Saturday Night Live Announces Major Cast and Writer Departures Ahead of Season 51
Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, and other cast members and writers are departing Saturday Night Live. Creator Lorne Michaels is making significant changes for the upcoming 51st season.
Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow leaving ‘Saturday Night Live’
New York Daily News
Heidi Gardner Is Leaving SNL After Eight Seasons
New York Post
The SNL Departure Announcements Have Begun
New York Post
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Overview
- Heidi Gardner is departing Saturday Night Live after eight seasons, having joined in 2017 and promoted to the main cast in 2019, recognized for her characters.
- Michael Longfellow is also leaving SNL after three seasons, having frequently contributed to "Weekend Update" and screen tested for the segment before his departure.
- Devon Walker (three seasons), Emil Wakim (not invited back), Celeste Yim (first out trans writer, five seasons), and Rosebud Baker (four seasons) are also departing.
- These significant cast and writer exits are occurring ahead of SNL's 51st season, which is scheduled to premiere on October 4.
- Creator Lorne Michaels announced a major shakeup for the show's 51st season, following its 50th anniversary, promising changes to refresh the cast.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover Heidi Gardner's departure from SNL in a neutral, informative manner. They focus on reporting the facts of her exit, providing context such as her tenure and previous hints about leaving. The coverage avoids loaded language or speculative framing, instead presenting her own explanations and career highlights to inform readers about the news.
Articles (11)
FAQ
Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker, Emil Wakim, Celeste Yim, and Rosebud Baker are among the cast and writers departing before season 51 of Saturday Night Live.
Saturday Night Live season 51 is scheduled to premiere on October 4, 2025, at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC, with episodes streaming on Peacock the following day.
Devon Walker mentioned that working on SNL was sometimes very rewarding and sometimes 'toxic as hell,' describing his departure as ending a complex relationship with the show after three seasons.
Lorne Michaels announced a major shakeup for the show's 51st season following the 50th anniversary, signaling significant cast and writer changes to refresh the series.
As of now, there have been no announcements about Lorne Michaels leaving, and he appears set to continue as the show's creator for season 51, though retirement rumors have persisted.
History
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