SNL opted to release veterans Taran Killam and Jay Pharoah from their contracts for season 42.
With less than 100 days to go before what could be the most polarizing election in U.S history, Lorne Michaels is opting to bring in fresh faces as more eyeballs will undoubtedly flock to Saturday Night Live during election season. This unfortunately means changeover for the current SNL cast. In a surprise move, Michaels released SNL veterans Taran Killam and Jay Pharoah from the final year of their respective contracts.
TVLinefirst reported the news, which was confirmed by NBC to multiple outlets.
The fan favorites, who spent the last six seasons honing their craft at 30 Rock, played major roles in the show’s political spoofs over the last several seasons, including Pharaoh's memorable turns as President Obama and (young and sleepy) Ben Carson and Killam's impressions of Ted Cruz, Paul Ryan, and Donald Trump, amongst many others.
The move even caught Killam off guard. “I had sort of had it in my head I would make this upcoming year my last year, but then heard they weren’t going to pick up my contract,” he told Uproxx. “I was never given a reason why, really.”
SNL has yet to announce the new cast members joining the seminal sketch series for its 42nd season.
