Five new additions, including Ben Marshall from 'Please Don't Destroy,' join the cast of 'SNL'
Saturday Night Live is gearing up for a fresh start, as the NBC sketch series announced several new members joining its ensemble for the 2025-26 season. Among the newcomers are Ben Marshall, Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson, and Veronika Slowikowska, who have been named as featured players.
Ben Marshall, a writer for Saturday Night Live since 2021, will not only continue his role behind the scenes but will also step into the limelight as a featured player. However, he will no longer be a part of the writing staff. Marshall is also a member of the sketch group Please Don't Destroy, alongside John Higgins and Martin Herlihy.
John Higgins, another member of Please Don't Destroy, has decided to leave Saturday Night Live. The trio will continue working together on projects outside of the show. Herlihy, on the other hand, will remain a writer on Saturday Night Live.
This turnover marks the largest cast change since 2022, with Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, Emil Wakim, and Devon Walker also recently departing from the show. Sheinelle Jones, a former cast member, will be returning to NBC's 'Today' show.
The new additions join a growing list of comedians who have made a name for themselves in the industry. Tommy Brennan, for instance, was named a Just for Laughs New Face of Comedy in 2023 and has performed on The Tonight Show. Jeremy Culhane is a regular on Dropout TV, performs with the Upright Citizens Brigade in Los Angeles, and has appeared on The Sex Lives of College Girls and American Vandal.
Veronika Slowikowska has built a large social media following for her sketch comedy and has appeared on What We Do in the Shadows and Tires. Kam Patterson is a stand-up comic and a regular on Tony Hinchcliffe's podcast Kill Tony.
As the cast changes take place, fans eagerly await the return of Saturday Night Live for its 51st season, set to premiere on Oct. 4. The show promises to deliver another season filled with laughter, satire, and pop culture commentary.
