Andy Samberg leaving ‘Saturday Night Live’
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Andy Samberg has wrapped his seven-season run on “Saturday Night Live,” a spokeswoman for the actor-comedian said Friday.
Samberg won’t return as a cast member next season, according to his publicist, Carrie Byalick. Samberg’s exit follows that of “SNL” cast member Kristen Wiig.
Like other “Saturday Night Live” alumni, Samberg will be seen on the big screen. His new movie with Adam Sandler, “That’s My Boy,” is out this month.
Samberg’s “SNL” highlights reel would feature his satiric rap videos including “Lazy Sunday” and a memorable one with Justin Timberlake about an X-rated gift in a box. The fake music video won an Emmy Award in 2007 for best original music and lyrics.
Wiig, Samberg and Jason Sudeikis, all of whom became cast members in the 2005-06 season, have been rumored to be leaving, with “SNL” creator and executive producer Lorne Michaels saying only that any decision would wait until summer.
That presumably meant no emotional on-air farewells.
But on the May 19 finale, Wiig got just that. In the last sketch of the night, guest host Mick Jagger played the principal at a high school graduation and brought up Wiig, in cap and gown, as a student who is “leaving this summer.”
A tearful Wiig danced in turn with Jagger, cast members and Michaels to the tune of the Rolling Stones classic “She’s a Rainbow.”