Add Chris Redd to the list of veteran cast members departing “Saturday Night Live.”
Redd has decided to depart the venerable late-night NBC showcase after five seasons on the program, and is just the latest member of what was one of the program’s longest-running casts in recent memory to leave ahead of its 48th season. Lorne Michaels, the show’s longtime executive producer, predicted a season of change earlier in the year and recently suggested that the current team of comics should stick together to help each other through the pandemic.
“Being a part of ‘SNL’ was the experience of a lifetime. Five years ago, I joined 30 Rock knowing that this was an amazing opportunity for growth,” Redd said in a statement. “Now, with friends who have become family and memories I will cherish forever, I am grateful to Lorne Michaels and the entire ‘SNL’ organization. From the bottom of my heart, I can’t thank you all enough.”
During his time on the show, Redd did an impression of New York City Mayor Eric Adams and participated in a large number of taped videos and skits. He also shared an Emmy Award for his work writing “Come Back Barack,” a song mourning the passing of former President Barack Obama. Redd joined the lineup as a featured player in 2017.
He has an HBO Max comedy special in the works “Chris Redd: Why Am I Like This?” which will premiere later this year. Redd co-created and is set to voice a lead role in an as-yet-untitled project from Michaels’ Broadway Video and Audible. He is also attached to star in the feature film “Cyber Monday,” which is currently in development at Universal.
Every summer break brings with it changes to the “SNL” talent roster, but these past few months have marked an unusual period of activity for the show. The departures of Alex Moffat, Melissa Villaseñor and Aristotle Athari were revealed earlier this month, following announcements in May that Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant, Kyle Mooney and Pete Davidson were leaving.
There was also a notable departure behind the scenes. Senior producer Lindsay Shookus is leaving the program after years of managing talent relations.
As more viewers migrate to streaming services to watch their favorite scripted dramas and comedies on demand, “SNL” has taken on new meaning for NBC. Once relegated to late-night local news in a time slot that network executives didn’t consider prime, “SNL” now airs live across the U.S. simultaneously, meaning it airs in primetime in some parts of the country. “Saturday Night Live” in the 2020-2021 season was the most-watched entertainment program on television among viewers between the ages of 18 and 49, the demographic most favored by advertisers.
Cast changes are likely to leave some current members shouldering more responsibilities each. week. Among those getting regular screen time in recent seasons are Heidi Gardner, Chloe Fineman, Ego Nwodim, Mikey Day and Bowen Yang. The status of veterans including Colin Jost, Michel Che, Kenan Thompson and Cecily Strong for next season has yet to be officially revealed by NBC. “SNL” has already announced it is bringing on four new featured players ahead of the program’s debut in October.
The large number of exits is reminiscent of Saturday Night Live’s transition in 2012, when Andy Samberg, Abby Elliott and Kristen Wiig left at the end of the season, followed a few months later by Jason Sudeikis and, a year later, by Fred Armisen and Bill Hader. The rest of the show’s cast and some new members had to work to make it more cohesive.
