Bowen Yang publicly praised longtime Saturday Night Live cast member Heidi Gardner after her exit from the show, calling her “one of the greats” and reflecting on her eight-season run as the program prepares for a broad cast reshuffle.
Yang, 34, made the remarks Tuesday on his podcast Las Culturistas, which he co-hosts with Matt Rogers, following reports that NBC would not renew Gardner’s contract for season 51. Yang said Gardner was a rare cast member who could write sketches on her own and that her work and generosity made her an "anchor" on the show.
"You are one of the greats. You will go down in history," Yang said, praising Gardner’s instinct for character work and her willingness to take on pieces that carried only her name. He recalled Gardner sending daily messages to colleagues during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and described instances in which she wrote sketches to help uplift fellow cast members.
Gardner, 42, joined SNL in 2017 as a featured player and was promoted to the main cast two years later. She became known for recurring characters, including teen movie critic Bailey Gismert on Weekend Update, and for impersonations of public figures such as Reba McEntire and Kim Kardashian. Reports citing a source for The New York Post indicated the show opted not to renew Gardner’s contract; representatives for NBC and Gardner did not immediately comment to media outlets.
Yang said he would miss colleagues who are not returning but added that he was "thrilled to go back" to SNL despite the abruptness of the departures. His comments came as the show confirmed a slate of changes ahead of its fall premiere.
The exits extend beyond Gardner. Recent reporting and cast members’ own announcements confirmed that Devon Walker, Michael Longfellow and Emil Wakim will not return for season 51, and a member of the comedy group Please Don't Destroy, John Higgins, was also reported to be leaving. Wakim, who joined the show for its 50th season, posted on Instagram that he "won't be returning to SNL next year" and called his time there "the most terrifying, thrilling, and rewarding experience" of his life. Walker announced his departure on Instagram after three seasons and described his tenure as intermittently "toxic" while also calling the experience meaningful.
Longfellow, who had been part of the cast for three seasons, was also reported to be exiting. The departures follow comments by show creator and longtime producer Lorne Michaels, who had signaled a "significant shake-up" in the cast ahead of season 51.
SNL recently announced the addition of five new cast members as part of its ongoing efforts to refresh the ensemble. The show is scheduled to return for Season 51 on Saturday, Oct. 4, at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
Yang’s remarks reflected both praise for Gardner’s work and an acknowledgement of the emotional toll of sudden departures. He highlighted her ability to carry material alone and her role as a supportive presence in the cast, while noting the difficulty of watching colleagues leave. The changes mark one of the more substantial turnovers in recent seasons for the long-running sketch series, which has seen a mix of veteran retainers and newer players depart or be added as it enters its 51st year.