Bowen Yang reveals what Lorne Michaels privately told him about his future at ‘SNL’ after mass cast exodus

Bowen Yang revealed “Saturday Night Live” creator Lorne Michaels told him his work on the live comedy skit show is not yet done ahead of Season 51.

“I’ve always gone by the instinct of, do I have more to do? And I feel like I do,” Yang told People on Friday at the One House Toast to the Emmys celebration.

“Even Lorne and I talked about it and Lorne was like, ‘You have more to do,’ and that means a lot because I even confessed to him. I was like, ‘I feel the audience is maybe getting sick of me.’ And he was like, ‘That’s not true. There’s more for you to do. I need you.’”

Yang, 34, noted of Michaels’ remarks, “I have to honor that.”

He also recognized of the NBC exec, “That man has changed my life, and I owe a lot of my life to that show. And I love working there, the people are the best. I really love each of them so much.”

As Yang prepares for his sixth season on the series, the “Wicked” star explained that he no longer goes into a new installment “with a game plan.”

“I let that go and I think it served me well,” he shared. “I like having no road map. If there’s any place to do that, it’s ‘SNL,’ where it’s week to week. Sometimes you’re up for the challenge. Sometimes you show up even if you aren’t, and that’s kind of what makes interesting things happen.”

Amid the ongoing list of changes at the show, Yang shared he’s “absolutely” emotional to be saying goodbye to some of his longtime co-stars that won’t be returning. However, he’s understanding of their individual situations.

“What I’ve always thought, what I think everybody knows, is that ‘SNL’ is this boot camp and that implies that there is a next phase you train for something else,” he told the outlet. “It’s always a transitional place, and I think it is always a launching pad.”

“Even for people who stay on the show, like Kenan [Thompson], let’s say, he has still used that show to help expand his possibilities,” Yang continued.

“I think that’s going to be true for all of the people who aren’t coming back. I’m so excited to see what they do. I’m excited for the new cast.”

“SNL” has seen a slew of cast members leave in recent weeks after Michaels, 80, teased that he would be making some big changes to “shake things up” due to a “pressure to reinvent.”

Most recently, fan-favorite Ego Nwodim announced her departure from the series after seven seasons.

She joins fellow former castmates Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, Emil Wakim and Devon Walker who all announced their exit within the last month.

Yang and the rest of the returning cast will be joined by newcomers Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Ben Marshall, Kam Patterson and Veronika Slowikowska for Season 51.