NBC’s Saturday Night Live is heading into its 51st season with a very different lineup. In just a matter of days, four cast members — Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, Emil Wakim, and Devon Walker — confirmed their departures. Writers Celeste Yim and Rosebud Baker are also exiting, marking a significant roster refresh ahead of the Oct. 4 premiere.
The exits come on the heels of creator Lorne Michaels’ August interview with Puck, where he revealed that viewers should expect major moves as the series looks to “reinvent” itself.
Heidi Gardner
Gardner, who joined in Season 43, leaves after eight years. Last season, she was the longest-tenured female cast member and participated in more sketches than anyone else. Gardner was best known for her “Weekend Update” character Bailey Gismert and standout performances like her viral crack-up as Bobbi More during a Beavis and Butt-Head sketch. Outside of SNL, she’s starred in Shrinking, The Other Two, and Hustle.
Michael Longfellow
Longfellow joined as a featured player in Season 48 before being promoted to the main cast in Season 50. Known for his “Weekend Update” bits as the “Resident Boyfriend,” his departure follows reports that he screen-tested for the anchor role. In his farewell message, Longfellow called his three seasons “the best years of my life so far” and thanked Lorne Michaels for “changing my life.”
Emil Wakim
After just one season, Wakim announced his exit on Instagram, sharing he received the news while at Six Flags. He reflected on his time as “the most terrifying, thrilling, and rewarding experience” of his life and expressed gratitude to Michaels for taking a chance on him.
Devon Walker
Walker, who joined in Season 48, confirmed his exit with humor, calling his relationship with the show “three years together, sometimes really cool, sometimes toxic as hell.” He joked that he’s aiming for a prestige drama next, “ideally something with Julianne Moore.”
Writers Departures
- Celeste Yim, who joined in 2020 and became writing supervisor in 2023, shared they were honored to be the first out trans writer at SNL.
- Rosebud Baker, who started in Season 47, wrote for “Weekend Update” and described her time at the show as both a stroke of luck and an invaluable learning experience.
The shakeup comes after SNL celebrated its landmark 50th anniversary with documentaries, a Radio City Music Hall concert, and a star-studded telecast. With these exits, Season 51 is set to open a new chapter in Studio 8H history.
Saturday Night Live returns Oct. 4 on NBC.