Fired From New York, It's Saturday Night
No show can make or break a comedian like Saturday Night Live. Not everyone can be Kenan. Some of the show's One-Season-Wonders went on to have great careers. Others, well, they can always tell people that they got Saturday Night Live!
Michael O’Donoghue (1975)
Michael O’Donoghue was credited as a cast member during the first season in 1975. He appeared in several sketches but was primarily known as a writer. He did not return as an on-screen performer after that initial year.
George Coe (1975–1976)
George Coe was part of the original cast of Saturday Night Live. He appeared during the 1975–1976 season only. Though listed in the first episodes, his participation was limited and he did not continue as cast in later seasons.
Paul Shaffer (1979–1980)
Paul Shaffer joined the cast in the 1979–1980 season. He was primarily recognized as the show’s band leader but was officially credited as a performer that year. After one season in the cast, he did not return as an on-screen member.
NBC, Saturday Night Live (1975 - Present)
Tom Schiller (1980)
Tom Schiller was credited as a cast member during the 1980 season. He was also a writer and filmmaker for the program, contributing short films. His time as a credited performer was brief and limited to that single season.
Andrew H. Walker, Getty Images
Denny Dillon (1980–1981)
Denny Dillon was featured in sketches during the 1980–1981 season. She performed regularly throughout that year but was released afterward. She did not return for subsequent seasons, making her tenure on the show just one year.
NBC, Saturday Night Live (1975 - Present)
Gilbert Gottfried (1980–1981)
Gilbert Gottfried joined the show in the 1980–1981 season. He appeared in multiple sketches but was given little prominence. After one season, he departed from the cast and did not reappear in future years as a regular performer.
NBC, Saturday Night Live (1975-)
Yvonne Hudson (1980–1981)
Yvonne Hudson was part of the 1980–1981 cast. She was the first Black woman cast member in the show’s history. Her appearances were limited and she was not retained for the following season, ending her time at one year.
NBC, Saturday Night Live (1975-)
Ann Risley (1980–1981)
Ann Risley was a repertory player during the 1980–1981 season. She appeared throughout the year in sketches before the cast was overhauled. Her time with the show lasted for that single season only, with no return afterward.
NBC, Saturday Night Live (1975-)
Matthew Laurance (1980–1981)
Matthew Laurance joined the show during the 1980–1981 season. He played supporting roles in sketches across that year. After one season, he left the cast and did not come back for any further seasons of the program.
Emily Prager (1981)
Emily Prager was credited in the April 1981 episode but her recorded sketch did not air. She never appeared live in front of the audience. Her brief credited role was limited to that single season and she was not retained.
Laurie Metcalf (1981)
Laurie Metcalf appeared briefly during the 1981 season. Her only credited contribution was a pre-taped “Weekend Update” segment. She did not appear live in any sketches and her time as a cast member was limited to that one episode.
NBC, Saturday Night Live (1975-)
Christine Ebersole (1981–1982)
Christine Ebersole joined the show in the 1981–1982 season. She was a repertory cast member for that year. After her first season ended, she left the cast and did not appear again in subsequent years.
NBC, Saturday Night Live (1975-)
Martin Short (1984–1985)
Martin Short was cast for the 1984–1985 season. He brought several characters and impressions during that year. His time on the show lasted just one season before he departed from the cast permanently.
NBC, Saturday Night Live (1975-)
Pamela Stephenson (1984–1985)
Pamela Stephenson was part of the ensemble in the 1984–1985 season. She performed in a variety of sketches that year. After completing the season, she did not return for another and her cast tenure ended there.
NBC, Saturday Night Live (1975-)
Dan Vitale (1985–1986)
Dan Vitale joined the cast in the 1985–1986 season. He appeared in sketches during that year but was not kept on afterward. His run on the show was limited to a single season of appearances.
Dan Vitale: The Intellectual Part of Me That Wants to Fight Everything, Shefik presents Invocation
Joan Cusack (1985–1986)
Joan Cusack was cast for the 1985–1986 season. She performed throughout that year in sketches alongside the rest of the large ensemble. After completing that season, she departed and did not return in future years as cast.
NBC, Saturday Night Live (1975-)
Anthony Michael Hall (1985–1986)
Anthony Michael Hall joined at age 17 in the 1985–1986 season, making him the youngest cast member in the show’s history. He remained for that single year only. Afterward, he returned to film and television outside of SNL.
NBC, Saturday Night Live (1975-)
Damon Wayans (1985–1986)
Damon Wayans appeared during the 1985–1986 season. He performed in sketches but was released after one year. He did not return for additional seasons, and his tenure on the show ended after that single year.
NBC, Saturday Night Live (1975-)
Robert Downey Jr. (1985–1986)
Robert Downey Jr. was cast in the 1985–1986 season. He played roles in a number of sketches but his time was brief. After that season ended, he was no longer part of the cast in following years.
NBC, Saturday Night Live (1975-)
Danitra Vance (1985–1986)
Danitra Vance was cast in the 1985–1986 season. She was the first Black woman to become a repertory player. Her cast tenure lasted only that single year, after which she departed the program.
NBC, Saturday Night Live (1975-)
Siobhan Fallon (1991–1992)
Siobhan Fallon appeared during the 1991–1992 season. She performed in sketches regularly throughout that year. Afterward, she did not return as a cast member, ending her time with the program after just one season.
NBC, Saturday Night Live (1975-)
Sarah Silverman (1993–1994)
Sarah Silverman joined SNL in the 1993–1994 season as a featured player. She appeared in sketches during that year but did not return for another. Her run as a cast member lasted just one season in total.
NBC, Saturday Night Live (1975-)
Chris Elliott (1994–1995)
Chris Elliott was part of the cast in the 1994–1995 season. He performed in sketches across that year. After one season, he was no longer part of the cast and did not continue into the following years.
NBC, Saturday Night Live (1975-)
Janeane Garofalo (1994–1995)
Janeane Garofalo joined during the 1994–1995 season. She appeared in sketches across the year but departed afterward. She did not remain beyond that single season of credited appearances on the show.
NBC, Saturday Night Live (1975-)
Laura Kightlinger (1994–1995)
Laura Kightlinger was credited as a cast member in the 1994–1995 season. She appeared in sketches during that year. After one season she was released and did not return as a performer on the show.
Michael S. Schwartz, Getty Images
David Koechner (1995–1996)
David Koechner joined for the 1995–1996 season. He appeared in sketches throughout the year. After that season ended, he was not retained, marking the conclusion of his one-year tenure on the program.
NBC, Saturday Night Live (1975-)
Nancy Walls (1995–1996)
Nancy Walls was cast in the 1995–1996 season. She appeared in sketches throughout the year. Her time as a cast member ended after that season, and she did not rejoin in later years.
NBC, Saturday Night Live (1975-)
Jerry Minor (2000–2001)
Jerry Minor was a cast member for the 2000–2001 season. He performed in sketches during that year. After the season concluded, he did not return for another, ending his run after one season.
NBC, Saturday Night Live (1975-)
Jenny Slate (2009–2010)
Jenny Slate appeared during the 2009–2010 season. She performed in sketches and created characters but did not return afterward. Her run lasted just that one year before she left the cast.
NBC, Saturday Night Live (1975-)
Brooks Wheelan (2013–2014)
Brooks Wheelan was cast in the 2013–2014 season. He performed in sketches and occasionally on “Weekend Update.” After the season ended, he did not return as a performer the following year.
NBC, Saturday Night Live (1975-)
Noël Wells (2013–2014)
Noël Wells appeared in the 2013–2014 season. She performed impersonations and sketches throughout that year. Her time on the program lasted only that single season before she departed.
NBC, Saturday Night Live (1975-)
John Milhiser (2013–2014)
John Milhiser joined the show in the 2013–2014 season. He was featured in ensemble sketches. After one year, he was not retained, ending his time as a cast member after just one season.
NBC, Saturday Night Live (1975-)
Mike O’Brien (2014–2015)
Mike O’Brien was part of the cast during the 2014–2015 season after working as a writer. He appeared in sketches throughout that year. He returned to the writing staff afterward, ending his time as a performer.
NBC, Saturday Night Live (1975-)
Jon Rudnitsky (2015–2016)
Jon Rudnitsky was hired for the 2015–2016 season. He appeared in sketches and digital shorts across that year. He was released at the end of the season and did not return as cast.
NBC, Saturday Night Live (1975-)
Luke Null (2017–2018)
Luke Null joined the show for the 2017–2018 season. He performed in sketches during that year. After the season ended, he was released, marking the end of his one-season cast run.
NBC, Saturday Night Live (1975-)
Aristotle Athari (2021–2022)
Aristotle Athari was cast in the 2021–2022 season. He created original characters and appeared in multiple sketches. His tenure lasted one season before he was not invited back the following year.
NBC, Saturday Night Live (1975-)
Lauren Holt (2020–2021)
Lauren Holt was a featured player in the 2020–2021 season. She performed in sketches during that year. After one season, she was released and did not continue with the cast.
NBC, Saturday Night Live (1975-)
Chloe Troast (2023–2024)
Chloe Troast joined the show for the 2023–2024 season. She performed in sketches across that year. Her time as a credited cast member was limited to that one season only.
NBC, Saturday Night Live (1975-)
Emil Wakim (2024–2025)
Emil Wakim joined as a featured player in the 2024–2025 season, but was not asked back to return for a second season. He said the news was a "gut punch" but that he was grateful for his time on the show.
NBC, Saturday Night Live (1975-)
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