"Saturday Night Live" embarks on a fresh journey, welcoming new luminaries while bidding adieu to one cherished face. The NBC sketch comedy juggernaut unveiled on Monday its trio of talented additions for the eagerly anticipated 50th season: Ashley Padilla, Emil Wakim, and Jane Wickline, all poised to leave their indelible mark. However, the news was tinged with sadness as Chloe Troast, a beloved member since last year, revealed in an emotional Instagram post that her tenure on "SNL" had come to an unexpected close.
"With a heavy heart, I must share that I wasn't invited back for this season's 'SNL' ride," Troast penned, her 27-year-old spirit brimming with gratitude despite the setback. "My heart longs to reunite with the family I found there, where laughter echoed like a warm embrace. Alas, fate had other plans." She gracefully extended her thanks to her supporters, vowing, "May my performances have sown joy and mirth amidst your hearts. Onward and upward, with love evermore."
Troast's solitary season was marked by unforgettable moments, including her heart-wrenching portrayal of an orphan serenading the moon, her visage intertwined with Timothée Chalamet's, and her witty impersonation of Representative Elise Stefanik during a congressional probe into campus antisemitism.
Troast's departure follows in the footsteps of other esteemed "SNL" alumni, Punkie Johnson and Molly Kearney, who announced their own exits ahead of the milestone 50th anniversary. Johnson, reflecting on her 2020 arrival, candidly shared on the "Fly on the Wall" podcast that her roots in stand-up comedy made her feel somewhat out of place amidst the sketch realm. Nevertheless, she looked forward to new horizons, buoyed by a flurry of job prospects and the continued support of "SNL" creator Lorne Michaels, who's collaborating with her on a film and a comedy special.
Kearney, the show's groundbreaking first non-binary cast member since 2022, expressed profound gratitude for her "SNL" experience, labeling it a "dream fulfilled" in an August Instagram post. She showered praise on her behind-the-scenes comrades, acknowledging the tireless efforts that brought magic to life each week.
As "SNL" gears up for its September 28 season premiere and a grand 50th-anniversary special slated for February 16, Maya Rudolph is set to reprise her iconic role as Vice President Kamala Harris, poised to steal the spotlight leading into the 2024 presidential election.
This article, originally featured in USA TODAY, shines a light on the ever-evolving landscape of "Saturday Night Live," where every cast change echoes with both melancholy and anticipation for the comedic wonders yet to come.
