Marcello Hernández Praises Bowen Yang's SNL Exit

Marcello Hernández reflected warmly on Bowen Yang's recent departure from Saturday Night Live, likening the comedian's tenure to a standout athlete's career during an interview at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards on January 4. Yang, who had been a cast member since 2019 after starting as a writer the previous year, ended his seven-season run on the NBC sketch series with the Christmas episode on December 20, hosted by Ariana Grande and featuring musical guest Cher.

Hernández, a cast member since 2022, praised Yang's dedication and impact while speaking with E! News on the red carpet at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California. "I look at it like sports, you know? That's a guy that put up numbers. Consistent, always putting up big sketches and he had a distinct voice, and everybody loves him, and it's for a reason," Hernández said. He added that Yang was a hard worker whom he observed grinding behind the scenes each week, calling him someone to learn from.

Yang's exit followed a wave of departures before the second half of Season 51, including Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker, Emil Wakim, Heidi Gardner, and Ego Nwodim. The timing caught some colleagues off guard. Nwodim, who...