Why 'SNL' could be ending, according to Kenan Thompson amid dwindling views and slashed 2022 cast
Rumors continue to swirl around the demise of one of the few sketch-comedy shows remaining, "Saturday Night Live." With tanking ratings, a dwindling all-star cast and creator Lorne Michaels' contract expiring imminently, the show might not be "live from New York" for much longer. In a recent interview with Charlamagne Tha God, the longest-tenured cast member of "SNL," Kenan Thompson, alluded to the end being near. When asked about the rumors the show would be ending, he said, "There could be a lot of validity to that rumor, because 50's a good year to stop at." Lorne Michaels, left, and Kenan Thompson have been outspoken about the future of 'SNL.' (Getty Images) Thompson is referring to three seasons from now, when Michaels' contract with NBC expires. The reason for the potential ending of "SNL" could be related to the ratings debacle, with the season 47 premiere recording only 4.9 million total viewers.The season 46 premiere in 2020 raked in over 8.2 million viewers, per a Nielsen report, meaning loss in viewership was just below 50 percent.