Tina Fey and Jimmy Fallon in 2000. Fallon was replaced as a co-host by Amy Poehler in 2004. Fey was then replaced by Seth Meyers in 2006. While Poehler left in 2008, Meyers hosted alone until 2013, when he was joined by Strong. When Meyers left in 2014, Jost joined Strong at the desk.
SNL seemingly hasn’t groomed anyone to replace Jost or Che; however, there may be a couple of options. Michael Longfellow only joined the cast in 2022, but his dry style and recent stand-up segments on Update make him a strong choice. If the show pulls from their writing staff, Weekend Update Writer Rosebud Baker may also be a choice. Baker has been a writer since 2022, but has been noted as an Update writer for this season.
Interested fans will have to wait until the live show on May 17, 2025.