Comedy Meets Couture: SNL’s Five New Stars Are About to Revolutionize Late-Night Style
Saturday Night Live is having its most stylish moment yet. As the legendary NBC institution prepares for its milestone 51st season, premiering October 4th, the show has unveiled five extraordinary new cast members who are poised to bring not just fresh comedic talent, but an entirely new aesthetic sensibility to late-night television.
The incoming quintet—Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Ben Marshall, Kam Patterson, and Veronika Slowikowska—represents a fascinating convergence of traditional comedy excellence and contemporary digital influence. These aren’t just performers; they’re cultural architects who understand that in today’s landscape, comedy and style are inextricably linked.
Ben Marshall, already beloved by SNL devotees through his work with the comedy collective Please Don’t Destroy, brings a distinctly modern sensibility to his transition from writer to featured player. His aesthetic—effortlessly cool with an underlying subversive edge—perfectly captures the zeitgeist of Gen Z comedy. Marshall’s upcoming Netflix collaboration with Kevin Hart in “72 Hours” alongside fellow newcomer Kam Patterson suggests that SNL’s newest additions are already transcending traditional comedy boundaries.
Patterson himself embodies the new wave of multi-hyphenate entertainers. A regular on Tony Hinchcliffe’s influential “Kill Tony” podcast, Patterson’s standup work demonstrates the kind of authentic, unfiltered perspective that resonates with today’s audiences. His ability to seamlessly blend comedy with contemporary cultural commentary makes him a perfect fit for SNL’s evolving voice.
Perhaps most intriguing is Veronika Slowikowska, whose nearly 700,000 TikTok followers represent the show’s most direct embrace of social media influence. Her appearances in Shane Gillis’s “Tires” and the cult favorite “What We Do in the Shadows” showcase a performer who understands how to translate digital charisma into traditional media formats. Slowikowska’s gothic-meets-glamorous aesthetic suggests SNL is ready to explore edgier, more visually striking comedy territories.
Jeremy Culhane brings prestige television credibility with his roles in “The Sex Lives of College Girls” and “Heathers,” while Tommy Brennan’s recognition as a New Face of Comedy at Just for Laughs Montreal and his “Tonight Show” appearances demonstrate classical comedy training meets contemporary sensibilities.
These additions come as the show bids farewell to established favorites including eight-season veteran Heidi Gardner, along with Michael Longfellow, Emil Wakim, and Devon Walker. This changing of the guard represents more than mere casting—it’s a cultural recalibration.
The new cast’s combined social media influence, diverse professional backgrounds, and innate understanding of contemporary aesthetics suggest that Season 51 will be SNL’s most visually dynamic and culturally relevant in years. From TikTok virality to prestige television, from standup clubs to streaming platforms, these performers represent comedy’s new ecosystem.
As we anticipate October 4th, one thing is certain: SNL’s 51st season won’t just be funny—it’s going to be absolutely stunning.
