Saturday Night Live had a fitting send-off for one of its most endearing cast members, Bowen Yang. The year-end episode was hosted by Yang’s friend and Wicked co-star Ariana Grande. It ended with a heartfelt sketch that also served as a tribute to Yang’s exit from the show.
Bowen Yang leaves SNL after an emotional final episode
Saturday Night Live sent off Bowen Yang in style. Yang originally joined the show in 2018 as a writer before transitioning into a cast member in 2019. During his seven-season run, Yang became a standout performer and a fan favorite.
In the latest episode, Yang joined Grande on stage to sing a rendition of All I Want for Christmas Is You, drawing a strong reaction from the audience. SNL alum Aidy Bryant also made a surprise appearance and joined Yang to reprise their fan favorite characters, the Trend Forecasters.
Later, the episode featured a meta sketch with Yang portraying an airport employee on his final day on the job. “They’re closing my station. It’s my last shift,” Yang said in the sketch. “It’s sad. I’m gonna miss everything about this place. The way it smells, the celebrities who would come through. You know, just last week Josh O’Connor was here.”
As the sketch continued, Yang reached an emotional moment and broke down in tears. “I just feel so lucky that I ever got to work here,” he said. “I just wanted to enjoy it for a little bit longer, especially the people. I’ve loved every single person who works here because they’ve done so much for me, especially my boss.”
The sketch then featured a surprise appearance by Cher, whom Yang has previously described as his dream guest on SNL. The moment appeared to give Yang a farewell that reflected his long-running admiration for the singer.
Yang also made history during his time on the show. He became the first featured cast member to receive an acting Emmy nomination, earning a nod in 2021 for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
Bowen Yang’s legacy will live on in SNL for years to come.