Heidi Gardner and Longfellow leaving SNL, Heidi Gardner will leave SNL after her fifth season. Michael Longfellow, too, is leaving at the end of three seasons at the show.
Cast Leaves SNL Before season 51
Heidi Gardner
- Heidi Gardner will leave SNL after her fifth season (joining in 2017, promoted to repertory in 2019) with Season 50.
During her leadership, she was regarded as an actor of a wide variety of comedic roles and impressions,such as “Angel” on Weekend Update, Jill Biden, Kim Kardashian, and a humorous sketch of Beavis and Butt-Head with Ryan Gosling.
Her eight-year career is also proved by her Wikipedia page.
Michael Longfellow
Michael Longfellow, too, is leaving at the end of three seasons at the show. He was cast as a featured player in Season 48 (2022), and promoted to repertory in Season 50.
- He earned fame by appearing regularly on Weekend Update and his deadpan comedic approach, which he is compared to Norm MacDonald.
Screen-tested as a potential anchor on Weekend Update — with writer KC Shornima — but will not come back to Season 51.
He also posted his departure through Instagram saying that it had been the best three years of my life so far and thanked Lorne Michaels and the SNL crew.
What This Implicates SNL Season 51
These exits are part of a broader cast overhaul after the record 50 th anniversary season. SNL producer Lorne Michaels had already hinted in advance a shake-up of monumental proportions in the wake of the celebrations.
Other prominent exits are the three-season Devon Walker and one-season Emil Wakim, and writers Celeste Yim and Rosebud Baker.
Season 51 will air on October 4, 2025, shows are yet to be announced regarding host and the musical guest.
In summary:
- Heidi Gardner departed in eight seasons (2017–2025).
- Michael Longfellow departs after three seasons (2022–2025).
- These exits are included in a wider refurbishment towards Season 51, which opens October 4, 2025.
Confirmed Departures
A number of cast members have announced publicly that they will not be back in Season 51:
Letting go of eight seasons (20172025), she announced her departure in 2017 because of sketch fatigue, and to explore new sources of creativity.
- Michael Longfellow: Retiring at the end of three seasons; in an Instagram post he said his tenure had been the best three years of my life thus far.
- Devon Walker: Leaving the show as well after the third season; in an Instagram post he said it was a toxic as hell workplace.
- Emil Wakim: Fire after only a season; said the news feels like a gut punch but is thankful.
- Authors Celeste Yim and Rosebud Baker: Not around this year. Yim was the first openly nonbinary writer on SNL.
Who is Verified or greatly anticipated to go back?
The official Season 51 cast list has not been announced yet, but a long-time Donald Trump impersonator James Austin Johnson has been confirmed to return.
Others of the long-standing cast – not yet officially confirmed but likely to reappear at least in the short term:
Kenan Thompson, the most long-running cast member, has indicated potential change, but not that he will leave.
Bowen Yang has also made known that SNL expands with turnover.
The anchors of the Weekend Update Colin Jost and Michael Che have not verified departure, although Colin has joked about possibly replacing Lorne Michaels.
- Generally, a lot of repertory players of Season 50 are probably remaining till the actual announcement.
Probably Reoccurring Cast (Tentative)
The Season 50 cast is presented here- some of whom have not yet declared leaving:
Repertory Players:
- Michael Che
- Mikey Day
- Andrew Dismukes
- Chloe Fineman
- Ego Nwodim
- Kenan Thompson
- Bowen Yang
- James Austin Johnson (confirmed)
- Colin Jost
- Sarah Sherman
- Marcello Hernández
Unknown by status:
- Ashley Padilla
- Jane Wickline
(Note: Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker and Emil Wakim are departing.)
Speculation: What Will Be Shaking Next Season.
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Weekend Update Shakeup
As the older generation leaves and may retire, a new anchor, or co-anchors, may take the place of Weekend Update. The future of Colin Jost and Michael Che is not secure and internal acts or new entrants can occupy the positions.
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New Faces Incoming
Lorne Michaels has affirmed that a big shake up is in progress and auditions are being conducted in L.A. and Chicago.
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Veterans Stepping Aside
Legacies It has been rumored that longtime cast members such as Sarah Sherman, Bowen Yang, Kenan Thompson or even the Weekend Update duo might step aside to allow new talent.
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Lorne’s Evolving Role
He is not leaving, but Michaels implied that he is assigning some of the more creative tasks to someone- new voices and ideas will influence the direction.
Conclusion-
The exits of Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker and Emil Wakim clear the way to new faces and voices at Saturday Night Live.
The SNL DNA has never been free of cast turnover, which helps the show to not turn into a dead air, so there are new comedians who can become culturally relevant just as Gardner and Longfellow did.
The cast of Season 51 will have an opportunity to mix experience and innovation with James Austin Johnson and most probably using veterans such as Kenan Thompson, Bowen Yang and Chloe Fineman.
The ongoing auditions may turn into break out stars who can make SNL look like a different thing as the show gets beyond its 50th anniversary.
On the other hand, the loss of several cast members and writers simultaneously, not to mention an eight-year veteran such as Gardner and a bright voice of the Update, SNL would find itself in an apparent vacuum in terms of both funny breadth and connection with the audience.
Viewers who have followed the series over the years and were used to seeing specific characters and impressions will notice the vacuity keenly, particularly when other veterans walk away during this season.
A such a shakeup brings up questions regarding the morale of the backstage as well, as Devon Walker has strongly criticized an environment that is toxic. Unless it is done very carefully, Season 51 might turn into a rebuilding season instead of a victorious fresh chapter.
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