Bowen Yang explained what it’s like to watch Saturday evening live from the sidelines after walking away from the series midway through the current season, calling the experience “weird, but ultimately fun.”
The comedian and actor, who left the long-running NBC sketch series midway through season 51 in December, tuned in from afar as the series returned from its midseason hiatus.
Talk to PEOPLEYang revealed that he has been following the latest episodes while traveling abroad.
“I was in Japan but watching,” he said, explaining that he stayed in touch through messages from former colleagues.
“I was getting text messages from old colleagues, just saying hello and that the train was still moving and that they missed each other.”
After seven seasons as part of the cast, Yang admitted that it took him some time to get used to the transition from performer to spectator.
“It’s very strange,” he said while watching the show as an audience member. “I don’t want to think it’s totally weird for me, but it’s obviously an adjustment.”
At the same time, Yang noted that walking away came with an unexpected sense of relief.
“Not knowing how the soup-to-nuts process is going for the entire week is calming,” he explained.
“The emotional baggage has been lifted for me. So just watching the sketches every week from these last three shows has been great.”
Yang officially said goodbye to SNL with the December 20 episode, hosted by Ariana Grande and featuring Cher as musical guest. His departure came as a surprise to fans, given his long-time presence on the show.
He first joined Saturday evening live as a writer in 2018 during season 44 before being promoted to an on-screen role the following year.
In 2021, Yang made history as the first featured actor in the series’ history to earn a Primetime Emmy nomination, cementing his place as one of the most notable performers of his era.
Although his future plans remain unclear, Yang’s thoughts suggest he enjoys this new perspective, even as he continues to feel connected to the series that has shaped much of his career.
