Chloe Troast Exits ‘SNL’ as Show Prepares for 50th Season

“Saturday Night Live” (SNL) has announced a series of changes as it gears up for its landmark 50th season. The NBC sketch comedy show will see the addition of three new cast members: Ashley Padilla, Emil Wakim, and Jane Wickline. However, Chloe Troast, who joined the cast last year, will not be returning for the new season.

Troast, 27, confirmed her departure in an Instagram post, stating, “Unfortunately, I was not asked back to ‘SNL’ this season. I wish I was going back to be with all the amazing friends I made there; it truly felt like home. But it wasn’t in the cards.” She expressed gratitude for the support she received during her tenure and conveyed her hope that her work brought joy and laughter to viewers.

During her single season on “SNL,” Troast was noted for her memorable sketches, including a performance as an orphan singing to a moon with Timothée Chalamet’s face and a cold open portraying Rep. Elise Stefanik during a congressional hearing.

Troast’s exit follows the departures of other cast members ahead of the 50th season. Punkie Johnson, who joined in 2020, and Molly Kearney, the show’s first non-binary cast member who started in 2022, have also confirmed they will not return. Johnson revealed on the “Fly on the Wall” podcast that her experience in stand-up comedy did not align with the sketch format of “SNL,” though she remains optimistic about future opportunities, including projects with the show’s creator, Lorne Michaels. Kearney expressed deep gratitude for her time on the show and affection for the team behind the scenes.

The 50th season of “Saturday Night Live” is set to premiere on September 28, 2024. The anniversary season will feature a special episode on February 16, 2025. Former cast member Maya Rudolph is expected to return periodically to reprise her role as Vice President Kamala Harris, particularly as the 2024 presidential election approaches.

The new cast members joining “SNL” include:

• Ashley Padilla: A member of The Groundlings Main Company since 2021, Padilla has appeared in “Night Court” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
• Emil Wakim: A Lebanese-American comedian who was named a New Face of Comedy at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in 2022, Wakim has also performed on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”
• Jane Wickline: Gained recognition through TikTok and is a cast member of the show “Stapleview.” Wickline also appears in the upcoming Mubi film “My First Film” and is active on the comedy circuit.

As “SNL” prepares for its historic 50th season, viewers can expect a blend of new faces and continued political satire.