> At a Glance
> – Bowen Yang opened up about leaving Saturday Night Live after seven seasons
> – His Dec. 20 exit sketch with Ariana Grande and Cher mirrored his real-life farewell
> – Amy Poehler told him “we’re all waiting for you on the other side”
> – Why it matters: Fans get an intimate look at how a pivotal SNL cast member processed the emotional end of his era
Bowen Yang is pulling back the curtain on his final days at Saturday Night Live. On the Jan. 7 episode of the Las Culturistas podcast, the 35-year-old comedian told co-host Matt Rogers that stepping away after seven seasons felt like “landing the Mars rover on a square foot of terrain.”
The Goodbye Sketch
In his last episode, Yang played a Delta One Lounge worker on his final shift alongside Ariana Grande and Cher. The meta moment doubled as his real farewell.
> “I was sobbing at the read-through,” Yang recalled. “In the sketch I say, ‘I’ve loved everyone here, I’ve loved every single person who works here.’ I immediately broke down… because I was telling the truth.”
He admitted the bit was “completely self-indulgent,” adding: “What am I gonna do, give a straight joke back?”
Lessons From Studio 8H
Yang said SNL taught him to “work under what seems like an immense amount of pressure” and to “make peace with the fact that things are completely out of your control.”
- Sketches can vanish minutes before air
- Audience reaction is unpredictable
- A bit might survive until 12:55 a.m. and still get cut
Advice From Alumni
At an after-party earlier in the season, Amy Poehler offered reassurance.
> Amy Poehler put a hand on his shoulder and said:
> “We’re all waiting for you on the other side.”
Aidy Bryant echoed the sentiment, promising “a really nice life waiting for you after this.”
Key Takeaways
- Yang joined SNL in 2019 as the first Chinese American cast member and one of its first openly gay stars
- He earned five Emmy nominations during his tenure
- His final Instagram post called the experience “one of the most meaningful” of his life
- The comedian is now “free to put energy into whatever” comes next
> “I’m so lucky that I ever got to work here,” Yang said. “I’m so lucky that I get to make this little statement… ‘I love you all.'”
