Taran Killam and Jay Pharoah Not Returning to 'Saturday Night Live'
Saturday Night Live is losing two veteran castmembers.
Taran Killam and Jay Pharoah will not be returning to the late-night staple for season 42 in order to pursue other opportunities, NBC confirmed to ET. Both Killam and Pharoah had been with SNL for six seasons.
Killam may be best remembered best for his spot-on impressions of Matthew McConaughey and Brad Pitt, while Pharoah’s impersonations of Jay Z and President Barack Obama have resonated with audiences.
“I don’t know fully [what happened]. I don’t know the other side of it,” Killam told Uproxx’s Mike Ryan of his departure. “You sign for seven years, so I had one more year. I had sort of had it in my head I would make this upcoming year my last year, but then heard they weren’t going to pick up my contract. I was never given a reason why, really. I can assume until the cows come home.”
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It’s unclear if there will be additional cast departures and who will be replacing Pharoah and Killam as part of the regular ensemble. Michael Che and Colin Jost will return as anchors of Weekend Update.
TVLine first reported the news.
Saturday Night Live returns this fall on NBC.
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