Saturday Night Live is bracing for more upheaval as creator Lorne Michaels branded the show ‘unfunny’ ahead of its new season.

Last year’s show faced criticism due to Tom Hanks’ polarizing MAGA-themed character, Morgan Wallen exiting abruptly, and a parody targeting a White Lotus star’s dental appearance.

The situation escalated recently when Michaels issued a warning about a ‘significant shake-up,’ anticipating that several cast members would be removed prior to the start of Season 51 on October 4.

Followers of the show were upset after long-time cast member Heidi Gardner was dismissed after eight years, followed by the departures of Michael Longfellow, Emil Wakim, and Devon Walker.

The Daily Mail now reveals that Michaels, aged 80, is resolved to guide the show back on track and rejuvenate its humor, even if it necessitates further cuts.

‘Lorne doesn’t have many more years he wants to do SNL,’ an insider said. ‘He wants to make it funny again.’

The recent changes are said to partly be tied to plans for an SNL UK spinoff in 2026, with Michaels intent on keeping the original series as the benchmark for sketch comedy.

‘So these changes for Lorne are to see if he’s still got it,’ the insider added. ‘And to make sure that SNL is funny and groundbreaking for years to come.’

The insider added that Michaels ‘needs to add some gasoline to the fire, and even though there will still be familiar names, he wants to mix it up and bring in a brand-new set of cast members, because that adds to the fun of it all.’

Auditions are ongoing, and while the process may feel cutthroat, the insider emphasized that upheavals like this are normal at SNL – though they haven’t happened on this scale in some time.

‘There are still a few more surprises. More people will be leaving, and they are still looking to cast and get new writers,’ the insider continued.

‘Lorne felt that he and the show had been on autopilot for a few years, and it is now time to be very funny again.’

Michaels wants the series to take more risks and bring back some ‘grit’.

With four major players already axed, our insider spilled on who may be safe from getting the boot.

Three performers – Bowen Yang, Kenan Thompson and Jane Wickline – are expected to remain, with the source highlighting Michaels’ admiration for Yang and Thompson in particular.

‘Lorne loves Bowen and Keenan, and they can leave whenever they want as Bowen is getting more opportunities in Hollywood and Keenan has been the longest cast member ever,’ the source explained.

‘As long as Lorne is with the show, he’d love Keenan to be a part of it. 

‘They are two that will be able to make their own decision on when to leave and this year seems like they will still be a part of the show.’ 

As for Wickline, the source said that while many fans consider her ‘tremendously not funny’ and ‘awkward’, her personality may be working in her favor behind the scenes.

‘She is very nice, and people like being around her,’ the insider explained. ‘Lorne finds her funny and believes she can contribute to the show in ways others haven’t seen.’

The source added that Wickline’s low-drama presence could help her stay on the roster. 

‘Jane might slip through the cracks because she doesn’t cause drama and is well liked.’

‘It’s a strange reason to stay – ideally, you should be funny – but Lorne sees her as hilarious where others just see her as nice,’ the source continued. ‘Both of those factors could help her in the long run.’

The casting news comes amid reports that Michaels is considering comedian Kam Patterson as a potential replacement for an ousted member.

A rising stand-up star and regular on the Kill Tony podcast, Patterson boasts nearly 600,000 followers on Instagram.

The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for NBC for comment but has yet to hear back. 

The SNL drama erupted last week when Michaels was asked if he was really planning to clear house, and the producer didn’t hesitate to say, ‘yes’.

While Michaels stayed tight-lipped on which of the 17 cast members would be cut, the news quickly broke when Walker took to Instagram to announce his departure after three seasons, comparing his time at SNL to a rocky romance.

The 34-year-old admitted the job could be ‘toxic’ at times, though he stopped short of naming names.

‘To me, jobs in this industry feel like a bunch of little marriages,’ he wrote. ‘Some of ’em last for a long time if we’re lucky, but most of them are fleeting. Permanent until they’re not. That’s the deal. You know what it is when you sign up.’

Looking back on his three years with the late-night staple, Walker admitted the highs came with plenty of lows.

‘Me and the show did three years together, and sometimes it was really cool,’ he continued. ‘Sometimes it was toxic as hell. But we… made the most of what it was, even amidst all of the dysfunction. We made a f–ked up lil family.’

A day later, Wakim, 27, announced his departure in an Instagram post with photos of happier times at 30 Rockefeller Plaza’s Studio 8H.

Longfellow, 31, who joined SNL in season 48 and became known for his Weekend Update segments, followed suit.

An even bigger shock came when Gardner was reported to have left the show.

The 42-year-old joined SNL in 2017 during season 43 as a featured player and quickly became a fan favorite.

Since then, Gardner has written and starred in countless iconic sketches, most notably creating the hilarious character Bailey Gismert, a teen movie critic who often appeared during Weekend Update segments.

She also impersonated a slew of high-profile celebrities over her eight years on the show, including Reba McEntire, Oscar-winner Mikey Madison and Kim Kardashian.

Gardner joined fellow SNL stars and alums at the show’s 50th anniversary special in February, cementing her legacy as one of the series’ standout performers.

But the milestone season was anything but smooth. 

In April, the show faced backlash after a politically charged sketch targeted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The segment featured former cast member Cecily Strong returning as Judge Jeanine Pirro, with Colin Jost portraying Hegseth as her ‘drinking buddy’. 

The sketch – which played on alleged alcohol issues that Hegseth has denied – drew fury on social media, with many Trump supporters calling it ‘disgraceful’ and ‘anti-American’.

Not long after, White Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood slammed a sketch that mocked her teeth. 

The actress, 31, took to Instagram after Sarah Sherman wore oversized prosthetic teeth in a parody of her character Chelsea. 

Sharing a distorted selfie, Wood wrote, ‘I’ve had apologies from SNL’. She also criticized the ‘cheap’ joke. 

Wood added, ‘I am not thin-skinned. I actually love being taken the p**s out of when it’s clever and in good spirits. But the joke was about fluoride. I have big gap teeth, not bad teeth. I don’t mind caricature… but I/Chelsea was the only one punched down on.’

Wood’s takedown quickly went viral, with fans and her sister Emily sending ‘thousands’ of messages of support. 

A comment from one follower summed up her view: ‘It was a sharp and funny skit until it suddenly took a screeching turn into 1970’s misogyny.’

The controversies didn’t stop there. 

Just a few episodes earlier, country singer Wallen abruptly walked off the show during a performance of ‘I’m The Problem’ and ‘Just In Case,’ leaving guest host and Oscar-winner Mikey Madison alone on stage. 

His sudden departure broke a decades-long tradition of celebrity guests lingering until the cameras cut away.

Wallen’s camp later claimed the early goodbye was simply because he wanted to go home after a long week. 

Even Hollywood legend Hanks drew fire during the 50th anniversary celebration for returning to the show as his character Doug, a dimwitted Trump supporter in a mock game show called Black Jeopardy. 

Critics said the portrayal leaned on outdated stereotypes. 

Former RFK Jr aide Link Lauren called the sketch ‘disgusting’ and accused SNL of promoting a divisive, out-of-touch narrative. 

‘This show wonders why their ratings are in the gutter,’ he wrote. ‘Trump won the popular vote. This tired trope that MAGA is racist is disgusting. SNL is an unfunny show for snobbish liberal elites.’

With so many controversies piling up, Michaels now faces a steep challenge as he tries to steady the show. 

Behind the scenes, the network’s legendary producer must figure out how to balance legacy, comedy and relevance – all while keeping fans laughing.