Title: SNL Bids Farewell to Heidi Gardner and Other Cast Members as Season 51 Approaches As Saturday Night Live (SNL) gears up for its upcoming 51st season, the show is saying goodbye to some of its beloved cast members. Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker, Emil Wakim, and writer Celeste Yim have announced their departures from SNL on social media. Variety and The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that Heidi Gardner will also be leaving after eight seasons with the show. This is not an unusual occurrence for SNL; it’s customary for cast members to announce their exit when a season ends in spring or before a new one begins in fall. Last year, during its much-hyped 50th season, there were no explicit cast announcements made. However, this time around, creator and producer Lorne Michaels has expressed his desire for change as the show moves into its next chapter. In an interview with Puck last week, Michaels said he wanted people to come back and be part of the 50th season without any disruptions or distractions. He added that they had an election during that time which might have contributed to keeping things low-key. Now, as SNL prepares for its 51st season, Michaels is ready to shake things up and reinvent the show once again. While it’s unclear how many more departures or new hires will be announced in the coming days and weeks, one thing remains certain – James Austin Johnson will continue parodying President Trump on SNL. As we bid farewell to these talented cast members, let us also look forward to seeing what fresh faces and ideas will bring to the iconic sketch comedy show. In conclusion, while it’s always sad to see beloved cast members leave a long-running series like Saturday Night Live, change is necessary for growth and innovation. We can only wait with bated breath to see who Lorne Michaels brings on board next and how they will contribute to the continued success of SNL in its upcoming 51st season.
Source: [Original Article](https://www.npr.org/2025/08/29/nx-s1-5522032/snl-cast-departures-season-51-heidi-gardner)
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