Cecily Strong Still On ‘SNL’ Cast Despite Absence From Opening Credits

Topline

Longtime Saturday Night Live cast member Cecily Strong has not departed the sketch comedy series, despite her absence from the opening credits during this weekend’s season premiere, a source close to the show has confirmed to Forbes, after eight cast members departed in one of the biggest cast turnovers in years.

Key Facts

Strong will return to SNL at the end of October, when she is done performing in the play The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, the source told Forbes.

Lorne Michaels, SNL’s creator, is one of the play’s producers.

Strong has been on SNL since 2012, and is one of the most senior members of the cast, aside from Kenan Thomspon, who just celebrated his 20th season on the series—he’s the longest-running cast member in the show’s history.

During Saturday’s season 48 premiere, fans speculated on social media about Strong’s status on the show, given her tenure on SNL and the recent departures of other cast heavyweights.

Key Background

Eight cast members and featured players departed the series between the end of season 47 and the start of season 48: Kate McKinnon, Pete Davidson, Aidy Bryant, Kyle Mooney, Melissa Villaseñor, Alex Moffat, Aristotle Athiras and Chris Redd. It was the largest turnover since 1995, when nearly the entire cast was new. Four new featured players were added to the cast. Michaels told the New York Times last week a large number of people departed the show over the summer because SNL kept an unusual number of cast members on its roster during the pandemic, during which “no one could really leave, because there were no jobs.” He called season 48 “a year of reinvention.” The show premiered Saturday with Miles Teller hosting and Kendrick Lamar serving as the musical guest.

What To Watch For

The next episode of SNL airs Saturday and will be hosted by Brendan Gleeson, with musical guest Willow. Megan Thee Stallion helms the October 15 show.

Tangent

Strong was praised last season for her Weekend Update character Goober The Clown, who got an abortion when she was 23 years old, a performance she gave as the future of abortion rights in the U.S. was uncertain.

Further Reading

Lorne Michaels Says ‘SNL’ Cast Member Exodus Was A Result Of The Pandemic (Forbes)

‘SNL’ Adds Four New Featured Players Members After Cast Exodus (Forbes)

Three More ‘SNL’ Cast Members Departing Show Ahead Of Season 48 After Loss Of Stars (Forbes)