SNL could be shortchanging newer talent by keeping longtime veterans around, creating a supersized cast

Variety

Saturday Night Live kicks off its 47th season this weekend with 21 cast members, the most ever. The problem with keeping so many longtime SNL cast members around while also continuing to rely on celebrity cameos, says Andrew Wallenstein, is that it gives newer cast members less time to shine. "If it seemed like a promising new cast member or two took forever to find their footing in the past, imagine how difficult that could be going forward," says Wallenstein. He wonders if the next Kate McKinnon could break out in a cast this crowded. ALSO: Looking back at SNL's athlete guest-hosts, from Michael Jordan to Peyton Manning to Nancy Kerrigan.