Bowen Yang Misses SNL Live Show for Major Award — But He Was Still There!

Don't worry, Saturday Night Live wasn't missing Bowen Yang entirely on October 18, 2025! While he wasn't live in Studio 8H with host Sabrina Carpenter, he had a fantastic reason for his absence and still made his mark on the episode.

TL;DR

• Bowen Yang was absent from the live Saturday Night Live broadcast on October 18, 2025.
• He was in Los Angeles to accept the prestigious Vantage Award at the Academy Museum Gala.
• Despite missing the live show, Yang contributed to the episode's writing and appeared in a hilarious pre-taped sketch alongside Sabrina Carpenter.

Where Was Bowen Yang During This Week's Saturday Night Live?

If you tuned into Saturday Night Live on October 18, 2025, ready for your weekly dose of Bowen Yang's incredible talent, you might have noticed he wasn't physically present for the live segments. But fear not, this wasn't an unexpected disappearing act! Yang himself let fans in on the secret via his Instagram Stories, sharing a photo of a palm tree (a subtle nod to his sunny destination) with the caption, "Missing the show tonight but it will be sooooo fun sab is amazing," referring to that night's host and musical guest, Sabrina Carpenter.

It turns out his absence was all part of a very cool, pre-planned event. Bowen Yang was actually on the West Coast, specifically in Los Angeles, attending the 2025 Academy Museum Gala. And he wasn't just attending; he was being honored!

"Missing the show tonight but it will be sooooo fun sab is amazing."

— Bowen Yang on his Instagram Stories, October 18, 2025

Receiving a Well-Deserved Honor at the Academy Museum Gala

The main reason for Yang's trip to the West Coast was to receive the Academy Museum's Vantage Award. This special recognition is given to "an emerging artist helping to challenge existing, entrenched narratives around film" and someone who is "a trailblazer bringing laughter, heart, and representation to the screen." What a fantastic honor for the SNL star!

He was in good company at the gala, with other notable figures like Penélope Cruz (Icon Award recipient), Bruce Springsteen (Legacy Award recipient), and filmmaker Walter Salles also being celebrated. The Academy Museum specifically highlights the Vantage Award as being focused on the industry's "next generation of cultural storytellers," which perfectly describes Yang's impact on comedy and entertainment.

Did We See Bowen Yang on SNL At All This Week?

Absolutely! Even though he wasn't live in Studio 8H, you definitely still got to see Bowen Yang in action. Sources close to SNL confirmed that his absence was indeed pre-planned, allowing him to work on the episode earlier in the week. He contributed to the writing of the show, and, even better, he appeared in a hilarious pre-taped sketch!

This week, Yang co-starred with Sabrina Carpenter in a music video sketch called "Middle School Lovin'" (also referred to as "Grind Song"). They played middle schoolers at a school dance, breaking all the rules and "grinding" on each other. Yang's lyrics in the pop video were classic, singing, "You know it girl, it's finally time. I see you eyeing me at school. It's been on both of our minds, and I'm feelin' grown, twelve sprays of my dad's cologne." It was a fantastic way for him to be part of the show despite his physical absence from the live broadcast.

He even got a shout-out during Sabrina Carpenter's monologue, where she playfully joked that he was the man holding her hair on her controversial "Man's Best Friend" album cover, showing a zoomed-out version with Yang in the picture.

Sabrina Carpenter Steals the Show in Her Double-Duty Debut

Speaking of Sabrina Carpenter, she absolutely dazzled in her first time pulling double duty as both host and musical guest. While the episode started a tiny bit late due to college football, Carpenter navigated the night like a pro, showing off her acting chops in a variety of sketches and delivering two lively musical performances.

Her sketches were a hit, bringing back Marcello Hernández's popular "Domingo" character (with Carpenter as chaotic childhood bestie Sophie), and having her transform into a "podcaster boy" in the "Boys Podcast" sketch where she interviewed President Donald Trump (played by James Austin Johnson). She also appeared in "Shop TV: Pillow" selling an unintentionally obscene product, played a concussed "girl boss," a woman petrified of plans in "Plans," and a singing washing machine in "Appliance Store" alongside new cast member Veronika Slowikowska. Carpenter truly showed her versatility throughout the night.

For her musical performances, she wowed the audience with "Manchild" and "Nobody's Son," both tracks from her newest album, Man's Best Friend. This wasn't Carpenter's first time on the SNL stage; she previously debuted as a musical guest in Season 49, sang a duet with Paul Simon for SNL50: The Anniversary Special, and even cameoed in a sketch after her hit song "Espresso" helped launch Marcello Hernandez's recurring "Domingo" character.

Bowen Yang's Continued Journey on Saturday Night Live

Bowen Yang first joined Saturday Night Live as a writer in 2018 and was quickly promoted to a featured player for Season 45 in 2019. This current Season 51 marks his seventh season with the cast, making him a seasoned veteran of the show. He's earned four Emmy nominations for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his work on SNL, and his breakout success has led to big-screen roles, including Pfannee in the upcoming Wicked movies.

Earlier this year, after a significant cast shake-up for Season 51, Yang spoke to People magazine about his decision to stay on the show. He revealed that even executive producer Lorne Michaels encouraged him, saying, "You have more to do. I need you." Yang shared his deep affection for the show and his colleagues, stating, "I love working there, the people are the best. I really love each of them so much." He also mentioned letting go of a "game plan" for the season, embracing the week-to-week spontaneity that SNL offers.

So, while it was a rare sight to not see Bowen Yang live, his absence was for a truly commendable reason, and fans still got to enjoy his comedic presence in a memorable pre-taped sketch. He's an integral part of the SNL family, and we're sure to see him back in action live in Studio 8H very soon!

Looking Ahead to Upcoming SNL Hosts and Musical Guests

After Sabrina Carpenter's impressive double-duty performance, Saturday Night Live has an exciting lineup for November. Mark your calendars:

• November 1: Miles Teller returns for his second time as host with musical guest Brandi Carlile.
• November 8: Comedian Nikki Glaser makes her SNL hosting debut with musical guest Sombr.
• November 15: Glen Powell makes his hosting debut on SNL with musical guest Olivia Dean.

You can catch Saturday Night Live live every Saturday at 11:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. PT on NBC, and stream episodes the next day on Peacock.

FAQ: Your Questions About Bowen Yang's SNL Absence Answered Why wasn't Bowen Yang live on SNL this week? Bowen Yang was in Los Angeles to attend the Academy Museum Gala, where he was honored with the prestigious Vantage Award. His absence was pre-planned to allow him to accept this significant award. What award did Bowen Yang receive at the Academy Museum Gala? He received the Vantage Award, which celebrates emerging artists who challenge and reframe narratives in film and television, bringing laughter, heart, and representation to the screen. Did Bowen Yang appear in the SNL episode at all? Yes! Although not live, Bowen Yang contributed to the episode's writing and appeared in a pre-taped music video sketch called "Middle School Lovin'" (or "Grind Song") with host Sabrina Carpenter. When does Saturday Night Live air and where can I watch it? Saturday Night Live airs live on Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. PT on NBC. You can also stream episodes the next day on Peacock. Sources

• Entertainment Weekly
• Deadline
• NBC Insider
• PopCulture.com
• ScreenRant
• Bleeding Cool
• Just Jared
• Variety