Bowen Yang, one of “Saturday Night Live’s” most beloved and groundbreaking performers, is officially leaving Studio 8H after seven seasons. His exit, coming in the middle of Season 51, marks the end of an era for SNL fans who have watched him turn every sketch—from iceberg rants to wildly specific impressions—into instant comedy gold.
When Is Bowen Yang’s Last SNL Episode?
Bowen Yang will depart “Saturday Night Live” after this weekend’s Christmas episode, which airs on Saturday, December 20, 2025, in the middle of Season 51. The episode is already being framed as a celebration of his tenure, with emotional tributes expected from both the cast and the audience.
Fittingly, the show will be hosted by Yang’s Wicked: For Good co-star Ariana Grande, with Cher as the musical guest—turning his farewell into a star-studded event that reflects just how far his career has expanded beyond SNL.
Why Is Bowen Yang Leaving “Saturday Night Live”?
Multiple outlets report that Yang’s decision to leave is his own, and that the timing didn’t come as a surprise to SNL’s producers. Over the last few years, he has become one of Hollywood’s most in-demand talents, balancing SNL with film roles, voice work, and his popular podcast Las Culturistas—a schedule he’s described as intense and exhausting.
In earlier interviews, Yang compared SNL to a “boot camp” that prepares performers for the next stage of their careers, acknowledging that the show is “a launching pad” and that at some point, it’s natural to move on. According to reports, he’s leaving now to focus on upcoming film projects, including the adaptation Tangles: A Story About Alzheimer’s, My Mother and Me, and additional voice-acting roles.
A Groundbreaking Run: Why His SNL Legacy Matters
Bowen Yang joined SNL as a writer in 2018 for Season 44 and was promoted to the on-air cast in 2019, becoming the show’s first Chinese American cast member and one of its first openly gay male performers. In 2021, he made history as the first featured player to earn an Emmy nomination for Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
Fans will remember his iconic characters and impressions: the Titanic iceberg, Fran Lebowitz, the proud gay Oompa Loompa, George Santos, and countless weekend Update appearances where he stole the show in just a few minutes of screen time. His presence helped make SNL feel more inclusive, more surreal, and often more emotionally honest.
What’s Next for Bowen After Studio 8H?
Leaving SNL doesn’t mean you’ll see less of Bowen Yang—if anything, it likely means you’ll see more of him in bigger, more complex roles. He’s already booked major projects, including film work, prestige TV, and continued voice-acting, along with live performances and future stand-up possibilities.
For Yang, this move feels less like a goodbye and more like a graduation. And for fans, it’s comforting to know that while we’ll miss his chaos on SNL every Saturday night, we’re only at the beginning of what he can do with the full canvas of film, television, and beyond.
