SNL: Which Cast Members Had the Most Screen Time in Season 48?

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https://tvline.com/lists/snl-season-...5d318334f2b129

By Nick Caruso / May 27 2023, 3:00 PM PDT

Saturday Night Live‘s latest season boasted 17 cast members with both repertory and featured players taken into consideration, but it’s safe to say the amount of screen time was certainly not shared equally.

The Saturday Night Network has taken stock of every minute and second of TV time each member received in Season 48, leading to some surprising (and not so surprising) reveals. While having a larger sized cast for the 2022-2023 season gave the show a deep bench to pull from, it also ran the risk of squandering a lot of talent as the series’ seasoned players continued basking in the limelight. After all, a crowded cast increases competition in terms of making successful pitches and actually landing a sketch on the show. (Perhaps having too many costars could possibly affect how big one’s “big break” actually is?)

Maybe the biggest wowing factor is Cecily Strong’s high ranking, considering the Schmigadoon! star took a leave of absence at the start of the season due to her commitment to a one-woman play in Los Angeles. She didn’t return to the show until Oct. 29, 2022 and departed for good on Dec. 17. Despite her minuscule six-episode run this season, she still banked more air-time than six of her cast mates. (Another notable tidbit is the discrepancy between the airtimes of the two Weekend Update hosts, Colin Jost and Michael Che.)

As previously reported, SNL‘s 48th season was cut short due to the current writers’ strike, providing even less opportunity for the cast’s batch of up-and-comers to have their mugs featured on screen. Three episodes were axed, including one featuring the return of former cast member Pete Davidson. The season’s last two shows were set to be hosted by Succession‘s Kieran Culkin and The White Lotus phenom Jennifer Coolidge before the plug was ultimately pulled.