‘SNL’ Insider Gives New Details on Heidi Gardner’s Shocking Exit After 8 Seasons

Heidi Gardner is the latest familiar face missing from Saturday Night Live as the show heads into season 51.

After eight years on the NBC sketch comedy series, her contract was not renewed, an insider confirmed to The New York Post.

“It’s time for a new cast,” the insider explained.

Gardner, 42, was the longest-tenured woman on the sketch comedy series as of season 50. She joined SNL during season 43 as a featured player before being promoted to the main cast in 2019.

Over eight seasons, she became known for characters like teen movie critic Bailey Gismert, Brie Bacardi from the “annoying Instagram couple,” Goop employee Baskin Johns, and Angel, “every boxer’s girlfriend from every movie about boxing ever.” She also impersonated celebrities, including Kim Kardashian, Drew Barrymore, and Liz Cheney.

One of Gardner’s most viral moments came last year when she broke character during the “Beavis and Butt-Head” sketch starring Ryan Gosling.

Dana Carvey, who starred on SNL for seven seasons, addressed Gardner’s exit on Wednesday’s episode of his Fly on the Wall podcast with David Spade.

“From what I know as of this recording, that it was not her idea to leave,” Carvey, 70, said. “I could be wrong about that, but that’s what I read.” Spade, 61, said he found the news “a little shocking,” while Carvey admitted he was “really surprised” to hear she was off the show.

“I think she’s got a likability,” he added. “She can play real, straight news woman, she can play big, brawn, funny, physical. So I was surprised by that.”

The New York Post confirmed Gardner’s exit on August 28 as part of a larger cast shake-up. Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker, and Emil Wakim also left, while five new cast members have since joined.

While Longfellow, Walker, and Wakim have all commented on their exits, Gardner has not publicly addressed her departure.