Emil Wakim, who held a featured player role at NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” for a single season, is leaving the late-night showcase, he disclosed in a statement on social media Wednesday.
“I won’t be returning to ‘SNL‘ next year,” the comedian revealed on Instagram. “It was a gut punch of a call to get, but I’m so grateful for my time there.”
His departure follows that of cast member Devon Walker, who revealed Monday he would be leaving the program after three seasons. An NBC spokesperson for the program was not able to offer immediate comment.
Late August is the typical time for producers at the NBC mainstay to make decisions about talent and whether to recalibrate the cast. Each year, before the start of a new season, “Saturday Night Live” typically sees some long-standing cast members leave for new challenges. In some cases, producers may decide that newer personnel haven’t “broken out” on the show.
Lorne Michaels, the executive producer of “SNL,” told the news outlet Puck last week that he intended to reveal cast changes in coming days. There has been some speculation that this year’s moves may include senior cast members as well as newer ones.
Wakim joined the show last year in time for its 50th anniversary season. Many of his contributions were seen in segments on “Weekend Update.”
He joins the growing ranks of first-season “SNL” cast members who didn’t make the cut for a second. Brooks Whelan, Noel Welles, Chloe Troast, Michaela Watkins, Luke Null, Jerry Minor and John Rudnitsky are among others who stand in that select roster.
The comedian thanked Michaels in his social-media remarks and said he was “so lucky to bring some of myself in there and say things I believed in.” He didn’t articulate any future jobs, but said that he was “excited for whatever chapter comes next. Here’s to making more art without compromise.”
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