Heidi Gardner is saying goodbye to Saturday Night Live (SNL) after eight seasons. She brought laughs, quirky characters, and viral moments to the late-night stage. Now, she won’t be part of the upcoming 51st season, which is going to premiere in October. The news was first reported by Vulture.
The exit of Gardner is, undoubtedly, part of a bigger shakeup at SNL. Her cast members Devon Walker, Michael Longfellow, and Emil Wakim have also decided to step away this year, along with writers Rosebud Baker and Celeste Yim. For fans, it is the end of an era with multiple fresh faces moving on at once.
Heidi Gardner joined SNL in 2017 during season 43. At the time of joining, she was with big stars like Aidy Bryant, Kate McKinnon, and Cecily Strong. However, she got her place quickly. Week after week, she proved that she was a mix of offbeat characters and sharp comedic timing.
Among her most memorable roles: Bailey Gismert, the hilariously awkward teen movie critic; Angel, the overly dramatic girlfriend from every boxing movie ever; and the stressed-out coworker who always seemed “busy” doing nothing. She also had a lot of fun with Goop-inspired wellness character Baskin Johns.
Fans also loved her real-life slip-ups. In 2024, Gardner broke character over and over while trying to keep a straight face in a sketch with Mikey Day and Ryan Gosling as Beavis and Butt-Head. Later on, she admitted that she had no chance of holding it together. Well, audiences loved every second of it.
Outside of Saturday Night Live, Gardner has made a name for herself with roles in Netflix’s You, Apple TV+’s Shrinking, and even Adam Sandler’s movie Hustle.
SNL Season 51 will premiere on October 4 on NBC and Peacock. However, it won’t be the same without the fan-favorite Heidi Gardner.
