Heidi Gardner and Michael Longfellow are leaving "Saturday Night Live," marking significant cast changes ahead of the show's 51st season. Gardner's exit comes after eight seasons, during which she became known for her quirky characters, including Angel, "every boxer’s girlfriend from every movie about boxing ever." Longfellow, who joined the cast three seasons ago, is also part of this week's departures.

The news follows the announcements of two other cast members leaving the show. Devon Walker shared his departure on Instagram, describing the work environment as "toxic as hell." He compared his time on the show to a "little marriage," stating, "Me and the show did three years together, and sometimes it was really cool." Emil Wakim also announced his exit via Instagram, expressing gratitude for his time on the show despite it being a "gut punch of a call to get." Wakim was with "SNL" for one season.

Gardner, who was the longest-tenured female cast member last season, joined the show in Season 43 and became a main cast member in 2019. Her notable characters on "Weekend Update" included Bailey Gismert, a teen movie critic, and several others that resonated with audiences. In addition to her work on "SNL," Gardner has appeared in projects like the series "Shrinking" and the film "Hustle."

The departures come as "SNL" creator Lorne Michaels hinted at major changes for the upcoming season. New cast members are expected to be announced soon. The 51st season of "Saturday Night Live" is set to premiere on October 4.