Heidi Gardner left Saturday Night Live after eight seasons. Multiple sources speak of diversity.
The news comes amid reforms in NBC’s sketch comedy series. This week, Michael Longfellow, Emile Wakim and Devon Walker set out ahead of Season 51.
Last season, Gardner was the longest current female cast member. In season 49, she appeared in more sketches than any other cast member. She is famous for her “weekend update” characters, including teen film critic Bailey Gismart and Angel, and “all boxer girlfriends in every film about boxing.”
Outside of “SNL”, Gardner appeared in “Shrinking” along with Jason Segel, “The The Two” and the Adam Sandler basketball film “Hustle.”
NBC declined to allow producers to comment.
Gardner provides the latest example of roster refreshes occurring in Studio 8H. Walker announced his departure from “SNL” on Instagram on August 25th, saying, “Me and I did the show together for three years. Sometimes it was really cool. Sometimes it was toxic like hell.
“I won’t be back in SNL next year. It was a gut punch to get, but I am very grateful for my time there,” Wakim wrote in his announcement. “Every time I scan a building, I think about how crazy it is to work there. It’s the most frightening, thrilling and rewarding experience of my life, and I miss all the wonderful people who work there felt like home.”
“Saturday Night Live” will return to NBC on October 4th with the premiere of Season 51. The new season is a three-hour television broadcast with the Radio City Music Hall concert special, the legend of “SNL” and is ingrained with several documentaries, the Radio City Music Hall concert special.
