Key Highlights
- Not only was the episode hosted by pop star and “Wicked” actress Ariana Grande with Cher as musical guest — it also marked Bowen Yang’s final outing as a cast member.
- Yang joined “SNL” as a writer in 2018 before becoming the late night sketch show’s first-ever Asian cast member during Season 45 in 2019.
- News of his exit was reported the day before his last show.
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- Deal This isn’t the first time Grande has brought strong ratings to “SNL”: When she hosted in October 2024 alongside musical guest Stevie Nicks, the resulting 5.6 million viewers were the show’s biggest audience since Elon Musk hosted in May 2021.



