(MCT) — With the towering (if increasingly wearying) comedic potential of Kristen Wiig no longer a factor on "Saturday Night Live," the 38th season premiere of the NBC sketch show felt like a half-step into a new era. And not a moment too soon.

Andy Samberg and Abby Elliott are gone from the cast as well, a healthy turnover that perhaps encouraged executive producer Lorne Michaels to allow expert mimic Jay Pharoah to take over President Barack Obama duties from Fred Armisen, an intriguing performance I'd like to see developed further.