Brooks Wheelan fired from ‘SNL’; other exits also reported

Brooks Wheelan is the first casualty as “Saturday Night Live” thins its crowded herd of 17 cast members and featured players.

He lasted just one season on the storied late-night variety show, which begins its 40th season this fall.

Two other cast freshmen, Noel Wells and John Milhiser, also have been shown the door, deadline.com reports. The site also says discussions are under way about whether Second City and iO alum Mike O’Brien, who became a featured player last fall after four years as an “SNL” writer, will return as a performer or go back to concentrating on writing.

They were among several new cast members to join the long-running Saturday night staple last fall, alongside Beck Bennett and Kyle Mooney. Sasheer Zamata and Colin Jost came aboard midseason.

Deadline also reports Nasim Pedrad is leaving after five seasons to appear on “Mulaney,” an upcoming Fox sitcom starring former “SNL” writer and Chicago stand-up John Mulaney.

h/t NBC Chicago

Contributing: Darel Jevens