<P> Extensive changes occurred before the start of the season . Nora Dunn and Jon Lovitz were both dropped from the show . Following her boycott of the episode hosted by Andrew Dice Clay the previous season, Dunn was not in good standing with Lorne Michaels . Dunn's initial five - year contract expired at the end of the previous season, but Lorne Michaels chose not to extend it due to the boycott controversy . </P> <P> Before the season began, Jon Lovitz requested time off so he could film Mom and Dad Save the World, which would cause him to miss the first several episodes of the season . Michaels refused, because he did not view this to be fair to the other cast members . Lovitz subsequently quit . However, he made several cameo appearances throughout the 16th season . </P> <P> With Dunn and Lovitz gone, Michaels was put in an awkward situation . Most of the cast had been on the show for five seasons . He did not want to be put in the spot of having to replace the entire cast all at once . Instead, Michaels promoted writers Rob Schneider and David Spade to the cast and hired Chris Farley, Chris Rock, and Julia Sweeney . He then hired Tim Meadows and Adam Sandler to the cast mid season . </P> <P> Starting with this season, the cast was divided into three groups . A middle group was created, and this new category would be introduced with the word "with," following the introduction of the repertory players . The first cast members added to the new group were Farley and Rock, with Meadows and Sweeney added mid-season . </P>

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