‘SNL’ Promotes Keri Powers to Sole Head of Talent Department, Rebecca Schwartz Upped to Producer

Saturday Night Live has promoted Keri Powers to serve as the sole head of its talent department, meaning she will lead the team responsible for host, musical guest and guest star bookings for late-night show.

Rebecca Schwartz has also been upped to producer, increasing her responsibilities supporting the show’s cast and production efforts.

The news arrives after SNL‘s longtime music booker Brian Siedlecki departed from the series; as The Hollywood Reporter previously reported, the program elected not to renew his contract. Siedlecki had worked on SNL for three decades, booking a wide range of musical acts, including everyone from Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan and Olivia Rodrigo.

Powers has been with SNL since 2014, while Schwartz has worked on the series since 2015.

SNL returns for its 52nd season on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. PT/11:30 p.m. ET, live on NBC and Peacock, where NBA star Jalen Brunson will serve as the first host alongside musical guest KATSEYE.

Among the new additions to the cast are featured players Saidah Belo-Osagie and Grace Reiter. There have also been a few departures heading into season 52; Chloe Fineman announced in July that after seven years she was exiting SNL.

“Seven years is kind of like the classic way [at SNL], and then like right as my contract was up, this amazing David E. Kelley opportunity came in like completely out of the blue. I did a little chemistry read and it was off to the races; it just felt like a perfect time,” Fineman told THR of her decision to leave. “I’m really proud of everything, but it’s hard. I’m genuinely really good friends with everybody, and I genuinely couldn’t love that job more. So it’s really bittersweet, but I’m gonna be in New York. I’m down the street. Maybe you’ll see me.”

Martin Herlihy, hailing from the comedy group Please Don’t Destroy, has also left the show. Mid-way into SNL season 51, Bowen Yang announced he’d be leaving the late-night show, just after the cast saw a major exodus. Heidi Gardner, Ego Nwodim, Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker and Emil Wakim were among those who left before season 51.