Ego Nwodim, a fans favorite in “Saturday Night Live,” announced Friday that he will leave the series after seven seasons. His ad occurs after the reports that the cast was scheduled for season 51, which begins in October.
Nwodim published the news of his departure on Instagram on Friday, writing: “The most difficult part of a great party is to know when to say good night. But after seven unforgettable seasons, I have decided to leave SNL.”
“I am immensely grateful [producer] Lorne [Michaels] For the opportunity, for my castmates, writers and crew for their brilliance, support and friendship, “he continued.” Week after week at that stage I taught me more than I could have imagined, and I will take those memories (and that laugh) with me always. “
An NBC spokesman confirmed the game, saying that Nwodim decided to look for other opportunities.
Nwodim had become a prominent member of the cast since he joined the program in 2018, playing characters known as Lisa de Temecula and recently, his alter ego comedian, Miss Eggy.
The viral popularity of some of their successful sketches, namely, Lisa de Temecula, was a surprise for Nwodim. Speaking to The Times in 2023, he said: “There is something so magical in that, that you cannot know what will work and what will hit a lot,” he said. “And hit that hard, I could never have guessed.”
Nwodim played the rich aunt without children, another loved character, during a “weekend update” segment with co-presenter Michael Che in 2023.
(Will Heath / NBC)
Out of time in the NBC Sketch comedy program, Nwodim had appeared on several television series, including “Paker Face”, “It's Florida, Man”, “Mr. Throwback” and “Good Times.” It is also scheduled to appear in the next Netflix comedy movie “Little Brother” with John Cena.
Other cast members who leave “SNL” This season are Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker and Emil Wakim.
There are also five newcomers who join the cast: Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Ben Marshall, Kam Patterson and Veronika Slowikowska. Marshall was previously in the writing staff “SNL” and is known for his appearances in the Chamber as part of the comedy trio please does not destroy.
It is not clear if other members of the cast could still announce outputs. Bowen Yang, who joined the cast in 2019 after spending a year in writing staff, said in an episode of his podcast “the bodybuilders” launched on Wednesday that he is “excited to return” and “will miss people who do not return much, much” before he and his co-host, Matt Rogers, committed Gardner's legacy in the series.
Chloe Fineman, who also joined the cast in 2019, said in a recent interview with additional TV that the changes in the cast were “quite wild.”
“Some shocking things. A little anguish, sadness. I have not completely prosecuted anything, but I will say that the program has such billing,” he said. “You always experience [turnover]But these people remain in their lives, and I am excited by new people. “
The 51st season of “Saturday Night Live” opens on October 4.
