Chris Redd can be added to the list of seasoned cast members quitting “Saturday Night Live.”
After five seasons on the show, Redd has made the decision to depart NBC’s historic late-night showcase. Redd is the newest cast member to leave the show ahead of its 48th season, which has featured one of the largest casts in recent memory.
The show’s longstanding executive producer, Lorne Michaels, had predicted a season of transition earlier in the year and recently proposed that the current cast of comics stick together to support one another during the pandemic.
“Being a part of ‘SNL’ has been the experience of a lifetime. Five years ago, I walked into 30 Rock knowing that this was an amazing opportunity for growth.” In a statement, Redd stated. “Now, with friends who have become family and memories I will cherish forever, I’m grateful to Lorne Michaels and to the entire ‘SNL’ organization. From the bottom of my heart, I can’t thank you all enough.”
Redd involved in multiple recorded films and sketches when he was on the show, becoming well-known for his portrayal of New York City mayor Eric Adams. He also received a share of the Emmy for his contributions to the song “Come Back Barack,” which laments the departure of former President Barack Obama. In 2017, Redd became a featured player in the series.
Later this year, Chris Redd: Why Am I Like This?, an HBO Max comedy special, is set to debut. Redd collaborated on the creation of the project with Michaels’ Broadway Video and Audible, and she will voice the lead character. Additionally, he has been cast in the feature picture “Cyber Monday,” which Universal is currently developing.
The “SNL” talent roster is updated before each summer break, but these last few months have seen unusually high activity for the show. Following the announcements in May that Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant, Kyle Mooney, and Pete Davidson were leaving, Alex Moffat, Melissa Villaseor, and Aristotle Athari’s exits were made public earlier this month.
Backstage, there has also been a notable departure. After overseeing talent relations for the programme for years, senior producer Lindsay Shookus is leaving.
“SNL” has acquired new significance for NBC as more TV viewers switch to streaming services to watch their preferred scripted dramas and comedy whenever they want. “SNL” is now broadcast live across the United States all at once, which means that it airs in primetime in some regions of the country. Previously, it was relegated to broadcasting after the late local news in a time slot network executives didn’t consider important. In the 2020–2021 season, “Saturday Night Live” attracted the most viewers between the ages of 18 and 49, the group that advertisers find most attractive.
A few current cast members will likely have to take on more duties each week as a result of the cast alterations. Heidi Gardner, Chloe Fineman, Ego Nwodim, Mikey Day, and Bowen Yang are among those who have had consistent screen time in recent seasons. NBC has yet to formally announce the future of stalwarts like Colin Jost, Michel Che, Kenan Thompson, and Cecily Strong for the upcoming season. Before the start of the show’s season in October, “SNL” has already revealed that it will be adding four new featured players.
The several exits are similar of the change “Saturday Night Live” saw in 2012, when Andy Samberg, Abby Elliott, and Kristen Wiig left at the end of the season, followed by Jason Sudeikis a few months later, and Fred Armisen and Bill Hader a year later. The existing cast members and a few newcomers have to put in more effort to become more unified.
