After being a regular on “Saturday Night Live” for the past eight seasons, actress-comedian Heidi Gardner will not be seen on Season 51.
According to reports, Heidi’s contract has not been renewed. “It’s time for a new cast,” an insider told a media outlet.
The development comes amid a major rejig at the NBC sketch comedy series. Earlier this week, Michael Longfellow, Emil Wakim and Devon Walker exited the show just ahead of Season 51.
The makers of the series have announced five new cast members — Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Ben Marshall, Kam Patterson and Veronika Slowikowska.
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Gardner, 42, was the longest-serving female cast member of the series before her shocking exit. Her viral moments over the years include her cracking during a Ryan Gosling “Beavis and Butt-Head” sketch and playing Travis Kelce’s ex-girlfriend, “Abby.”
Her popular recurring characters on the show included Angel (every boxer’s girlfriend) and Gen Z movie critic Bailey Gismert.
Apart from “SNL,” Gardner has featured in “Shrinking” with Jason Segel, and in basketball movie “Hustle” with Adam Sandler.