Bowen Yang Reveals Private Conversation With Lorne Michaels Amid SNL Shake-Up

Bowen Yang is not done with “Saturday Night Live” — at least according to the man who built the show. The comedian revealed that creator and executive producer Lorne Michaels personally assured him that his work on the iconic NBC sketch series still has more to give as the show heads into season 51.

Bowen Yang Reveals Lorne Michaels Encouraged Him to Stay at SNL

“I’ve always gone by the instinct of, do I have more to do? And I feel like I do,” Yang told People at the One House Toast to the Emmys celebration.

“Even Lorne and I talked about it and Lorne was like, ‘You have more to do,’ and that means a lot because I even confessed to him. I was like, ‘I feel the audience is maybe getting sick of me.’ And he was like, ‘That’s not true. There’s more for you to do. I need you.’”

Yang, 34, added, “I have to honor that.” He went on to praise Michaels, saying, “That man has changed my life, and I owe a lot of my life to that show. And I love working there, the people are the best. I really love each of them so much.”

As Yang prepares for his sixth season, he explained that he’s approaching the show differently now. “I let [the game plan] go and I think it served me well. I like having no road map. If there’s any place to do that, it’s ‘SNL,’ where it’s week to week. Sometimes you’re up for the challenge. Sometimes you show up even if you aren’t, and that’s kind of what makes interesting things happen.”

The ‘Wicked’ Star Also Opened Up About Cast Changes

Yang also addressed the wave of departures that have recently rocked the series. “I’m absolutely emotional to be saying goodbye to some of my longtime co-stars,” he said, though he added he understands their decisions.

“What I’ve always thought, what I think everybody knows, is that ‘SNL’ is this boot camp and that implies that there is a next phase you train for something else,” Yang explained. “It’s always a transitional place, and I think it is always a launching pad. Even for people who stay on the show, like Kenan [Thompson], let’s say, he has still used that show to help expand his possibilities.”

Yang continued, “I think that’s going to be true for all of the people who aren’t coming back. I’m so excited to see what they do. I’m excited for the new cast.”

Ego Nwodim is the most recent SNL staple to announce she would not return after seven seasons. Heidi Gardner will also not return after eight seasons, but she has yet to comment.

Michael Longfellow, Emil Wakim, and Devon Walker also confirmed their exits, part of what Michaels, 80, previously called a “shake-up” to reinvent the show.

Joining Yang and the returning players in season 51 will be new cast members Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Ben Marshall, Kam Patterson, and Veronika Slowikowska.

The post Bowen Yang Reveals Private Conversation With Lorne Michaels Amid SNL Shake-Up appeared first on EntertainmentNow.