Bowen Yang Takes Tearful Final Bow on 'SNL' with Help from Cher and Ariana Grande

Bowen Yang received a hilarious and heartwarming send-off during his final episode as a cast member on NBC's 'Saturday Night Live' after six and a half seasons. According to Entertainment Weekly, the December 20, 2025, year-end show featured surprise appearances from music icon Cher, host and 'Wicked' costar Ariana Grande, and SNL alum Aidy Bryant to say goodbye.

The farewell festivities began during the monologue, where Yang joined host Grande for a rendition of "All I Want for Christmas Is You." Later, during "Weekend Update," Bryant made a surprise return to reprise her and Yang's fan-favorite "Trend Forecasters" characters, a duo not seen since she left the show in 2022.

The emotional peak came in a meta sketch featuring Yang as an airport employee on his last day. "I just feel so lucky that I ever got to work here," he said, bursting into tears. In a surprise twist, his boss turned out not to be Lorne Michaels, but his personal icon and the night's musical guest, Cher.

Yang told her, "Ma'am, I just want to say it's been an honor working for you." When he asked for feedback, Cher replied, "Well, everyone thought you were a little bit too gay. But you know what? You're perfect for me." The line completely broke Yang, who could barely sing through a final Christmas carol as Cher and Grande embraced him.

Yang joined SNL as a writer in 2018 before being promoted to the cast for season 45, becoming the show's first Chinese American cast member and one of its few openly gay stars. He made history as the first featured player to be nominated for an acting Emmy in 2021 and was known for absurdist characters like the Iceberg That Sank the Titanic and impressions of figures like George Santos.

PRISM Insight: Bowen Yang's farewell highlights the evolution of the 'SNL goodbye' into a major, self-contained media event. Unlike the quieter departures of the past, modern send-offs for beloved cast members like Cecily Strong and Kate McKinnon have become highly-produced, narrative-driven segments designed to go viral. This strategy serves not only as a tribute but also as a powerful branding tool for the show and a career launchpad for the departing star in the social media era.