Cecily Strong's Saturday Night Live Future Uncertain

Is Cecily Strong Saturday Night Live's next high profile departure? While there's been no official word from Strong or NBC, the SNL vet is starring in an LA-based production of The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, opening September 28th at the Mark Taper Forum just as the show she's called home for ten years begins its 48th season.

The apparent conflict doesn't necessarily mean Strong is leaving SNL. As the show's reperatory has mushroomed in size in recent years, it's allowed its more veteran cast members to dip in and out over the course of a season as they juggle multiple projects. Kate McKinnon and Pete Davidson missed seven episodes apeice last year, while Strong herself skipped three episodes in January while she was starring in the same play's New York production.

The fact that SNL honcho Lorne Michaels is among the play's producers is another encouraging sign that two haven't severed ties. 

This isn't the first time Strong's SNL future has been a question ahead of a new season. She apparently considered leaving the show after her ninth season in 2021, telling InStyle at the time "I've gone back and forth, like, 'Should I write something on Instagram?' But I hadn't decided, and I still haven't." 

Season 48 is shaping up to be a major turnover year for Saturday Night Live, with six regular cast members already known not to be returning. It was reported just yesterday that Alex Moffat and Melissa Villaseñor will not be a part of the show's 48th season. They join previously announced departures Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant, Pete Davidson, and Kyle Mooney.

The last time the show has seen a number of departures anywhere near this was in the same year was 2006, when Tina Fey, Rachel Dratch, Horatio Sanz, Chris Parnell, and Finesse Mitchell all departed the show (although in some respects, that year may have been even more of a shock to the system since at the time there were only 12 reperatory cast members, while last season saw 16).

Saturday Night Live is expected to return for its 48th season on October 1st.

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Jed Rosenzweig is the Founder and Publisher of Primetimer.