Punkie Johnson Leaves SNL Cast

[Pink Freud]

If she has already played Kamala Harris on "SNL", you'd think this fall she'd hit the goldmine.....unless Lorne Michaels is bringing back Maya Rudolph just for that. It already takes seemingly four or five minutes to go through all the cast members at each show opening; perhaps this exit will shorten the intros a bit:

"Johnson, who played characters on “S.N.L.” including Vice President Kamala Harris and the women's basketball star Angel Reese, first said she was leaving during a stand-up comedy set on Wednesday at Union Hall in Brooklyn. She posted a video on her Instagram account the next day, confirming her decision to leave the show. She said that she was not leaving on bad terms, however, as some audience members had understood some of her onstage comments to imply.

Johnson had told the Union Hall audience that “S.N.L.” staff wanted her to change her hair and to stop working out so much and looking “buff.” She had also mentioned a heated argument with a talent producer, adding that being on the show had been stressing her out and that she was happier since having decided to leave.

Born and raised in New Orleans, Johnson, 39, moved to Los Angeles to start her comedy career and worked as a server at the Comedy Store before she was made a paid regular onstage. Johnson joined “S.N.L.” for the show’s 46th season as a featured player and was promoted to the regular cast in 2022. Johnson was also the first openly lesbian Black cast member of “S.N.L.” (An earlier Black lesbian cast member, Danitra Vance, was not publicly out while on the show in the 1980s.)" ---- New York Times

[George Zipp]

Don't think she ever played Kamala and Maya is absolutely going to reprise that role. Almost certain it's been confirmed.

She claims it was on good terms. Probably nice PR move for her. Seems weird that someone would voluntarily leave that show as it's about to film a milestone season. Guessing Lorne told her to have a good life.

[FrankTheTank]

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27657135/? ... q_Saturday

A movie is coming out about the lead-up and first episode.

[Paper Lanterns]

Molly Kearney is also leaving. The cast is pretty big; wouldn't be surprised if some of the smaller players are getting squeezed out/seeing the writing on the wall as the show prepares for its 50th season and will likely bring in a lot of celebrities for cameo appearances.

[Pink Freud]

Molly Kearney is also leaving. The cast is pretty big; wouldn't be surprised if some of the smaller players are getting squeezed out/seeing the writing on the wall as the show prepares for its 50th season and will likely bring in a lot of celebrities for cameo appearances.

Molly Kearney was brought aboard only because she's transsexual; nothing else makes her especially watchable. Waiting now for the inevitable NY Times and LA Times outrage over her leaving. Zzzzzzzzzzz.....

[FrankTheTank]

Molly Kearney is also leaving. The cast is pretty big; wouldn't be surprised if some of the smaller players are getting squeezed out/seeing the writing on the wall as the show prepares for its 50th season and will likely bring in a lot of celebrities for cameo appearances.

Exactly what I was thinking, I imagine we are going to get a TON of cameos/pop ins, etc. this season. You don't have room for 25 regular cast players.

The interesting thing will be what happens after this upcoming season. Does Lorne finally retire? Who takes over? Kenan Thompson?

[FrankTheTank]

First trailer for Saturday Night.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ9O_tl5Npk

[Cardsfan2012]

Molly Kearney is also leaving. The cast is pretty big; wouldn't be surprised if some of the smaller players are getting squeezed out/seeing the writing on the wall as the show prepares for its 50th season and will likely bring in a lot of celebrities for cameo appearances.

Molly Kearney was brought aboard only because she's transsexual; nothing else makes her especially watchable. Waiting now for the inevitable NY Times and LA Times outrage over her leaving. Zzzzzzzzzzz.....

Kearney is openly non-binary. A bit of a difference between that and someone being transgender (even though non-binary does sometimes get put under that umbrella). That had nothing to do with why they were hired though. I'd disagree with Kearney not being watchable. They seemed to really find their stride by the end of last season.

[kunilou]

The interesting thing will be what happens after this upcoming season. Does Lorne finally retire? Who takes over? Kenan Thompson?

Kenan was one name mentioned and probably the logical choice. I always thought his short-lived sitcom was more intended to give him experience as an Executive Producer than actually to be a hit.

The outside shot I've heard mentioned is Al Franken, but he has all sorts of baggage.

[FrankTheTank]

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/snl ... 12899.html

Three new comedians—Ashley Padilla, Emil Wakim, and Jane Wickline— have been added to the show as featured players. At the same time, three existing featured players—Marcello Hernandez, Michael Longfellow, and Devon Walker—are being promoted to the main cast, while a fourth, Chloe Troast, will not be returning after just one season on the show.