<\/p>\n
\u201cSaturday Night Live\u201d is saying goodbye to a longtime cast member.<\/p>\n
Heidi Gardner<\/b>, who joined the show for season 43 in 2017, will not return for season 51, NJ.com can confirm.<\/p>\n
Gardner, 42, was a fixture on the show, appearing in more season 50 sketches than any other cast member, according to Variety<\/a>.<\/p>\n Some fans guessed that Gardner might be gearing up to leave \u201cSNL\u201d based on comments she made during an interview with Craig Ferguson<\/a> earlier this year.<\/p>\n \u201cI will say, the only thing that I\u2019ve started to feel a little bit is just sketch fatigue, or idea fatigue,\u201d she said. \u201cIt does happen some weeks where I\u2019m like \u2018I do not have an idea for a sketch, a game, or a character.\u2019 \u2026 That\u2019s the only thing that has gotten a little tough.\u201d<\/p>\n Gardner was the fourth \u201cSNL\u201d cast departure announced this week. While Gardner hasn\u2019t yet addressed her exit, her castmates Devon Walker<\/b>, Emil Wakim<\/b>, and Michael Longfellow<\/b> have all spoken out via Instagram.<\/p>\n Walker, who has been on \u201cSNL\u201d since 2022, assured fans via his Instagram story that the news is \u201cgood news\u201d for his career<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was just time for me to do something different,\u201d he wrote. \u201cPlease don\u2019t be hitting me with the \u2018i\u2019m so sorry\u2019 we not on that AT ALL. Sometimes mom and dad just don\u2019t see things eye to eye.\u201d<\/p>\n Longfellow, who joined the cast the same year as Walker, and Wakim, who was new for season 50, both seemed more somber in their statements.<\/p>\n READ MORE: <\/b>How to get \u2018SNL\u2019 tickets for season 51<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI won\u2019t be returning to snl next year. it was a gut punch of a call<\/a> to get but i\u2019m so grateful for my time there,\u201d Wakim wrote<\/a>.<\/p>\n Longfellow\u2019s statement<\/a> began: \u201cWill not be returning for a 4th season at SNL. Wish I was but, so it goes. It was the best three years of my life so far. I feel nothing but gratitude for the experience and everyone there. [\u2018SNL\u2019 creator] Lorne [Michaels], you gave me the greatest job in the world and changed my life. You even put my mom on TV. Thank you doesnt begin to cover it, but thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n Season 51 of \u201cSaturday Night Live\u201d premieres on NBC on Saturday, October 4. Past episodes are<\/b><\/i> available to stream on Peacock<\/b><\/i><\/a>.<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to <\/i>NJ.com<\/i><\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n Have a tip? Tell us at <\/i>nj.com\/tips\/<\/i><\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n