Ahead of the 51st season of Saturday Night Live, significant changes are on the horizon for the cast. This week, Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker, and Emil Wakim took to social media to announce their exits from the show. Heidi Gardner, a pivotal figure in SNL for eight seasons, known for portraying characters like Angel (Every Boxer’s Girlfriend from Every Movie About Boxing Ever) and participating in popular sketches, is also reportedly bidding farewell to the cast.
While CBC sought confirmation from Gardner’s representatives without success and NBC declined to comment, it is noteworthy that Gardner was among the longest-serving members in the previous season. Longfellow and Walker each had a three-year stint on the show, whereas Wakim had recently joined in the last season.
Walker was the first to announce his departure, sharing a photo in front of a Saturday Night Live sign on Instagram. He likened his comedy job to a relationship, acknowledging its transient nature. Longfellow hinted at being let go in his Instagram post, expressing gratitude for the opportunity and acknowledging the impact of SNL creator Lorne Michaels on his life. Similarly, Wakim implied his departure was unexpected and expressed a mix of emotions about leaving while looking forward to new opportunities.
In addition to the cast changes, writer Celeste Yim also disclosed their departure after five seasons via social media. These announcements follow remarks from Michaels about anticipating alterations following the show’s milestone 50th season, with no cast members announcing exits at the season’s end.
The reactions to the departures have been a mix of sadness and shock from fellow comedians and fans. Bowen Yang, Hannah Einbinder, Gardner, and Ziwe all showed support for the departing cast members on social media. Fans particularly highlighted Gardner’s consistent performance, while some felt it was time for her to explore new ventures. As for Walker, Wakim, and Longfellow, some supporters believed they hadn’t reached their full potential on the show.
The SNL cast has a history of significant changes, with past departures often met with disappointment from fans. Notably, Chloe Troast’s exit before the show’s 50th season also stirred emotions among viewers.
