Comedian Martin Herlihy Departs 'Saturday Night Live' After Five Years
Martin Herlihy is leaving 'Saturday Night Live' after five seasons, according to a source. He spent four seasons as a cast member in the trio Please Don't Destroy before moving to the writing staff for Season 51. NBC has declined to comment on his exit.
Herlihy's exit follows a major cast restructuring after the show's 50th season, which saw the dissolution of the Please Don't Destroy trio. While John Higgins left the series and Ben Marshall was promoted to the main cast, Herlihy shifted to the writing staff for the subsequent season.
During his final year, he maintained a presence on screen through periodic appearances in specific sketches and his own short film segments. NBC has remained silent on the matter, leaving the specific reasons behind his departure officially unconfirmed.
Herlihy's departure could signal a continued generational shift within the long-running sketch show as it navigates its post-trio era. Fans of Please Don't Destroy may feel a sense of loss, while the writing staff could benefit from his continued behind-the-scenes expertise. This transition may also influence how the network balances established talent with emerging voices in upcoming seasons.