Bowen Yang is addressing Heidi Gardner\u2019s surprising exit from \u201cSaturday Night Live.\u201d<\/p>\n
The comedian broke his silence on Gardner\u2019s sudden departure<\/a> during an episode of his\u00a0\u201cLas Culturistas\u201d<\/a>\u00a0podcast released Wednesday, Sept. 10.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are one of the greats,\u201d Yang, 34, said of his former \u201cSNL\u201d co-star. \u201cYou will go down in history.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSNL\u201d star Bowen Yang during the \u201cService Dogs\u201d sketch on May 10, 2025. Will Heath\/NBC via Getty Images<\/p>\n Heidi Gardner during the \u201cGame of Life\u201d sketch on April 7, 2018. NBCU Photo Bank\/NBCUniversal via Getty Images<\/p>\n The \u201cWicked\u201d actor, who joined the popular sketch comedy series<\/a> in 2019 during its 45th season, went on to remember some of his favorite moments with Gardner from the show, noting she always wrote the best sketches without anyone else\u2019s help.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s always a very, very vulnerable thing as a cast member to put only your name on it,\u201d Yang explained. \u201cBut anytime you saw just \u2018Gardner,\u2019 you knew you were in good hands. She would take it upon herself to write pieces for other cast.\u201d<\/p>\n One sketch in particular, Yang noted, was for Punkie Johnson before she left \u201cSNL\u201d in 2024<\/a>.<\/p>\n Fred Armisen, Bowen Yang and Heidi Gardner at the Television Academy in North Hollywood, Calif., on June 2, 2025. Todd Williamson\/NBC via Getty Images<\/p>\n Walton Goggins, Bowen Yang and Heidi Gardner during the \u201cService Dogs\u201d sketch on May 10, 2025. Will Heath\/NBC via Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cIt was one of the most beautiful, kindest gestures I\u2019ve ever seen at that show, and her heart was so big, and clearly so f \u2011 \u2011 king funny,\u201d he said of Gardner and the \u201cWeekend Update\u201d segment she penned for Johnson. \u201cA true anchor on that show.\u201d<\/p>\n The \u201cFire Island\u201d star also recalled how Gardner, 42, helped the \u201cSNL\u201d cast and crew when the Covid-19 pandemic upended Seasons 45 and 46.<\/p>\n \u201c[She was] one of the first people who was just like, \u2018Okay, just to get through this, let\u2019s just each wake up, no rush, there\u2019s no time limit \u2013 let\u2019s just each text each other every day, something that made us smile today,’\u201d he shared. <\/p>\n \u201cSNL\u201d stars Michael Che and Bowen Yang during the \u201cWeekend Update\u201d segment on April 12, 2025. Will Heath\/NBC via Getty Images<\/p>\n Michael Longfellow and Heidi Gardner during the \u201cEdible Arrangements\u201d sketch on Jan. 25, 2025. Holland Rainwater\/NBC via Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cAnd that was this foothold that I had emotionally in terms of knowing we were just sharing music,\u201d Yang added before calling Gardner a \u201ctruly beautiful person.\u201d<\/p>\n Elsewhere during the podcast episode, the \u201cWedding Banquet\u201d actor broke his silence on the other three \u201cSNL\u201d stars who, like Gardner, will not be returning to Studio 8H when Season 51 kicks off on Oct. 4.<\/p>\n Devon Walker, Emil Wakim and Michael Longfellow had announced their exits<\/a> shortly before The Post confirmed Gardner\u2019s departure last month.<\/p>\n Devon Walker at \u201cSNL50: The Anniversary Special\u201d in New York City on Feb. 16, 2025. Variety via Getty Images<\/p>\n Emil Wakim appears at \u201cSNL50: The Homecoming Concert\u201d in New York City on Feb. 14, 2025. Evan Agostini\/Invision\/AP<\/p>\n \u201cShout out Devon, Emil, Michael Longfellow,\u201d Yang said. \u201cThey were fantastic comedians going in. They are fantastic comedians coming out. Those are some A+ gems.\u201d<\/p>\n Yang then confirmed that he will be returning to 30 Rockefeller Plaza when the new season premieres next month.<\/p>\n \u201cI am thrilled to go back,\u201d he shared. \u201cI will miss the people who are not coming back very, very much.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael Longfellow attends \u201cSNL50: The Anniversary Special\u201d in New York City on Feb. 16, 2025. FilmMagic<\/p>\n Emil Wakim, Devon Walker and Michael Longfellow at the American Museum of Natural History\u2019s Museum Gala in New York City on Dec. 5, 2024. Evan Agostini\/Invision\/AP<\/p>\n The comedian is the first \u201cSNL\u201d cast member to address the exodus that occurred shortly after creator Lorne Michaels teased a cast shakeup<\/a> ahead of Season 51.<\/p>\n Walker, 34, was\u00a0the first to\u00a0announce his exit<\/a> after three seasons on the show. <\/p>\n \u201cMe and the show did three years together, and sometimes it was really cool,\u201d he shared on Instagram. \u201cSometimes it was toxic as hell. But we made the most of what it was, even amidst all of the dysfunction. We made a f \u2013 \u2013 ked up lil family.\u201d<\/p>\n Lorne Michaels behind the scenes of \u201cSNL\u201d during Season 42. NBCU Photo Bank\/NBCUniversal via Getty Images<\/p>\n Lorne Michaels at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Feb. 14, 2025. Jamie McCarthy\/Peacock<\/p>\n Wakim and Longfellow soon followed suit.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was the\u00a0most\u00a0terrifying, thrilling and rewarding experience<\/a>\u00a0of my life, and I will miss it dearly and all the brilliant people that work there that made it feel like a home,\u201d Wakim, 27,\u00a0announced in a post of his own.<\/p>\n \u201cWill not be returning for a 4th season at SNL,\u201d\u00a0Longfellow, 31,\u00a0added<\/a>. \u201cWish I was but, so it goes. It was the best three years of my life so far.\u201d<\/p>\n As for Gardner,\u00a0The Post confirmed\u00a0her exit after eight seasons.<\/p>\n Devon Walker during an episode of \u201cSNL\u201d on Oct. 1, 2022. Will Heath\/NBC via Getty Images<\/p>\n Former \u201cSNL\u201d star Emil Wakim during the \u201cLocal News Stories\u201d sketch on May 17, 2025. Will Heath\/NBC via Getty Images<\/p>\n Although she has not addressed her departure, an insider claimed her contract with \u201cSNL\u201d was not renewed.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s time for a new cast,\u201d the source shared.<\/p>\n