The arrival of autumn signals the start of a new season of Saturday Night Live, but before the season begins, the programme has undergone a last-minute revamp, with veteran cast member Chris Redd leaving the show. Redd is the eighth member to quit since the end of the previous season, adding to the extraordinary exodus that began a few months ago. After making his debut as a prominent player in 2017’s 43rd season, he has decided to retire after 5 years. The comedian stated in a statement, “Being a member of SNL has been the experience of a lifetime.” To which she said, “Five years ago, I came into 30 Rock knowing that this was an incredible chance for advancement. I owe a debt of gratitude to Lorne Michaels and everyone at SNL for providing me with the family I never had and the friends I will never forget. Please accept my sincere gratitude.
The “friends become family” Redd mentions may include Kenan Thompson, with whom he co-won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics in his second season on the show for their work on the song “Come Back Barack,” which lamented President Obama’s departure from the White House. In 2021, Redd would become the lead in Thompson’s Emmy-nominated comedy Kenan, which also starred Thompson. Redd’s impersonations of notable figures including Mayor Eric Adams, Senator Cory Booker, Kanye West, Sterling K. Brown, and President Eric Trump were critically appreciated, and he was quickly elevated to repertory status after his Emmy win.
In addition, he was well-known for his portrayal of “Guy Who Just Bought a Boat” on the show’s Weekend Update. To a large extent, Redd’s life after SNL will mirror that of his fellow alumni. The HBO Max special will premiere later this year and will feature his stand-up comedy. He already published his first comedy album, 2019’s But Here We Are, which this one will follow. In addition, he’ll play Frankie Crocker in the forthcoming biopic Spinning Gold, which is based on the life of Neil Bogart, the American record entrepreneur who established Casablanca Records.
In addition to voicing a prominent character on Audible, Redd has a starring role in an unnamed cartoon from Michaels’ Broadway Video in the works. Due to the departure of Redd and other longtime cast members, SNL has added some fresh faces to the cast. Beginning with the forthcoming 48th season, new cast members Marcello Hernandez, Molly Kearney, Michael Longfellow, and Devon Walker will add their own unique flair to the programme. Thompson, Colin Jost, Michel Che, and Cecily Strong, all seasoned actors, are on board to assist the team to overcome this new obstacle.
More departures may be on the horizon, although at this point it’s hard to tell. The upcoming season will also include Heidi Gardner, Chloe Fineman, Ego Nwodim, Mikey Day, and Bowen Yang. After a year hiatus, Saturday Night Live is returning to NBC on October 1 for Season 48.