welcome to celeb scene Central it's been an unusually quiet news summer for Saturday Night Live Until Now Punky Johnson announced that she won't be back on the sketch comedy program for its historic season 50 this fall Johnson who spent four seasons on SNL first made the announcement at a live comedy show at Brooklyn's Union Hall on Wednesday evening before making her departure official in a video posted to her Instagram on Thursday SNL I love you looking forward to what's next the caption r. i in the video Johnson noted that after her comedy show she turned the floor over to a Q&A since there were some SNL cast and writers in attendance when an audience member asked what Johnson is looking forward to next season she was honest oh I'm not coming back Johnson continued SNL was a dream I didn't even know I could achieve I was a part of one of the most elite institutions in and I'm so grateful that's still my people Johnson joined SNL in 2020 along with Lauren Holt who left after one season and Andrew dismukes who was promoted to Repertory player alongside Johnson in 2022 the standup comic shined in her Weekend Update appearances especially when she was joined by Mikey day she also played a memorable role in a 2022 sketch as a couple's counselor to Melissa vinor and host Jake Gyllenhaal before being interrupted by ego nton brandishing a Super Soaker and served as supporting player to nm's Fan Favorite Diner Lisa from Tula although Johnson's Charisma and comic timing were evident on the sketch show a memorable recurring character eluded her and the sketches she starred in while hilarious Never full highlighted her particular brand of star power on what would be her final season she logged the least amount of screen time of any reparatory player according to late nighter Johnson is now on the stand-up comedy circuit where she frequently performs alongside current SNL cast members like Molly Kerney and Devon Walker Saturday Night Live will celebrate its 50th season when it returns to air in September making it TV's longest running sketch comedy series and one of the longest running shows in television history a number of special events have been programmed to commemorate the historic occasion including a weekend long celebration on NBC to culminate in a 3-hour live Prime Time special to air Sunday February 16th the premiere of the season will precede the release of Jason reitman's SNL year one biopic Saturday night. other member of the NL cast has announced they are leaving the show ahead of the next Premiere other current cast members include Kenan Thompson James Austin Johnson Mikey day dismukes chel feineman Bowen young Sarah Sherman Michael Chay Colin Joost ego nudm Heidi Gardner Marcelo Hernandez Michael Longfellow Khloe tro Kerney and Walker Saturday Night Live season 50 will premiere on September 28th on NBC