The original cast of 'Saturday Night Live' season six: Denny Dillon (left), Charles Rocket, Ann Risley, Joe Piscopo, Gail Matthius and Gilbert Gottfried. NBC/Everett Collection Logo text As of the publish time of this story, four members of Saturday Night Live's season 50 cast aren't returning for season 51, which is set to begin Oct. 4. The departures of Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, Emil Wakim and Devon Walker make for the largest cast turnover since 2022, when eight performers left.