Longtime Saturday Night Live writer Bryan Tucker has returned to the fold, LateNighter has confirmed—just in time for this weekend’s midseason opener.
Tucker had taken a temporary leave from the NBC comedy institution in early October.
Tucker joined SNL in 2005, and has been one of the show’s most enduring creative voices, serving as co-head writer after Seth Meyers‘ departure in 2014. In 2018, he was upped to senior writer, a position he’s held since.
Some of the more recent sketches he has had a hand in include “Mother’s Day Brunch” (co-written with Streeter Seidell), “The Greats” (with Michael Che), “Check-to-Check Business Channel” (with Asha Ward), “Times Square Kiss” (with Seidell and Andrew Dismukes), and “A Long Goodbye/Rideable Luggage” (with Please Don’t Destroy).
Tucker’s temporary leave was but one of several writing staff fluctuations SNL has experienced in Season 51.
Ahead of the season premiere, the writers’ room saw five high-profile departures—Celeste Yim, John Higgins, Rosebud Baker, Steven Castillo, and Auguste White—and seven additions.
Additionally, 25-season veteran Erik Kenward was elevated to head writer, joining Seidell, Kent Sublette, and Alison Gates in leading the writing staff. Hired in 2001, Kenward has long been part of SNL’s backbone, balancing writing and producing duties since 2010—a role he has continued alongside Steve Higgins and Erin Doyle (who herself has been upped from co-producer to producer for Season 51).
SNL Season 51 resumes this Saturday, January 17, with host Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things) and musical guest A$AP Rocky. Newly minted Golden Globe winner Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another) hosts on January 24, with musical guest Geese, followed by Alexander Skarsgård and Cardi B on January 31.
