Chloe Fineman will not return to "Saturday Night Live" for its upcoming 52nd season, marking the end of her seven-year tenure with the iconic sketch comedy show. Fineman, who joined the cast in 2019, announced her departure recently after fulfilling her contract.
Fineman's exit comes as "SNL" faces potential further cast changes. With a current roster of 13 regular cast members, the show's makeup for Season 52 is a subject of considerable speculation among fans. The previous season saw five new featured players join the cast, alongside a number of long-serving veterans. The composition of the female cast members has also shifted, with only four women remaining, all of whom are white, a demographic not seen in the cast since the late 2000s.
While Fineman's departure is confirmed, the futures of other cast members remain uncertain. Michael Che and Colin Jost, the long-time anchors of Weekend Update, are expected by some analysts to continue their roles, despite their lengthy tenures. Mikey Day, who began as a writer in Season 39 and became a featured player, is also considered by some to be a potential candidate for a longer run, given his behind-the-scenes contributions.
Andrew Dismukes, another cast member who transitioned from writing to on-air performance, is also expected to continue, potentially filling out a standard seven-season contract. Featured players like Jeremy Culhane and Ben Marshall, who joined in Season 51, are being evaluated for their potential to return and grow within the show's ensemble.
Kam Patterson and Tommy Brennan, also new featured players from Season 51, face more uncertainty. Patterson's transition from stand-up to sketch comedy has been noted as a potential challenge, while Brennan's fit within the ensemble has been questioned by some observers. The show's casting decisions for Season 52 will likely aim to address the current demographic makeup of the cast, with an expectation that new talent, including women of color, may be added.
Fineman's departure as the longest-tenured female cast member adds to the ongoing evolution of the "Saturday Night Live" cast, a process that typically intensifies in the summer months leading up to the show's fall premiere. The show has historically seen various waves of cast turnover, with some members departing after fulfilling contract obligations and others leaving for new opportunities or after extended tenures.