Cher returns to SNL after 38 years as Bowen Yang exits

Cher returned to Saturday Night Live as musical guest on December 20, marking her first appearance in that role since 1987, nearly 38 years ago, with Ariana Grande hosting the Christmas special for her third time.yahoo
Bowen Yang announced his departure from SNL after seven seasons in an emotional Instagram post on Saturday, thanking creator Lorne Michaels and saying Grande sent him off “in the dreamiest way I could imagine.”thenationaldesk
Promotional clips featuring Cher recreating her iconic “Moonstruck” slap with Grande and Yang went viral, with the 79-year-old’s youthful appearance sparking fan commentary calling her “ageless.”mirror

Cher Returns to SNL Stage After 38 Years as Bowen Yang Makes Final Bow

Music icon Cher made her long-awaited return to Saturday Night Live as musical guest on December 20, marking her first appearance in the role since 1987. The 79-year-old legend joined Ariana Grande, who hosted the Christmas special for her third time, in an episode that doubled as a bittersweet farewell for cast member Bowen Yang.yahoo

The episode generated significant buzz ahead of its broadcast, with promotional clips featuring Cher recreating her famous “Moonstruck” slap going viral across social media. In the promo, Yang asks “Am I dreaming?” before Cher playfully slaps both him and Grande, delivering her iconic line “Snap out of it!” from the 1988 Oscar-winning film. Fans praised the 79-year-old singer’s remarkably youthful appearance, with social media users commenting “Cher does not age” and calling her “ageless”.mirror

Yang’s Emotional Departure

Yang confirmed his departure from SNL on Saturday morning via Instagram, thanking his colleagues and creator Lorne Michaels in an emotional post. “I loved working at SNL, and most of all I loved the people,” Yang wrote. The comedian, who became the show’s first Asian cast member when he joined in 2019, earned five Emmy nominations during his tenure. Yang specifically thanked Grande “for sending me off in the dreamiest way I could imagine”.nytimes

The departure marks another significant cast change for SNL’s 51st season, following the exits of several longtime members including Heidi Gardner and Ego Nwodim over the summer. Yang’s final episode represents an unexpected mid-season departure, as he will not return when the show resumes in 2026.foxnews

Historic Musical Guest Return

Cher’s appearance represents a gap of 38 years since her last performance as SNL musical guest, when she appeared in November 1987. During that episode, hosted by Candice Bergen, she performed “We All Sleep Alone” and “I Found Someone”. Though she participated in the SNL 50th Anniversary Special in February 2025, this marked her first full musical guest slot in nearly four decades. Grande revealed on Late Night with Seth Meyers that she met Cher for the first time while filming the promotional clips.yahoo

The episode aired at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock as the final SNL broadcast of 2025.kiss951