Matt Rogers Dishes on Bowen Yang’s Shocking ‘SNL’ Exit: ‘You Don’t Want to Be the Last One’ to Leave

Matt Rogers is reflecting on Bowen Yang’s decision to exit Saturday Night Live.

On Monday, January 5, Rogers, 35, appeared on Today with Jenna & Friends and discussed the comedian’s time on the late-night sketch comedy show, noting Yang, 35, went out on a perfect note with Wicked costar Ariana Grande hosting his last episode and Cher serving as the musical guest.

“I know a lot of people are surprised because they feel like he’s such a fixture, but seven and a half years on the show, five Emmy nominations, countless memorable characters and sketches,” Rogers remarked. “And he was there for the 50th. And I think then there was the opportunity for an episode with Ariana and Cher, what was he supposed to do, stay after that?”

Bush Hager, 44, noted that in Yang’s final episode last month, where he said his goodbyes, “you could feel that he was ready, but also that that show has given him so much.”

“I think that’s what makes it so hard to say goodbye, is you know that what you have in the day in and day out is so good,” Rogers said about his Las Culturistas podcast cohost. “But sometimes you do have to leave the party just a little bit early. You don’t want to be the last one.”

Rogers also noted that, “against a lot of odds,” Yang “became the face” of SNL, moving from a staff writer in season 44 to a cast member in season 45.

“I told him at the end, ‘Not only did you succeed here, but you also thrived here,’ and I just, I couldn’t be prouder of him,” Rogers gushed.

As for the future, Rogers shared that he and Yang are “busy as hell” while preparing to attend the winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, in February as part of their Two Guys, Five Rings podcast.