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Saturday Night Liveis ready to welcome a “different generation” of talent, says creatorLorne Michaels.
In the wake of seven cast members' exits since May, Michaels acknowledged on Monday that season 48 “will be a transition year, and the change years are always difficult.”
“There are new people, and things are changing, and a different generation comes into the show,” Michaels, 77, told reporters backstage at the 74th PrimetimeEmmy AwardsafterSNLpicked up its sixth consecutive outstanding variety series trophy.
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SNL’smass exodusbegan in May when longtime cast membersKate McKinnon,Aidy Bryant,Kyle MooneyandPete Davidsonleft the show after theseason 47 finale.
PEOPLE confirmedon Sept. 1 that three additionalSNLcomedians — cast membersMelissa VillaseñorandAlex Moffat, as well as featured comedianAristotle Athari— would not be returning for season 48.
Behind-the-scenes power playerLindsay Shookusalso announced her exit from the series in August.
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Michaels noted that the COVID pandemic over the last few years may have played intoSNLstars' decisions about when and how to take their final bow.
“I think people might’ve left earlier, but there was no place to go,” he acknowledged. “It was difficult, particularly when you’re rehearsing in masks and it’s all protocols and there’s nothing to do after the show except go home.”
Bryant, 35, backed up this theory in a June interview withVariety: “If it weren’t for COVID, Iprobably would have left a few years earlier. But it was such a huge change. When COVID hit, it was so jarring that we were all like, ‘I’m definitely going to come back next year.'”
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Season 48 ofSNLwill premiere Oct. 1 on NBC.
source: people.com
