That Austin Butler episode—actually the only Christmas episode not hosted by a former cast member since 2018!—also served as a mid-season farewell to longtime cast member Cecily Strong. I’m sure these types of things aren’t actually planned out particularly far in advance;

Hey, wanna watch Andrew Dismukes try not to cry? Bowen Yang bid a fond farewell to Saturday Night Live with this sketch set in the Delta Lounge. In a metatextual blending of fiction and reality, it was Bowen’s character’s last day at the eggnog station. His announcement made the whole audience go “Awwww.” And they were right. Awwww.