SNL announces 5 new cast members, including one from 'Please Don't Destroy'

"Saturday Night Live has announced a slate of incoming cast members, just weeks away from the premiere of its 51st season. The late-night institution is welcoming five new performers, many of whom will be familiar to comedy fans and, in one case, SNL viewers specifically. Ben Marshall, who has spent several years writing and performing on the show as part of its digital short-making trio,"

""Please Don't Destroy," has been promoted to a featured player. He joins the cast alongside Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson and Veronika Slowikowska. SNL heralded their arrival on Tuesday following a week in which several cast members and writers announced their departures. Performers Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker and Emil Wakim confirmed their exits, while Variety and other outlets reported that Heidi Gardner the longest-running"

"female member of the most recent cast will not be returning. Gardner has not commented publicly. SNL creator and producer Lorne Michaels, who has the final say over hiring and firing decisions, had teased a post-50th anniversary shakeup in an interview with Puck last month. NBC Universal said Tuesday it was still too early to confirm the full lineup for the new"

Saturday Night Live is adding five new performers: Ben Marshall, Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson and Veronika Slowikowska. Ben Marshall was promoted to featured player after several years writing and performing with the digital-short trio Please Don't Destroy, which formed at NYU in 2017. The group produced viral digital shorts and music videos, including the Pete Davidson- and Taylor Swift collaboration "Three Sad Virgins," and created sketches skewering topics from hard seltzer to "hangxiety." Several cast members and writers announced departures, and reports indicate Heidi Gardner will not return. Season 51 begins Oct. 4.

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