Overview

• Michael Longfellow is leaving after three seasons, a move reported by multiple outlets as NBC and Longfellow have not clarified whether the exit was voluntary.
• Heidi Gardner is also departing after eight seasons, according to Variety and CNN, following a year in which she was the longest-tenured woman on the cast.
• Earlier in the week, Devon Walker and Emil Wakim revealed their exits on Instagram, with Walker describing parts of the job as “toxic” and Wakim calling the decision a “gut punch.”
• Writers Celeste Yim and Rosebud Baker are not returning for Season 51, extending the turnover beyond the on-air cast.
• Michaels recently said a shake-up was coming in a Puck interview; Longfellow reportedly screen-tested for the Weekend Update desk in May; James Austin Johnson is confirmed to return, and the new season premieres Oct. 4.