Heidi Gardner & Ego Nwodim Relect on Their SNL Experiences

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Before the start of its 51st season, the show saw several cast members leave, including Devon Walker, Emil Wakim, Michael Longfellow, and Heidi Gardner. Now that the season is underway, Gardner and Longfellow have spoken about their time working on the show.

During a recent appearance on Ego Nwodim’s podcast, Thanks Dad, former Saturday Night Live cast members Ego Nwodim and Kenan Thompson shared memories of their time on the show. They admitted that working on SNL could be difficult, but they also celebrated the strong friendship they built during their eight and seven seasons, respectively. Nwodim expressed her deep affection for Thompson, acknowledging him as a wonderful colleague and friend. Thompson reciprocated, praising their hard work and the ease with which their friendship blossomed.

During a conversation, Ego Nwodim remembered a time when she had two sketches accepted for the show while her colleague, Chloe Fineman, hadn’t had any sketches chosen. Nwodim recalled that even though Fineman was understandably upset, she still took the time to tell Nwodim she was happy for her. This likely stemmed from the fact that writers and cast members regularly pitch ideas for Saturday Night Live, and it’s common for not everyone to have their sketches selected. Fineman later admitted that everyone has an ego and naturally wants their own work to be successful, but opportunities for everyone to shine simultaneously were rare on the show.

As a big fan of everyone involved, it was really touching to hear Nicole Nwodim talk about her time with James Gardner. She said she always hoped they could all succeed together – a real team effort, where everyone could celebrate, not just a few while others felt left out. It’s easy to get caught up in your own world at SNL, worrying about what’s working and what isn’t, comparing yourself to others, and wishing you had what someone else does. But she specifically praised James, saying there was truly nobody like him. He was a bright spot in what can be a really tough environment, and he always approached things with kindness and positivity. She felt lucky to have worked alongside him and even more grateful to have gained a best friend from the experience. It just felt like a really genuine and heartwarming tribute.

Ego Nwodim & Heidi Gardner Were SNL Fan Favorites

This year, Sarah Sherman and James Austin Johnson were the longest-serving cast members to leave SNL. Both had spent nearly a decade creating popular sketches and characters, including the recurring “Domingo” series that started during the show’s fiftieth season. Recent viral sketches featuring either of them include one that unexpectedly led the audience to swear, prompting Johnson to joke, “Lorne gonna be mad at y’all!” As for Sherman, her uncontrollable laughter during the 2024 “Beavis and Butt-Head” sketch with Ryan Gosling and Mikey Day was a major reason it went viral.

Miles Teller will host the next episode of Saturday Night Live on November 1st. It’s the first episode of Season 51 and will air on NBC.

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2025-10-29 20:14