00:00After eight seasons, Heidi Gardner is reportedly not returning to Saturday Night Live, joining a growing list of cast departures ahead of season 51.
00:1350 years, Saturday Night Live's been on for 50 years.
00:20Season 50 wasn't just a milestone for the show, it was personal for Heidi Gardner, who became the longest tenured active female cast member.
00:30Where's the changing room for Shaboozie? Because I'm about to get laid.
00:34Variety confirmed her exit Thursday, a move that surprised many fans.
00:39But she's joined by many others. Why?
00:42In a rare interview with Puck News on August 22nd, creator Lorne Michaels hinted at a major cast shakeup in the coming weeks.
00:51Rise and grind, Shane, rise and grind.
00:54It's midnight, bro.
00:55On Monday, Devin Walker announced his exit after three seasons, sharing a carousel of photos and a note titled,
01:03Wait, did he quit or did he get fired?
01:06He wrote,
01:06To me, jobs in this industry feel like a bunch of little marriages.
01:10Some of them last a long time if we're lucky, but most of them are fleeting.
01:14He did not confirm if he was let go, but hinted at a sometimes toxic work environment.
01:20In his comments, Heidi Gardner wrote, I love you.
01:23And just two days later, comedian Emil Joaquim posted a similar goodbye after just one season.
01:30He wrote, I won't be returning to SNL next year.
01:33It was a gut punch of a call to get, but I'm so grateful for my time there.
01:37He was at Six Flags celebrating a friend's birthday when he got the news.
01:41Then Thursday, reports broke that Michael Longfellow is also out.
01:46He started in season 48 and had just been promoted to main cast for season 50, making his exit another surprise.
01:54Saturday Night Live's first transgender writer, Celeste Yim, also announced her departure, writing,
01:59After five seasons, I'm leaving my job at Saturday Night Live.
02:02It was also announced this week that writer Rosebud Baker would also be departing.
02:06Now, when Lorne Michaels spoke to Puck News about the shakeup, journalist Matthew Baloney said he asked about Stephen Colbert's recent firing at CBS,
02:15as well as political pressures from President Trump, with Michaels ultimately saying he just feels pressured to reinvent season 50.
02:23SNL returns on October 4th.
02:25With Straight Arrow news, I'm Kennedy Felton.
02:28Download our app or visit san.com for more.
02:30We'll see you next time.
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