NEW YORK (AP) — Bowen Yang delivered a deeply emotional farewell to “Saturday Night Live” on Saturday, capping his run with a musical send-off featuring Ariana Grande and Cher.
A Fond Farewell Filled with Laughter and Tears
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The comedian’s final sketch involved a Christmas Eve airport lounge and a heartfelt rendition of a holiday classic.
- Yang’s departure follows a larger cast exodus this past summer.
- He joined “SNL” as a writer in 2018, rising to become a main cast member and five-time Emmy nominee.
- Yang expressed gratitude for his time at “30 Rock,” acknowledging the value of showing up even when things felt challenging.
Yang starred in the night’s final sketch, portraying a retiring airport lounge worker on Christmas Eve. He sang “Please Come Home for Christmas,” and was soon joined by Grande, the evening’s host, and musical guest Cher, who embraced him in a touching moment. The performance provided a platform for Yang to bid adieu to his castmates, playfully spraying Kenan Thompson with eggnog, and to reflect on moving forward. “I just wanted to enjoy it for a little longer,” he said, visibly moved to tears by the end of the song.
What was the most memorable part of Bowen Yang’s final “SNL” appearance? His emotional performance of “Please Come Home for Christmas” alongside Ariana Grande and Cher, marking a poignant goodbye to his colleagues and fans.
A Bittersweet Exit After Five Years
The show concluded with a brief tribute to the late director Rob Reiner and a traditional cast curtain call. Grande warmly told Yang, “We love you so much,” echoing the sentiment of the audience, who offered enthusiastic applause throughout the night. Yang initially joined “SNL” as a writer in 2018, quickly progressing to a featured player and, two seasons later, a main cast member. Over the years, he garnered five Emmy nominations for his work.
In a Saturday Instagram post, Yang shared his feelings about his time at the show: “i loved working at SNL, and most of all i loved the people. i was there at a time when many things in the world started to seem futile, but working at 30 rock taught me the value in showing up anyway when people make it worthwhile.”
Yang’s departure comes mid-season, following a significant cast turnover last summer that included Ego Nwodim, Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker, Emil Wakim, and John Higgins. He leaves “SNL” after a particularly busy period, having recently appeared in several projects.
Reflecting on a Difficult Decision
The news of Yang’s exit wasn’t entirely unexpected. He had previously discussed the possibility with “SNL” creator Lorne Michaels in September, as he revealed to People. Michaels encouraged him to stay, stating, “You have more to do,” a sentiment Yang deeply valued. “That man has changed my life, and I owe a lot of my life to that show,” Yang added. “And I love working there. The people are the best. I really love each of them so much.”
Beyond “SNL,” Yang co-hosts the popular pop culture podcast “Las Culturistas” with Matt Rogers. He also showcased his talents in “Wicked” and “Wicked: For Good” as Pfannee, and co-starred in a remake of “The Wedding Banquet” this year. In 2023, he appeared in “Dicks: The Musical,” and in 2022, he was part of the cast of “Fire Island.” He also had a recurring role in “Awkwafina is Nora from Queens” from 2020 to 2023.
Yang and Rogers also hosted the spoof Las Culturista Culture Awards on Bravo last summer, with plans to return for another installment next year, according to Yang’s Instagram.
A Legacy of Iconic Characters
Mid-season departures aren’t uncommon for “SNL”; Cecily Strong left in December 2022. Yang’s time on the show was marked by memorable characters, including his portrayal of the Titanic iceberg on “Weekend Update” – his favorite segment, according to an October interview with Esquire – as well as his takes on George Santos, a gay Oompa Loompa, and Vice President JD Vance.
In a final “Weekend Update” appearance alongside Aidy Bryant, Yang played a character offering humorous advice on current trends, looking ahead to 2026.
Yang, the son of Chinese immigrants, was recently featured on the cover of Esquire. In an Oct. 28 interview, he expressed his frustration with the tendency to categorize his work solely through the lenses of his identity. “There’s an idea that all of what I do is queer and Asian, which I don’t think is true. I get sick of people reducing the work I do on the show to those identifiers,” he said. He also emphasized a shift in priorities, stating, “Work is not the most meaningful thing for me anymore. The things I like are spending time with friends, working every now and then, not being caged by it.”
Yang recalled advice he received from Kristen Wiig during her hosting stint on “SNL”: “She was like, ‘Have fun. It’s the most fun job in the world, and you’ll miss it when it’s done. You won’t realize how much you miss it until you leave.’”
