Insiders Weigh In On What Lies Ahead For SNL Vet Heidi Gardner After Her Exit From The Show

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When “Saturday Night Live” comes back for its 51st season in October within the 2025 TV schedule, viewers can expect a refreshed look as some significant changes have been implemented to the cast. Lorne Michaels’ sketch comedy show has parted ways with several ensemble members, and fresh talent has joined the team. Interestingly, long-time cast member Heidi Gardner is among those who are no longer part of the series. Speculation about her departure has arisen since then, and now there are whispers regarding her career trajectory moving forward. Insiders are sharing their insights on Gardner’s future professional path.

What Might The Future Hold For Heidi Gardner?

As a fan speaking here, I must say that Heidi Gardner, who graced Saturday Night Live for eight incredible seasons, hasn’t publicly addressed her departure from the show as of now. However, over the past few days, there have been whispers about her leaving. Dana Carvey, an SNL alum, mentioned on his Fly on the Wall podcast that it wasn’t Gardner who chose to leave. A source close to the situation, speaking to The New York Post, corroborated this claim, suggesting that Gardner’s contract was not renewed amidst the wave of cast changes.

Despite some people close to Saturday Night Live seemingly unfazed by the comedian’s departure, producers for the renowned NBC show have shared optimism about her future success. They believe this is due to an influx of upcoming gigs for Gardner, as reported by TMZ. Additionally, it seems there are no hard feelings between Gardner and her previous employers regarding recent events.

In recent years, Heidi Gardner, who was previously a part of SNL, has been making a significant impact beyond the sketch comedy series. She’s leveraged her success from SNL to land roles in other television shows such as “You” and “Girls5eva”. Furthermore, Gardner played a pivotal role in the hit dramedy series “Shrinking” and judged on “Is It Cake?”. In films, she’s featured in live-action and animated projects like “Otherhood”, “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish”, “Leo”, and “Hustle”. Additionally, Gardner has been seen in various advertisements.

Despite some skepticism about reports claiming the success of the former Alien News Desk cast member, it’s not unreasonable to believe she has a strong career standing. Separately, there’s also the factor that some of her previous co-stars are no longer associated with Studio 8H.

Who Else Was Cut From SNL Ahead Of Season 51?

In the past few weeks, the dismissals from the Saturday Night Live cast have left many fans in a state of shock, even veteran cast member Punkie Johnson voicing her disbelief on social platforms. Initially, Devon Walker was the first to be announced as leaving before Season 51, followed by Emil Wakim’s departure confirmation soon after. Later on, it was also made known that Michael Longfellow had been dismissed as well.

The three comedians who recently left Saturday Night Live have shared their thoughts about leaving the show. As of yet, it’s unknown what they plan to do next, but given their skills, I predict they’ll secure plenty of new opportunities in the future. Devon Walker, for instance, has already expressed interest in working on several top-notch TV shows now that he’s available.

Explore the vast library of Saturday Night Live content on demand with Peacock TV. This affordable streaming service costs as low as $7.99 per month or $79.99 annually, though fans also have the option to upgrade to Peacock Premium or Peacock Premium Plus for a more comprehensive experience. For an additional cost, these tiers offer ad-free streams and the ability to download titles for offline viewing at a later time. Take advantage of this deal today!

As a dedicated fan, I’m thrilled to share that on our side of the screen, Lorne Michaels and the team have made some exciting additions for the upcoming season! Five fresh talents – Veronika Slowikowska, Kam Patterson, Jeremy Culhane, Tommy Brennan, and Ben Marshall from Please Don’t Destroy – are joining the cast. So, in essence, we’re stepping into a new era of Saturday Night Live. Heidi Gardner and her fellow comedians are moving forward, embarking on their next adventures in comedy. Here’s to an amazing season ahead!

The 51st season of Saturday Night Live, featuring a fresh cast, is set to debut on NBC on October 4th at 11:35 PM Eastern Time. You’ll also have the opportunity to stream episodes if you subscribe to Peacock.

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2025-09-07 19:12