Redd was known for his hilarious impression of New York Mayor Eric Adams, and was a frequent star of the pre-recorded sketches. Redd nabbed an Emmy Award for his assistance in writing the song “Come Back Barack,” a song credited to a fictional ’90s R&B group called De-Von-Tré (Chance the Rapper, Kenan Thompson, and Redd) wishing that Barack Obama would come back and be our president again.

Unfortunately, cast members aren’t the only people leaving before season 48, as senior producer Lindsay Shookus also left the series after years of managing talent relations. Such a massive cast departure is worrisome for the future of “Saturday Night Live,” especially as more and more legacy shows make the pivot to streaming services, but the show will be welcoming four new cast members to help fill the void.

“Saturday Night Live” is one of the longest-running shows in television history, and now broadcasts live across the United States at the same time, putting it in a primetime viewing spot for fans on the west coast. The series just won yet another Emmy for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series, with longest-tenured cast member Kenan Thompson hosting the ceremony. The future of “Saturday Night Live” may feel like it’s up in the air, but perhaps this massive opportunity for growth and change can help usher in a new era of the series for a new generation of fans.

“Saturday Night Live” returns on October 1, 2022 with the new cast.