Heidi Gardner Exits ‘SNL’ After Eight Seasons

Heidi Gardner is leaving “Saturday Night Live” after eight seasons, multiple sources tell Variety.

The news comes amid a shake-up at the NBC sketch comedy series, which this week saw the departure of Michael Longfellow, Emil Wakim and Devon Walker ahead of Season 51.

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Last season, Gardner was the longest-tenured current female cast member. In Season 49, she appeared in more sketches than any other cast member. She is well-known for her “Weekend Update” characters including the teen movie critic Bailey Gismert and Angel, “every boxer’s girlfriend from every movie about boxing ever.”

Outside of “SNL,” Gardner has appeared in “Shrinking” alongside Jason Segel, as well as “The Other Two” and the Adam Sandler basketball movie “Hustle.”

NBC declined to make producers available for comment.

Gardner marks the latest example of a roster refresh happening at Studio 8H. Walker announced his departure from “SNL” on Instagram on Aug. 25, writing, “Me and the show did three years together, and sometimes it was really cool. Sometimes it was toxic as hell. But we did what we made the most of what it was, even amidst all of the dysfunction. We made a fucked up lil family.”

“I won’t be returning to SNL next year. It was a gut punch of a call to get but I’m so grateful for my time there,” Wakim wrote in his announcement. “Every time I scanned into the building I would think how insane it is to get to work there. It was the most terrifying, thrilling, and rewarding experience of my life and I will miss it dearly and all the brilliant people that work there that made it feel like a home.”

“Saturday Night Live” returns on NBC on Oct. 4 with the premiere of Season 51. The new season comes off the heels of a landmark 50th anniversary, which was feted with with several documentaries, a Radio City Music Hall concert special and a three-hour telecast with “SNL” legends.

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