Bowen Yang Says Goodbye to ‘SNL’ With Help From Ariana Grande and Cher

Trending on Billboard Bowen Yang ‘s final episode as a cast member on Saturday Night Live ended not with a punchline, but with a song - and a moment that felt unmistakably like a goodbye. During Saturday night’s (Dec. 20) Ariana Grande -hosted episode, the show closed with a sketch that doubled as a farewell for Yang, who recently confirmed his departure after more than seven years at SNL . The scene cast Yang as a Delta Sky Club employee working his last shift, quietly aware that something is ending. What followed was a stripped-back rendition of the Eagles’ “Please Come Home for Christmas,” with Ariana Grande joining in - and, moments later, Cher stepping into the frame. Earlier in the day, Yang acknowledged his exit in an Instagram post, thanking Grande for how the episode handled his sendoff. “thank you to ari for sending me off in the dreamiest way i could imagine,” he wrote. In a longer message, Yang reflected on his time at SNL , offering a characteristically self-aware goodbye. “I’m grateful for every minute of my time there,” he wrote. “I learned about myself (bad with wigs). i learned about others (generous, vulnerable, hot). i learned that human error can be nothing but correct.” Yang first joined Saturday Night Live as a writer in 2018 before becoming a featured player the following season and later a full cast member. He quickly grew into one of the show’s most distinctive voices, earning four Emmy nominations and becoming a central presence during a period of major cast turnover. Alongside his work on the show, Yang has built an increasingly visible film and TV career, moving comfortably between sketch comedy, pop culture commentary and mainstream projects. Musical farewells have quietly become SNL ’s way of marking meaningful exits. Kristen Wiig was serenaded by Arcade Fire during her final episode in 2012, while Cecily Strong closed her run in 2022 with “Blue Christmas.” Like those moments, Yang’s goodbye allowed the show to slow down and acknowledge what was being lost - not just a cast member, but an era. Rather than leaning into jokes, SNL let Yang sing his way out. It felt simple, sincere, and earned.

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