‘SNL’ Loses 3 More Cast Members Ahead of Season 48 Premiere: Who’s In and Who’s Out?

usmagazine.com:

Live from New York, it’s season 48! Saturday Night Live is currently on its annual hiatus, but fans should expect some big casting changes once the show returns.Deadline reported on Thursday, September 1, that three SNL stars have exited weeks before the season premiere: Alex Moffat, Melissa Villaseñor and Aristotle Athari.

The 34-year-old actress was the second Latinx cast member in the variety show’s history after Noel Wells and the first to be promoted to repertory status.Days before her departure from the comedy series made headlines, Villaseñor took to Instagram to promote her fall book tour and upcoming stand-up shows.

She did not immediately address her exit.Ahead of the cast shakeup, longtime producer Lindsay Shookus announced on August 19 that she was closing her SNL chapter. “After 20 seasons at Saturday Night Live (and 415 live shows – i counted!), I have decided to trade in the wild late night life and move on from the show,” she wrote via Instagram alongside a handful of photos from her time behind the scenes. “When I started in 2002, I was a baby from Buffalo, NY who didn’t know anything about the business, except that I so badly wanted to be somehow part of it.

I found my place at SNL and I’ve spent the past two decades developing the most incredible friendships and memories alongside some truly brilliant and talented people.”Shookus, who previously dated Ben Affleck from 2017 to 2018, also noted that she felt “excited about what lies ahead,” adding, “I will be forever grateful to Lorne for this once in a lifetime opportunity…thank you for your support, encouragement and freedom to bring my voice to this legendary stage.”Kenan Thompson, the longest-tenured cast member in SNL history, sent his former