Saturday Night Live adds first non-binary cast member, comedian Molly Kearney, ahead of show’s 48th season… after shock departures of Pete Davidson and Kate McKinnon
Saturday Night Live has added its first non-binary cast member.
Comedian Molly Kearney, who identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, will star in the sketch show’s upcoming 48th season.
The news comes amid a mass exodus of veteran cast members, including fan-favorites Pete Davidson and Kate McKinnon.
A first: Saturday Night Live has added its first non-binary cast member
Comedian Molly Kearney, who identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, will star in the sketch show’s upcoming 48th season; pictured in 2019
‘MEATBRICK MOVED TO NEW YORK !!!!’ captioned Kearney, who eagerly shared their SNL headshot to Instagram on Thursday.
They are no stranger to television as they recently starred as Fern Dannely in Amazon’s series remake of the classic 1992 film A League of Their Own.
They’ve also appeared in the Disney+ comedy-drama series The Mighty Ducks, which was released in March 2021.
In 2019, Kearney was selected to perform in Comedy Central’s annual comedy showcase, Up Next. Comedians are scouted via a nationwide talent search for the show.
Along with Kearney, it was reported by NBC on Thursday that three more comedians have been added to the roster.
Cast shakeup: The news comes amid a mass exodus of veteran cast members, including fan-favorites Pete Davidson and Kate McKinnon
‘MEATBRICK MOVED TO NEW YORK !!!!’ captioned Kearney, who eagerly shared their SNL headshot to Instagram on Thursday
Just for Laughs New Face of Comedy honoree Marcello Hernandez, NBC’s Bring The Funny star Michael Longfellow and comedy writer Devon Walker will make their SNL debuts this fall.
Saturday Night Live will return to NBC on October 1.
Earlier this month, Deadline revealed that recognizable SNL stars Alex Moffat, Melissa Villaseñor and featured player Aristotle Athar would be exiting the show,.
Their departure will significantly change the makeup of the cast following the earlier departures of Pete Davidson, Aidy Bryant, Kate McKinnon and Kyle Mooney.
New class: Along with Kearney, it was reported by NBC on Thursday that three more comedians have been added to the roster, including Just for Laughs New Face of Comedy honoree Marcello Hernandez
Coming soon! Comedy writer Devon Walker will make his SNL debut this fall
Hilarious: NBC’s Bring The Funny star Michael Longfellow has been cast
Both Moffat and Villaseñor joined the SNL cast as featured players in 2016, before joining the main cast of repertory players two years later.
Moffat was a regular guest with Colin Jost and Michael Che on Weekend Update as Guy Who Just Bought a Boat, and he also played a particularly dim-witted version of Eric Trump.
He also stared as President Joe Biden for a time, before current featured player James Austin Johnson took over the role.
Villaseñor had fewer recurring roles, though she appeared in the show’s political sketches as Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Out the door: SNL cast members Alex Moffat (L), Melissa Villaseñor (R) and featured player Aristotle Atari are leaving the series, according to Deadline on Thursday
One and done: Athari joined the featured players back in the fall of 2021 along with Johnson and Sarah Sherman, but he never gained as much screen time as the other two; seen in November 2021
She has worked for years as an in-demand voice actor for animated shows, and her facility with odd voices was also put to use on SNL.
Villaseñor, who telegraphed her departure by sharing memories from her time on the series earlier in August, will be heading out on a stand-up tour starting in October.
Both comics joined the cast at the same time as Mikey Day, who is apparently sticking around.
Athari joined the featured players back in the fall of 2021 along with Johnson and Sarah Sherman, but he never gained as much screen time as the other two.
So far, SNL and NBC haven’t commented on the latest round of departures.
Regulars: Moffat regularly played Guy Who Bought a Boat, Eric Trump and even Joe Biden for a time; still from SNL featuring Alec Baldwin
Moving on: Villaseñor, who telegraphed her departure by sharing memories from her time on the series earlier in August, will be heading out on a stand-up tour starting in October; seen with Cecily Strong (L)
Pete Davidson, Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant and Kyle Mooney previously left the series at the conclusion of season 47 in the spring.
New cast members and the returning crop of stars are typically announced a few weeks before the start of the season, though a season 48 premiere date hasn’t been announced yet.
Senior producer Lindsay Shookus, who had worked on the show in some capacity since 2002, also left the show earlier in August.
After being promoted to a full producer, she took over the talent department and was in charge of booking the show’s hosts and musical guests, along with searching for future cast members.
Big change: The trio of departures follows Pete Davidson, Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant and Kyle Mooney leaving after the end of season 47; Moffat and Villaseñor pictured in 2017 in NYC
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