SNL Season 52: Writer/Performer Martin Herlihy Reportedly Departing

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Posted in: NBC, Peacock, TV | Tagged: saturday night live, snl

SNL Season 52: Writer/Performer Martin Herlihy Reportedly Departing

NBC's Saturday Night Live writer and performer Martin Herlihy (Please Don't Destroy) is reportedly departing SNL ahead of Season 52.

Published Wed, 09 Sep 2026 09:37:09 -0500
by Ray Flook
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While we await the official announcement of when NBC's Saturday Night Live Season 52 will kick off and who has been tapped as host and musical guest, the word has dropped that SNL will be losing another familiar name. LateNighter is reporting that writer/performer Martin Herlihy will be departing after five seasons, ahead of the show's return. That leaves featured player Ben Marshall as the remaining member of Please Don't Destroy associated with the long-running, late-night sketch comedy and music series, with John Higgins departing SNL ahead of Season 51.

Image: SNL Screencap

Over the summer, SNL released its Season 51 "Top 5" lists: most-watched cold opens, most-watched monologues, most-watched live sketches, most-watched pretaped sketches, and most-watched "Weekend Update" features. The lists were compiled by looking at how each sketch performed across the show's digital platforms. Here's a look at the "Top 5" compilation videos that were released, along with an extended list offering a look at the 10 top sketches/segments for each category:

Top 10 Most-Watched Cold Opens:

  • 10. NYC Mayoral Debate Cold Open
  • 9. Jeffrey Epstein Ghost Cold Open
  • 8. Trump Making Calls Cold Open
  • 7. Trump Iran War Address Cold Open
  • 6. Pete Hegseth Cold Open
  • 5. Cabinet Meeting Cold Open
  • 4. Epstein White House Briefing Cold Open
  • 3. Hegseth and Patel Iran Press Briefing Cold Open
  • 2. Pentagon Press Conference Cold Open
  • 1. Domingo Cold Open

Top 10 Most-Watched Monologues:

  • 10. Will Ferrell Monologue
  • 9. Nikki Glaser Monologue
  • 8. Matt Damon Monologue
  • 7. Harry Styles Monologue
  • 6. Connor Storrie Monologue
  • 5. Jack Black Monologue
  • 4. Bad Bunny Monologue
  • 3. Sabrina Carpenter Monologue
  • 2. Finn Wolfhard Monologue
  • 1. Olivia Rodrigo Monologue

Top 10 Most-Watched Live Sketches:

  • 10. Shop TV: Lava Cake
  • 9. Mom Confession
  • 8. Elf on the Shelf Support Group
  • 7. Sebastian Maniscalco: Bachelor Party
  • 6. KPop Demon Hunters
  • 5. My Ex
  • 4. Sebastian Maniscalco: New Lawyer
  • 3. Passing Notes
  • 2. Dancing 101
  • 1. El Chavo Del Ocho

Top 10 Most-Watched Pretaped Sketches:

  • 10. Random Duet Christmas Spectacular
  • 9. CPAP Commercial
  • 8. Plans
  • 7. The Gentlemen's Code
  • 6. MAHAspital
  • 5. White House Makeover
  • 4. Missing Wives Docuseries
  • 3. Stranger Things Promo
  • 2. Home Alone
  • 1. Heated Wizardry

Top 10 Most-Watched Weekend Update Features:

  • 10. Tucker Carlson on Liberal Politics and the 2026 Met Gala
  • 9. Alix Earle and Alex Cooper on Their Brewing Feud
  • 8. Michael Che's Nephew Threatens Santa
  • 7. Jack Harlow on His New Album
  • 6. Professor Snape Addresses New Spin on Harry Potter Role
  • 5. Red Heart and Aerial Tramway Emojis on Apple's New Emojis Release
  • 4. Tucker Carlson on Liberal Politics and the 2026 Oscars
  • 3. Two Kids from the Back of the Bus
  • 2. Punch the Monkey and His Mom
  • 1. Tamara on Her Resolutions on Buttons

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