Chris Parnell Says He “Never Really Knew” Why He Was Let Go And Then Rehired By ‘SNL’

Chris Parnell, a veteran Saturday Night Live cast member who joined in 1998, was unexpectedly fired in 2001 after five years on the show, despite no known reason for his exit. Supported by his colleagues and even appearing in a controversial "scathing" sketch by then-writer T. Sean Shannon, Parnell eventually returned to SNL in 2006 following budget cuts that led to the departure of other key cast members like Jerry Minor and Molly Shannon. Though he was re*hired after a period in limbo due to budgetary constraints, his time away impacted his career trajectory, though he remained grateful for the support he received during this difficult phase.