Longtime cast member Nasim Pedrad, who had been on the show for five seasons since 2009, announced her departure in June 2014, as she was to star on the Lorne Michaels-produced sitcom Mulaney.

[5] Following Pedrad's departure, featured players John Milhiser, Noël Wells, and Brooks Wheelan were all let go following the finale, after only one season with the cast.

Overall, of the eight cast members introduced during the previous season, only Beck Bennett, Kyle Mooney, Colin Jost, and Sasheer Zamata returned.

[10] After making appearances on Weekend Update and in several sketches, writer Leslie Jones was promoted to the cast on October 20, 2014 as a featured player.

Prior to the start of the season, five new writers were hired: Alison Rich, a performer with the Upright Citizens Brigade in New York;[14] Nick Rutherford, a member of Los Angeles-based comedy group Good Neighbor;[15] Natasha Rothwell, a performer with the Upright Citizens Brigade in New York;[16] Streeter Seidell, CollegeHumor front page editor;[16] and Jeremy Beiler, writer on Inside Amy Schumer.