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‘I Was Thrown Straight Into the Fire’: ‘SNL’ Freshmen on Crazy Auditions, Hate Comments and Advice From Lorne Michaels

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CitrixNews Staff
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‘I Was Thrown Straight Into the Fire’: ‘SNL’ Freshmen on Crazy Auditions, Hate Comments and Advice From Lorne Michaels
From left: Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Cullhane, Veronika Slowikowska, Ben Marshall, Kam Patterson Credit: Mary Ellen Matthews Shot for Variety 2026 Mary Ellen Matthews for Variety

Like any freshman year, one’s first season on “Saturday Night Live” is full of new friends, late nights and nervous poops.

At least, that’s according to the five new cast members of Season 51, who together mark “SNL’s” biggest single-season intake since 2013, when six were added to the cast. 

The venerable sketch comedy series rang in its 51st year with some serious personnel changes. Series vets Heidi Gardner and Ego Nwodim bid Studio 8H adieu, and the credits rolled for Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker and Emil Wakim as well. 

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