A Seven-Season Exit from Studio 8H
Chloe Fineman is leaving Saturday Night Live. After seven seasons on the iconic NBC sketch show, the comedian confirmed her departure on Monday to pivot toward new professional ventures. Her next chapter involves a move to streaming, as she joins the cast of the upcoming Netflix series Myron Bolitar, an adaptation of Harlan Coben’s thriller novels co-showrun by David E. Kelley and Kyle Long.
From Sketch Comedy to the Myron Bolitar Set
The decision to leave was “bittersweet,” Fineman told The Hollywood Reporter at the premiere of her new film, The Dink. She explained that the Myron Bolitar role materialized just as her NBC contract was nearing its end.
“I did a little chemistry read and it was off to the races; it just felt like a perfect time,” Fineman said. Despite the transition, she maintains strong ties to her former colleagues; she noted that Colin Jost even called to wish her a happy birthday on the day she announced her exit. Filming for her new series, which follows the life of an NBA star-turned-sports agent, begins this week.
The Dink and the Search for Mid-Range Comedy
Before she settles into her new series regular role, Fineman appears alongside Jake Johnson and Ben Stiller in The Dink. The comedy, which tracks the rise of pickleball through the eyes of a washed-up tennis pro, hits Apple TV this Friday.
For producer Jake Johnson, the film serves a specific purpose. He told The Hollywood Reporter that the industry currently suffers from a lack of “mid-range comedy,” with the market split between massive franchises and small indie projects. “Being able to make a mid-tier comedy that’s just got like every scene there’s a different funny person who comes in—everybody’s funny in the movie. There’s heart,” Johnson said. The cast also includes Mary Steenburgen, Ed Harris, and Aaron Chen.
Stretching Beyond the Live Format
The shift allows Fineman to “stretch the TV wings” she developed during her seven-season run, which began in 2019. Trading the frantic, weekly cycle of live sketch comedy for a scripted series offers a change of pace, though she admits she is looking forward to a shift in her viewing habits.
“I’m really excited to like watch SNL as an audience member, which I’ve never done,” Fineman noted.
Quick Facts: Fineman’s Transition
- Departure: Chloe Fineman has officially left Saturday Night Live after seven seasons.
- New Role: She has joined the Netflix series Myron Bolitar, a thriller adaptation from David E. Kelley and Kyle Long.
- Current Project: Fineman stars in The Dink, a sports comedy releasing on Apple TV this Friday.
- Production Context: The Dink producer Jake Johnson highlighted the film as an attempt to revive the "mid-range" comedy genre, which he argues has become increasingly rare in the current entertainment landscape.
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