How can the new 'SNL' cast members manage to tour?

Tommy Brennan and Kam Patterson, two of the newest featured performers on Saturday Night Live, have announced extensive touring schedules even as Season 51 continues. With no official changes to the cast reported, fans are left wondering whether any lineup adjustments are forthcoming.

According to LateNighter, Brennan will perform in nine cities between the end of this year and May, delivering up to four shows at each location. Patterson's website lists 16 tour stops from December 26 through June, covering nearly the entire latter half of the SNL season, also with multiple performances per city.

While it's not uncommon for SNL cast members to perform stand-up during breaksMichael Che occasionally shares tour datesthese typically occur during off-weeks and near New York. Pattersons tour, however, spans multiple states with consecutive Saturday shows: Maryland on February 7, Georgia on February 14, and Ohio on February 21. How he will balance these appearances with the demanding SNL schedule remains uncertain.

The public tour announcements suggest that both Brennan and Patterson have approval to continue stand-up alongside their show responsibilities, a departure from Lorne Michaels earlier strict rules. In the past, Michaels reportedly resisted allowing cast members to miss shows. Jon Lovitz, for example, left SNL to shoot a movie, despite it affecting only two episodes, recalling Michaels stance that making exceptions for one meant making them for all.

Recent flexibility may explain the shows expanded cast. For instance, when Cecily Strong took a Broadway role in the 2010s, the large ensemble allowed the show to cover her absence. Patterson and Brennan, however, are still establishing their prominence, raising questions about future SNL appearances.

While its uncertain how often they will appear on SNL in 2026, audiences can be sure to catch Brennan and Patterson on their upcoming tours.

Author: Sophia Brooks