Big news from the world of late-night laughs: Bowen Yang, one of the funniest stars on Saturday Night Live (SNL), just wrapped up his time on the show. He left right in the middle his eighth season after an epic episode hosted by Ariana Grande with Cher as the musical guest. It was the perfect holiday send-off.
Bowen, who made history as the first Asian American cast member on SNL, started as a writer in 2018. He quickly became a fan favorite on screen, getting nominated for five Emmy Awards. So, why did he leave? Bowen hasn’t spilled the tea but in his sweet Instagram post, he said: “I loved working at SNL, and most of all I loved the people.” He talked about how showing up to work at the famous 30 Rock building taught him to keep going even when the world feels tough.
Bowen’s last episode was full of fun nods to his goodbye. In one sketch, he played a Delta airline worker closing up shop, saying things like, “This is my last shift… I’m gonna miss everything about this place.” And he got teary in a holiday eggnog bit.
Comedian Amber Ruffin cheered him on, and critics say SNL will miss his magic. But Bowen’s star is shining bright. He’s already in big movies like Wicked (and the sequel Wicked: For Good), Fire Island, and the new The Wedding Banquet. Plus, he co-hosts the hilarious podcast Las Culturistas.
Leaving mid-season isn’t super common but legends like Cecily Strong and Eddie Murphy did it too. Bowen seems to be bowing out while everyone’s still loving him, a smart move. We’re going to miss his wild energy on SNL, but can’t wait to see what he does next!
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