Amid ongoing adjustments in late-night tv, Saturday Evening Reside (SNL) is getting ready for one more main shift, with a key forged member leaving. After celebrating a milestone anniversary, producers are restructuring the forged to maintain the present recent. As a part of this transition, one in all its most recognizable performers, Heidi Gardner, is stepping away after a number of seasons.
Heidi Gardner is leaving SNL earlier than Season 51
Heidi Gardner joined the NBC sketch present in Season 43 as a featured participant and was promoted to the repertory forged in 2019. On August 28, 2025, Selection confirmed her exit, making her probably the most high-profile departure forward of the brand new season, following the exits of Devon Walker, Emil Wakim, and Michael Longfellow.
Gardner beforehand acknowledged on Craig Ferguson’s Pleasure podcast that she had been experiencing “sketch fatigue” after years at SNL and The Groundlings. She defined, “At this level, after doing Groundlings and SNL for therefore lengthy, I’m like, ‘I’ve written lots of sketches.’” Earlier in 2025, she additionally hinted at a transition by posting a few retreat with forged and writers in Tarrytown, New York, calling the group her “vibrant household.”
Throughout her eight years on the present, Gardner turned recognized for a number of recurring characters. These included teen movie critic Bailey Gismert and Crystal (Your Co-Employee Who’s Extraordinarily Busy Doing Seemingly Nothing). In 2024, she additionally went viral after breaking character through the Beavis and Butt-Head sketch as NewsNation host Bobbi Extra.
Her departure comes amid broader forged shifts following the fiftieth Anniversary Particular. Walker, Wakim, and Longfellow largely performed supporting roles. Against this, Gardner was a central determine and the longest-tenured feminine forged member earlier than her exit. Creator Lorne Michaels had already signaled that SNL would see main forged adjustments after the milestone season.
Past SNL, Gardner appeared in Shrinking and has been in discussions for different tasks, together with an NBC pilot. Together with her exit, SNL loses an eight-season veteran whose recurring characters and flexibility had been a fixture of the present.
She leaves as Season 51 prepares to maneuver ahead with a reshaped ensemble.
