Both Killam and Pharoah are six year veterans of the show, first appearing in small roles back in 2010.
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“You sign for seven years, so I had one more year”.
Killam, who is now directing a movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Why We’re Killing Gunther, a project approved by SNL bosses shared his “surprise” and “disappointment” at not returning to the show in an interview with website Uproxx.
“It’s always hard and sad to say goodbye”, Killam continued, “but it feels like an appropriate time and I am so, so grateful to have been a cast member on Saturday Night Live”.
On the show, Pharoah was best known for his impressions of President Barack Obama, former GOP presidential candidate Dr Ben Carson, as well as Jay-Z, Will Smith, and Eddie Murphy. “I was never given a reason why, really”, Taran explained to Uproxx. “I am so, so, so lucky to have been given the time I’ve been given”.
Killam’s exit will be more noticeable as the next season of the show gets underway.
The departures don’t necessarily mean NBC was unhappy with either cast member, though.
The comic speculated that an overlap of schedules on Why We’re Killing Gunther and SNL may have been one reason for the abrupt end to his run on the show.
Killam’s post-‘SNL’ future seems clear. Taran wants to concentrate on the directing the movie Why We’re Killing Gunther, where Schwarzenegger is starring. Since joining SNL, he has appeared in Paul Feig’s The Heat and Oscar victor 12 Years a Slave. It’s set to come out in 2017, according to IMBD.
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One user tweeted, “NOOOOOOOOOOOOO”. Finally, a third tweeted, “Can’t believe SNL got rid of Taran Killam and Jay Pharoah”.
