NBC's "Saturday Night Live" will return for its 32nd season next month minus several familiar faces.

Longtime cast members Chris Parnell, Horatio Sanz and Kenan Thompson will likely exit the late-night comedy staple, according to a source close to the show. Still inconclusive are talks to bring back Darrell Hammond, famed for his impersonations of Donald Trump, Bill Clinton and other celebrities. Hammond joined the cast in 1995 and has had the longest tenure of any performer in the show's history.

Meanwhile, "SNL" executive producer Lorne Michaels is expected to hand the reins of the signature fake-news segment "Weekend Update" -- recently co-hosted by writer-performer Tina Fey and Amy Poehler -- to a newer cast member, Jason Sudeikis.

An NBC spokesman declined to comment Tuesday.

The cast shuffle comes in the wake of some previously announced departures. Fey is leaving along with cast member Rachel Dratch; the pair will work on Fey's NBC comedy "30 Rock," a parody of an "SNL"-style show.

"SNL" could be headed for one of its biggest makeovers in years -- and not by choice. During a press conference last month in Pasadena, Michaels told reporters that the late-night fixture is facing massive budget cuts from NBC. Cast members are typically signed to multiyear deals that pay about $8,000 per episode, agents say.

...looks like Lorne's cleaning house again. He does this every four or five years, and KNOWS that if the show's going to survive, it has to be "reconfigured". It's happened before, and most likely it'll happen again in 2010 as well!

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...looks like Lorne's cleaning house again. He does this every four or five years, and KNOWS that if the show's going to survive, it has to be "reconfigured". It's happened before, and most likely it'll happen again in 2010 as well!

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I have no problem with the cast changes. Honestly, the show has become somewhat stale the last few years.

I have no problem with the cast changes. Honestly, the show has become somewhat stale the last few years.i kind of agree ive seen it in worse shape than it is right now but i also know that it could be better

I really hope a new cast will make it better. I can barely watch it now.

I have no problem with cast changes. Though I wish the Weekend Update spot did not go to some new castmember. That should be senority rights.

The show is still hurting. It truly is my favorite show on TV. I wish they would have entirely cleaned house. There were funny things last year but the writing has been bad for three years now. Maybe 4.

The show is still hurting. It truly is my favorite show on TV. I wish they would have entirely cleaned house. There were funny things last year but the writing has been bad for three years now. Maybe 4.you know i may be one of the few snl fasns who dosent miss tina fey i really liked her when she first became head writer but the last 2 seasons she got really full of herself and it hurt the show and weekend update

You may be right.

Here is the 2006-2007 cast for Saturday Night Live.

Fred Armisen - His characters don't jump at me but he is an asset
Will Forte - Used to play Bush. Love the Falconer
Bill Hader - Great new cast member. Great impersonator.
Darrell Hammond - One of the best, but he has overstayed his welcome.
Seth Meyers (WU) - New head writer. Great cast member.
Amy Poehler (WU) - She has always been great. Bring back Jr. Sleuths.
Maya Rudolph - She is very weird but a true asset to the show. Funny.
Andy Samberg - The new guy getting all the hype. He is more of a personality than a talent.
Jason Sudeikis - I think he may be the best cast member. Great potential.
Kenan Thompson - If written for properly he could be great.
Kristen Wiig - She is outstanding. Best female cast member.

This cast has potential. If the writers pull their heads out of their asses this season could end with promise. I will always say it's the writers fault not the performers.

...about most of the newer cast members, 'fox'...but I wish Lorne Michaels would let Bill Hader play "Vincent Price" just once more, instead of cutting those sketches at the last minute, as that's happened TWICE this season.
Maya Rudolph IS "Oprah"...and I'm waiting to see her skewer her again, because I can't STAND the real one!!!! Seth Meyers handles himself very well in the anchor chair on "Weekend Update"....I KNOW Kenan Thompson is a great talent, ever since his days with Kel on Nickelodeon...but if the writing isn't there, as you've said.....and that's enough "critiquing" for now.

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You are correct.