In a rarity, Saturday Night Live aired a sketch in the 10-to-1 slot that was a fan service farewell to a cast member. That’s how beloved Bowen Yang was to many in the audience of the longtime show.
Yang appeared with Ariana Grande and Cher in the final sketch of Episode 9 of Season 51 on Saturday evening. The seven-year cast member played an airport worker closing out the final shift of his final day at his job.
For fans of Bowen Yang there were probably lots of tears as he ended an eight-year run as a writer and cast member.
Yang was the first Asian cast member, and also one of the first openly gay cast members in the history of Saturday Night Live. That’s hard to believe considering SNL is now in its 51st season. But inclusion and diversity have not been a strong suit of the NBA show, to say the least.
That changed with the arrival of Yang, who was a bright, positive ray of light on the show. His exit mid-season signals a sea-change for SNL, which is transitioning to a new generation of performers.
