NEW YORK — Bowen Yang broke his silence just hours before his final episode of “Saturday Night Live,” officially confirming reports of his exit after seven trailblazing years.

In an Instagram post on Saturday, the five-time Emmy nominee, 35, shared a heartfelt goodbye to the NBC sketch comedy series, which he joined as a writer in 2018, a year before making history as the first Chinese American cast member, and one of the show’s first openly gay stars.

“I loved working at ‘SNL,’ and most of all I loved the people,” Yang wrote alongside a carousel of photos and videos. “I was there at a time when many things in the world started to seem futile, but working at 30 Rock taught me the value in showing up anyway, when people make it worthwhile.”

The “Las Culturistas” co-host said he’s “grateful for every minute” of his time of the show and thanked creator Lorne Michaels and “every single person who showed up there: friends and co-workers and audiences and hosts.”

“They all care deeply about people in the room, any room, enjoying themselves. I can’t believe I was ever included in that,” Yang continued. “The show doesn’t go on because it’s ready, but … I hope I am.”

News of Yang’s departure broke on Friday, with multiple outlets reporting he would leave after the Dec. 20 Christmas episode, featuring his “Wicked” co-star Ariana Grande as host and Cher as the musical guest.

His exit comes after the summer’s mass cast exodus, and just three months after Yang told People that both he and Michaels, 81, agreed he had “more to do” at Studio 8H.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Barry Manilow has postponed his January concerts, including an Orlando stop at the Kia Center, after the discovery of a cancerous spot on his left lung.

In a statement, Manilow said the cancer was caught early, and his prognosis is good.

“The doctors do not believe it has spread, and I’m taking tests to confirm their diagnosis,” he said. “No chemo, no radiation. Just chicken soup and ‘I Love Lucy’ reruns.”

His representatives said the cancer was considered stage one, and Manilow would undergo surgery by the end of December.

Manilow, 82, hopes to be back onstage in time for a Valentine’s Day weekend engagement at his “home away from home” at the Westgate resort in Las Vegas. Manilow has a long relationship with the Westgate timeshare company, founded by Central Floridian David Siegel, who died in April.

The cancerous spot was discovered by “pure luck (and a good doctor),” Manilow wrote. He had been struggling with a stubborn case of bronchitis, so his doctor ordered an MRI, which discovered the cancer at an early stage.

In addition to his planned Orlando concert, other affected Florida cities include Tampa, Sunrise, Estero and Jacksonville.

Known for hits including “Mandy,” “I Write the Songs,” “Looks Like We Made It,” “Can’t Smile Without You,” and “Copacabana (At the Copa),” Manilow is on a farewell tour. He announced in September that the January concert at the Kia Center would be his last in Central Florida.

In his 50-year career, Manilow has released more than 40 albums and charted 51 Top 40 singles, including 13 that reached No. 1. A Grammy, Tony and Emmy award-winner, he has sold more than 85 million albums and was named the No. 1 adult-contemporary artist of all time by Billboard and R&R magazines.

Manilow last performed in Orlando in January of 2023, when he headlined a concert celebrating his 50-year career. Prior to that show, he told the Orlando Sentinel that while he was slowing down, he wasn’t finished with showbiz.

“I’m waiting for the shoe to drop, to wake up and look in the mirror and feel older and retire,” Manilow said then with a laugh. “But so far, so good.”

His Jan. 7 Orlando show has been rescheduled for March 13 at the Kia Center. January ticket holders will be able to use their current tickets in March.

“Just like you, we were all looking forward to the January shows and hate having to move everything around,” Manilow wrote. “I’m very sorry that you have to change your plans.”

His statement ended on a positive note, wishing fans “a wonderful Christmas” and a happy new year.

“And remember,” he wrote. “If you have even the slightest symptom, get tested!”

NEW YORK — Savannah Guthrie on Friday revealed that she’ll be taking some time off from NBC’s “Today” show so she can undergo and recover from vocal cord surgery.

“Some of you have noticed that my voice has been very scratchy and started to crack a little bit,” she told fans. “Well, I have found out what it is. I have vocal nodules, and I also have a polyp.”

“This has been going on for years, honestly,” she added, saying she’s “very excited” to “have a solution.”

Guthrie assured viewers that it’s not “a big, big deal,” but added that she’ll be missing from their screens for a “couple of weeks” while she’s on vocal rest. She explained that she’ll have to be completely silent for a while after the procedure.

“It’s my last day for a little while,” the 53-year-old anchor said. “So I just want to let everyone know, and if you’ve been wondering, do I have the world’s longest head cold? No, I don’t.”

Co-anchor Sheinelle Jones, who underwent a similar procedure in 2020, also offered Guthrie some reassurance.

“The silver lining is you have permission to be still,” she told her. “A lot of the greats have done it — maybe you’ll come out singing like, I don’t know, Celine Dion.”

While her exact return date is unclear, Guthrie expects to make a full recovery in time for NBC and Peacock’s coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. She’s slated to co-host the opening ceremonies, which are scheduled to begin on Feb. 6.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to host the opening ceremony alongside the incomparable Terry Gannon and snowboarding legend Shaun White,” Guthrie said in a statement. “It’s such an honor to celebrate the world’s best athletes and introduce the magic and wonder of the Winter Games and northern Italy to viewers at home.”

From combined wire services