Bowen Yang Reveals the Gift Lorne Michaels Gives theSNLCast Each Year for the Holidays: 'Everyone's Thrilled' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Bowen Yang (left) and Lorne Michaels.Photo:Karwai Tang/WireImage; Steven Ferdman/Getty

Karwai Tang/WireImage; Steven Ferdman/Getty

Bowen Yangis sharing some of thesweetestholiday traditions at Studio 8H.

In addition to the cast’s so-called“garbage party”which takes place after the read-through of theSaturday Night LiveChristmas episode each year, Yang, 34, tells PEOPLE that the cast looks forward toLorne Michael’s sweet holiday present.

“He will give you preserves and jams from his farm, and it’s the most delicious raspberry jam you’ve ever eaten,” theWickedstar says of theSNLcreator’s yearly gift.  “I look forward to it every year. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. That’s the lovely group gift that he gives everybody, and everyone’s thrilled, truly. Everyone’s truly psyched to get the jams every year.”

From left: Bowen Yang, Lorne Michaels and Kate McKinnon at the 2022 Emmy Awards.Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty

Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty

And according to Yang, Michaels’ generosity doesn’t stop for the holiday season, he also gives out birthday gifts to the cast as well.

“I think part of his love language is gift gifting," Yang explains.

During the holiday-themed chat with PEOPLE, Yang also shared more about how the garbage party got its start. As the story goes, he explains, the cast used to exchange gifts through Secret Santa but due to the varying caliber of gifts, “people’s feelings were hurt” so former cast membersAidy BryantandKate McKinnoncame up with their own idea.

“It’s like a potluck instead of a gift-giving thing,” he says. “It’s like, people will buy 20 cheeseburgers from Shake Shack, or you bring Jello shots from home, or you bring 30 Funko Pops for people to take home. It’s everyone just culls together their weird, most random contributions essentially.”

Matt Rogers (left) and Bowen Yang.Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty

Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty

“It’s a garbage party, because it’s a chaotic potluck, and it’s so fun,” he adds. “[It’s] our big tradition that we uphold, and that’s all thanks to Kate and Aidy.”

Yang started a gifting tradition of his own this year as he teamed up with Pinterest to curate TheLas Culturistas gift guide,named for the podcast he hosts with best friend Matt Rogers.

“This is our way of having the podcast come into your life through these gifts,” he explains of the guide that includesMariah Carey’s memoir and aChappell Roanvinyl record.

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source: people.com