Is Cecily Strong Still A Cast Member on 'SNL?'

With so many recent cast changes on "Saturday Night Live" fans might be wondering if they missed something after watching the season 48 premiere and not seeing veteran cast member Cecily Strong in the opening credits. No need to fear, she's still on the show.

Concern that she may have departed the show comes after a total of eight cast members - Kate McKinnon, Pete Davidson, Kyle Mooney, Aidy Bryant, Chris Redd, Alex Moffat, Melissa Villasenor and Aristotle Athari - left after season 47 wrapped. Last year's cast turnover was the largest since 1995 when nearly the entire cast was new.

The reason the comedian, 38, was not a part of the season premiere of the comedy skit show is because she is currently in a one-woman play, "The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe" at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. The show, in which one of the play's producers is "SNL" creator Lorne Michaels, wraps on October 23 and Strong will then return to the east coast and to Studio 8H. The stage production of the show was written by Jane Wagner and performed by her now-wife, Lily Tomlin in 1985. In a recent Instagram post, Strong talks about her opening night and the special guests who were in attendance.

Strong captioned the post, "WHOAH HO MAMMA MIA. I am still tearing up today when I think about last night. Opened my favorite show with my favorite people @silverleigh @billdamaschke I found out our “original Trudy” would be at the show in the afternoon and cried all day up to and including the moment during bows where I got to acknowledge her."

The caption continued with, "I am beyond grateful that Jane and Lily have shared this show with me and us and it’s never going to feel normal. In the best way. I’m dealing with some major awe-infinitum. Search For Signs of Intelligent Life In The Universe at the Mark Taper until October 23!!! Come see and catch some joy with us!!! @ctgla ***wow very good almost Freudian slip here where I first wrote “Search for Signs of INCREDIBLE Life In The Universe”***"

Followers were supportive and excited for Strong and the show. Fellow "SNL" cast member Kenan Thompson commented, "👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾." Other comments included, "Having seen Lily perform it originally when I was a kid, I am so looking forward to seeing you in this show this weekend!," "STOP ITTTTTT. WOW, what an absolute dream team! Could not possibly be more thrilled for you!! I'm so glad you're getting to spend more time with miss Trudy -- I miss her! 🥫🎨✨," "I saw you perform at the shed and it was the best piece of art I think I’ll ever see ❤️," "Saw you last night and was in awe! Kudos for an amazing performance in a brilliant piece!," and many others.

Strong has been on "SNL" since 2012 making her one of the most senior cast members aside from Thompson who is currently celebrating his 20th season on the show. Thompson is the longest-running cast member in the show's history. Strong was hired for "SNL" while doing improv comedy at "The Second City" in Chicago. During her second season on "SNL," she was co-anchor of the Weekend Update segment of the show, but when she returned for her third season, she didn't return to the news desk.

In addition to "SNL," Strong is known for other television and movie roles such as, "Schmigadoon!," "Ghostbusters," "Great News," and others.