The 47-year-old comic, who holds the title of “SNL”’s longest-running forged member with 22 seasons below his belt, revealed he has not but signed on for Season 23.
Kenan Thompson’s feedback come amid rising hypothesis about potential forged departures.
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Kenan Thompson Teases Doable ‘SNL’ Forged Shakeup
Talking to Web page Six on the Reel Works twenty fourth Changemakers Gala on Wednesday, Thompson described the current season finale as “bittersweet” and hinted that important modifications may very well be on the horizon.
“Particularly this 12 months, the place it appears like there’s possibly, probably, plenty of change subsequent 12 months,” he stated. “You need everybody to remain ceaselessly, figuring out that folks could also be making selections this summer season… it’s at all times such as you need your youngsters to remain younger.”
The finale even poked enjoyable on the rumors, with forged member Sarah Sherman jokingly hinting at an exit and Colin Jost cracking smart on “Weekend Replace” about probably taking on Lorne Michaels’ job.
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As for Michaels himself, the 80-year-old creator and government producer of the present informed The Hollywood Reporter in 2024 that he has no fast plans to step down. “So so long as it’s necessary and I will be helpful, I’ll keep,” he stated.
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Kenan Thompson Hints At ‘SNL’ Future
Thompson, nonetheless, stays cautious.
Regardless of his seniority and deep roots at “SNL,” he emphasised that nothing is ever sure.
“You simply by no means know what the long run holds,” he admitted. “I don’t wish to be in the best way of another person, or the stale outdated man driving the identical factor. That doesn’t actually occur that a lot at ‘SNL,’ however there’s no ensures, I assume.”
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Bowen Yang Displays On Emotional ‘SNL’ Finale

Thompson shouldn’t be the one forged member to handle the way forward for the present.
As “Saturday Night time Dwell” wrapped its landmark fiftieth season, Bowen Yang took a second to mirror, each onstage and off, sparking questions on his future with the present. Talking to Leisure Weekly, Yang opened up concerning the flood of feelings that hit him that evening.
“I believe you get to a degree at ‘SNL’ the place you perceive that you just’re on the downswing of issues,” he stated on the Season 50 finale. “I believe I used to be simply processing that being one of many final ‘final nights’ that I’d have, and that may be a large factor.”
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Bowen Yang Dodges Season 51 Query

Yang went on to explain the annual season finale as a second of emotional launch.
“Each finale at goodnights, one thing leaves my physique as a result of I’m simply relieved from all that occurred in that season, and this was an enormous one,” he defined. “We went by means of quite a bit, so many enjoyable recollections. I believe that was most likely what was registering. I used to be similar to, oh, I have to savor these moments earlier than I don’t have them anymore.”
When requested instantly whether or not he’ll return for Season 51, Yang sidestepped the query with amusing, replying, “No, we’re not doing that.”
‘SNL’ Celebrates 50 Years
The present has gained dozens of Emmy Awards over its 50 years and is extensively thought to be some of the influential comedy applications in tv historical past.
It’s recognized not just for its memorable characters and quotable sketches like “Wayne’s World” and “Extra Cowbell,” but additionally for its sharp political satire, significantly throughout election years. Its impersonations of political figures, from Chevy Chase’s Gerald Ford to Alec Baldwin’s Donald Trump, have turn into cultural touchstones.
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The Season 50 finale of “Saturday Night time Dwell,” which aired on Could 17, 2025, was hosted by Scarlett Johansson, who made historical past because the present’s most frequent feminine host along with her seventh look. Dangerous Bunny served because the musical visitor for the milestone episode.