For awhile now, there has been a big rumor that Kristen Wiig, Andy Samberg, and Jason Sudeikis were all headed out the door after this year’s Saturday Night Live season finale. With the final episode airing this weekend, there was still no official word on any of the actors’ deals or whether they’d return. However, art truly speaks for itself, and while Wiig’s final skit was a clear indication, it’s Samberg’s final line that may truly confirm his leaving and the death of SNL Digital Shorts.
In a graduation skit, the series failed to thinly veil Wiig’s goodbye whatsoever, and had the entire cast bid the actress a fond farewell. With even a Lorne Michaels goodbye and tears flowing, it’s clear from the second Mick Jagger addresses her that this is Wiig’s final skit:
Before that, however, Samberg seemed to say his goodbyes in what he most contributed to his SNL legacy: the Digital Shorts. The shorts began seven years ago in the Christmas 2005 episodes with Lazy Sunday, the incredibly famous rap that put Samberg on the map as veteran player Chris Parnell enjoyed what would be his final year. In a full circle mentality, Samberg brought back Parnell for just one more Lazy Sunday, with the final line of the song stating “That’s how it began, and that’s how Imma finish it.” Sounds like quite the farewell declaration to me.
Out of the trio’s rumored departure, Sudeikis still remains the most unclear. However, in his farewell to Wiig, Sudeikis is noticeably depressed and can barely get into the festivities that the rest of the cast eventually join into by serenading Wiig, and he ultimately hangs back in the crowd with a very sad look on his face. Eventually, he walks off stage as Jagger thanks everyone, making his absence very much clear. Was it too much of a reality for the comedic actor to bare? Or was he simply upset that he barely received any screentime of his own last night to say goodbye?
While Wiig’s depature was tackled, and Samberg’s was as well, there is still no official word on either Samberg or Sudeikis. There is likely to be an announcement sometime this summer by Lorne Michaels and NBC, with new cast set to come in to possibly fill the void. Veterans Kenan Thompson, Bill Hader, Fred Armisen, and Seth Meyers all still remain very much onboard, but it’s unclear if this departure of three large names will impact their futures at the hit comedy series that has always maintained a revolving cast.










