As the iconic comedy show Saturday Night Live heads into its 51st season with some changes to its ensemble, Bowen Yang expresses his sentiments about a particular colleague he will miss.
Bowen Yang, a five-time Emmy nominee, recently expressed his admiration for Heidi Gardner, calling her “a true cornerstone of the series” during an episode of his podcast Las Culturistas. This came after the announcement last month that she would be leaving the show after eight seasons.
“Heidi’s talent is undeniable. She will be remembered as one of the legends of the show,” he remarked, highlighting her role as a dependable sketch writer.
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“Putting your name alone on a piece is always an incredibly vulnerable move as a cast member,” Yang continued. “But when you saw ‘Gardner’ as the sole writer, you knew the sketch was in capable hands. She often took the initiative to write sketches for her fellow cast members.”
Yang fondly recalled a ‘Weekend Update’ sketch Gardner crafted for former member Punkie Johnson, describing it as “one of the most beautiful, kindest actions I’ve witnessed on the show. Her heart was enormous, and her humor was brilliantly sharp.”
NBC
Yang also acknowledged Gardner’s role in helping the cast navigate the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting they “just text each other every day something that brought a smile to our faces,” and he described her as “a truly wonderful person.”
His remarks followed the recently announced departures of cast members Devon Walker, Emil Wakim, and Michael Longfellow, along with writers Rosebud Baker and Celeste Yim.
“Shout out to Devon, Emil, and Michael Longfellow,” Yang added. “They came in as fantastic comedians and they leave as such. Truly top-notch talents.”
Following confirmation of his return for a seventh season, Yang expressed, “I’m excited to return. I will deeply miss those who aren’t coming back.”
The 50th season finale, SNL50, aired in May without any cast farewells. However, last month Lorne Michaels announced plans to “shake things up” with the cast for the upcoming season.
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