Chloe Fineman said she is still grappling with the “heartbreak” of recent cast changes at Saturday Night Live as the long-running sketch series prepares to open its 51st season on Oct. 4.
Speaking with EXTRA TV, the 37-year-old performer described the departures as “pretty wild” and said she had not “fully processed anything.” Fineman, who joined SNL in 2019 and is heading into her seventh year on the show, called the turnover “some shocking stuff” and added, “A little heartbreak, sadness. I haven’t fully processed anything, but I will say the show has such a turnover.”
The departures announced in recent days include Devon Walker, Emil Wakim, Michael Longfellow and Heidi Gardner. Gardner, 42, who first joined SNL as a featured player in Season 43, exited after eight years; an insider told the New York Post her contract was not renewed. Longfellow, 31, who joined in Season 48, published a farewell on Instagram saying he “will not be returning for a 4th season at SNL” and expressing gratitude to showrunner Lorne Michaels and colleagues.
Gardner had previously signaled she was feeling creative fatigue. On Craig Ferguson’s podcast Joy, she said she was experiencing “sketch fatigue, or idea fatigue,” noting that after years with the Groundlings and SNL she had “written a lot of sketches.” Walker, 34, shared his own reflection on Instagram, likening jobs in the entertainment industry to “a bunch of little marriages” — relationships that can be long or fleeting — and acknowledged the uncertain nature of such work.
Fans and peers took to social media after the shakeup news. One post on X read, “ohhh my boys @internetdevon @Longfellowww i wish you both nothing but the best.” Walker reposted the message and responded, “yall acting like we died lol we just getting different jobs.” Longfellow’s Instagram note thanked colleagues and family, writing, “It was the best three years of my life so far. I feel nothing but gratitude for the experience and everyone there. Lorne, you gave me the greatest job in the world and changed my life.”
As the show reshapes its cast, NBC announced last week that five new performers will debut for Season 51: Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Ben Marshall, Kam Patterson and Veronika Slowikowska. Slowikowska, 29, who is from Canada, posted on Instagram, “Dream come true 🥲 see you Saturdays @nbcsnl.”
Fineman noted that turnover is part of SNL’s long history, but the recent number of exits has been notable even to longer-serving cast members. Several of those departing had become familiar faces over multiple seasons; Gardner had been the longest-tenured woman on the show as of last season. The cast changes come as SNL prepares to return to live Saturday-night television with its new season and a mix of veterans and newcomers.
The 51st season’s premiere on Oct. 4 will be watched for how the reshaped ensemble integrates new talent and how remaining cast members, including Fineman, adapt to the roster changes. SNL has frequently adjusted its lineup over decades, and producers have routinely turned to fresh performers to renew the show’s comedic voices while longstanding players continue to anchor recurring characters and sketches.