Bowen Yang’s final night on Saturday Night Live was a tear-jerking mix of song, laughter and heartfelt good-byes, as the former writer-turned-cast member closed his mid-season departure with a musical sketch that featured host Ariana Grande, musical guest Cher and his longtime friends from the show.
The Farewell Performance
In the episode’s closing sketch, Yang played an airport lounge worker who was finishing his last shift on Christmas Eve. He served eggnog to travelers and sang “Please Come Home for Christmas,” joined by Grande and Cher. The trio hugged Yang as the song ended, and he was visibly moved, saying, “I just wanted to enjoy it for a little longer.” The sketch also allowed Yang to spray Kenan Thompson with eggnog, a playful nod to his fellow castmates.
The performance was wrapped up with a brief photo tribute to the late director Rob Reiner and a traditional cast curtain call. Grande later told Yang, “We love you so much,” as the audience gave him a standing ovation.
Behind the Scenes and Career Highlights
Yang began on SNL as a writer in 2018, became a featured player the following season, and was promoted to the main cast two seasons later. Over the years he earned five Emmy nominations and became a fan favorite for roles such as the Titanic iceberg on “Weekend Update,” George Santos, a gay Oompa Loompa, and a spoof of Vice President JD Vance.
Outside of SNL, Yang co-hosts the pop-culture podcast “Las Culturistas” with fellow comedian Matt Rogers. He has appeared in the musical “Wicked” and its sequel “Wicked: For Good,” co-starred in the remake of “The Wedding Banquet,” and performed in “Dicks: The Musical,” “Fire Island,” and “Awkwafina is Nora from Queens.” He also hosted the spoof Las Culturista Culture Awards on Bravo last summer and announced on Instagram that he and Rogers will return for more pop-culture comedy next year.
In an Instagram post on the day of his departure, Yang wrote: “i loved working at SNL, and most of all i loved the people. i was there at a time when many things in the world started to seem futile, but working at 30 Rock taught me the value in showing up anyway when people make it worthwhile.”
The Departure Context
Word of Yang’s exit surfaced after a large cast exodus last summer that preceded the start of Season 51. Departing members included Ego Nwodim, Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker, Emil Wakim, and John Higgins. The news was not entirely unexpected, as Yang had publicly discussed the possibility in September with creator Lorne Michaels. He said, “Lorne was like, ‘You have more to do,’ and that means a lot, because I even confessed to him. I was like, ‘I feel the audience is maybe getting sick of me.’ And he was like, ‘That’s not true. There’s more for you to do. I need you,'” adding, “That man has changed my life, and I owe a lot of my life to that show. And I love working there. The people are the best. I really love each of them so much.”
Mid-season departures are not new to SNL; Cecily Strong left in December 2022. Yang’s final “Weekend Update” segment featured former cast member Aidy Bryant, offering viewers holiday trend tips.
Personal Reflections and Advice
Yang recently graced the cover of Esquire, where he discussed the tendency to label his work as “queer and Asian.” In an interview on October 28, he said, “There’s an idea that all of what I do is queer and Asian, which I don’t think is true. I get sick of people reducing the work I do on the show to those identifiers.” He added, “Work, I said, is not the most meaningful thing for me anymore. The things I like are spending time with friends, working every now and then, not being caged by it.”
He also recalled advice from Kristen Wiig when she hosted SNL: “She was like, ‘Have fun. It’s the most fun job in the world, and you’ll miss it when it’s done. You won’t realize how much you miss it until you leave.'”
Key Takeaways
- Bowen Yang’s final SNL performance was a musical, emotional farewell featuring Ariana Grande and Cher.
- He joined the show as a writer in 2018, became a cast member in 2020, and earned five Emmy nominations.
- His departure follows a larger cast exodus and follows a pattern of mid-season exits, such as Cecily Strong.
Bowen Yang’s exit marks the end of a significant chapter for both him and Saturday Night Live, as the show continues to evolve with new and returning talent. The emotional farewell will be remembered by fans and colleagues alike, underscoring the impact of his contributions to the iconic sketch-comedy program.
