Bowen Yang Cries in Final SNL Sketch with Ariana Grande and Cher in Exit
Bowen Yang said goodbye to “Saturday Night Live” with the final sketch of the evening, which was also his last.
News broke Friday that Saturday’s episode would be Yang’s final appearance as part of the “SNL” cast after eight seasons on the show. He first joined ‘Saturday Night Live’ as a writer in 2018 in season 44 and was later added to the cast as a main character in season 45. In season 47, he became a main cast member.
In the sketch, Yang played a flight attendant with a broken eggnog machine in the Delta One lounge leaving for his last shift.
“This is my last shift. It’s sad. I’m going to miss everything about this place. The way it smells. The celebrities who come by. Last week Josh O’Connor came by,” Yang said, referring to last week’s “SNL” host.
Tonight’s host, Ariana Grande, who co-starred with Yang in the “Wicked” films, also made an appearance and said goodbye to her friend. Playing a family member to Yang’s character, Grande said, “I wish you were home, but I’m so proud of you and all the lawyering you’ve done over the years. Some of it was great, some of it was rotten.”
“And a lot of it was cut away,” Yang added. “But you know, I also think that eggnog is a bit like me. It’s not for everyone, but the people who like it are my kind of people.” The two sang a song together and were joined on stage by musical guest Cher (who played the lawyer’s boss), and Yang said a tearful farewell.
“Oh, Rhonda, I should have come home earlier,” he said, choking up. “I feel so lucky to have ever worked here. And I wanted to enjoy it a little longer. Especially the people. I loved everyone who works here. Because they have done so much for me, especially my boss.”
During the final goodnight to close the show, Grande gave a special shoutout to Yang: “And Bowen Yang, we love you so much! Goodnight!”
Yang’s midseason departure comes after several cast members left before season 51 began, including Ego Nwodim, Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker, Emil Wakim and John Higgins. Leaving in the middle of a season is rare, but not unheard of; Cecily Strong, Molly Shannon and Dana Carvey have done it in the past.
Outside of “Saturday Night Live,” Yang hosts the pop culture podcast “Las Culturistas” with fellow comedian Matt Rogers. For the first time, the two hosted their annual Las Culturistas Awards as a full awards show, broadcast on Bravo and Peacock. Yang also reprized his “Wicked” role as Pfannee in this fall’s hit “Wicked: For Good.” He and Rogers are also writing and starring in an upcoming comedy for Searchlight Pictures.
