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5 Exact Moments That Got an SNL Cast Member Fired and 5 We’ll Never Understand

WatchMojo.com | May 1, 2026



From on-air slip-ups to controversial jokes off-camera, some comedians have had their SNL dreams cut short! Join us as we explore both the clear-cut dismissals where we know exactly what happened and the mysterious exits that left fans scratching their heads. Our countdown includes Shane Gillis’ podcast controversy, Jenny Slate’s F-bomb slip, Damon Wayans going off-script, Norm Macdonald’s O.J. jokes, plus puzzling departures like Michael Longfellow, Chris Parnell, and Adam Sandler that still leave us wondering. Which SNL firing surprised you the most? Let us know in the comment section!

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#SNL #SaturdayNightLive #Comedy #LorneMichaels #NBC #WeekendUpdate #AdamSandler #NormMacdonald #ChrisFarley #FiredComedians #SketchComedy

Written by WatchMojo.com

Comments

This post currently has 40 comments.

  1. @jaym1512

    May 1, 2026 at 9:37 am

    My guess is that when one cast member becomes a "star" they want them out because the rest of the cast probably feels like they're having to compete so much harder to get any screen time. I think Lorne Michaels wants it to be an 'ensemble' with no real "leader".

  2. @TAD-LOW

    May 1, 2026 at 9:37 am

    I'll help you understand. Except for Parnell and Sandler they where the opposite of funny. Like most snl cast members. The show has always rode the coat tails of 2 or 3 funny cast members while the rest are just filler. Plus half the time now the writing is pure cringe.

  3. @NGMonocrom

    May 1, 2026 at 9:37 am

    5:24 – They literally ONLY kept Eddie Murphy and Joe Piscapo from that disaster of a Season.
    Literally every other cast member got fired. (As far as Norm goes, he got fired for accidentally letting the F word slip out. Even joking about how he'd be fired for that.)

  4. @Glimmer_stone

    May 1, 2026 at 9:37 am

    SNL and MADtv have become stupid and a waste of time to watch over the past 15 years or more. neither are worth it and there are far more better things everyone can do with their time than to be bored to death watching a show owned by tozers that hire and fire based on human error. that level of stupid should not own snl nor own madtv at that point, they are the ones that should be in the unemployment line seeking a new profession. as for the actors and actresses hired and fired etc some are super cool others are not but that's show biz

  5. @obikedog

    May 1, 2026 at 9:37 am

    Lots of ambiguity for a set named "exact moments". Budget cuts? "Nobody knows", etc. Not the first bait and switch. Thought I told the algorithm to stop recommending this crap.

  6. @bosssho

    May 1, 2026 at 9:37 am

    If you're NOT what THEY want it doesn't matter how innocuous what you said or did was…you're out. These hypocritical morons have no soul.

  7. @erikcareswell6768

    May 1, 2026 at 9:37 am

    The day Adam Sandler took off on SNL.. I knew we were in trouble as a species, that the average IQ of citizenry had dropped to a dangerous low. People are gonna argue with this post, claiming I'm a moron and Sandler is a genius and an amazing talent…. only further proving my point.

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