After celebrating its 50th anniversary, Saturday Night Live is entering Season 51 with one of the boldest overhauls in years. The show has added five featured players, restructured the popular digital trio Please Don’t Destroy, and said goodbye to several familiar performers. The changes were confirmed on September 2, 2025 , just weeks before the season premiere on October 4 . This is also expected to be the landmark thousandth episode, marking a historic moment for the NBC staple.

Meet the Five New Featured Players

Deadline revealed that five comedians are joining the cast as featured players. Each brings a distinct background, suggesting a deliberate effort by producer Lorne Michaels to diversify the show’s comedic arsenal.

Tommy Brennan — A stand-up comic with late-night cr

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