(NewsNation) — Former “Saturday Night Live” stars Ego Nwodim and Heidi Gardner are opening up about their time on set before their surprising exits.
On a recent episode of her podcast “Thanks Dad,” Nwodim revealed “SNL” was “not the easiest place to work” while calling Gardner “such a light in what can be such a challenging place.”
“In a place where it can get so competitive and you can become so self-involved, if you can leave and be still remarkably lovely and such a light and still pouring into other people like you, I think you succeeded.”
Gardner added it was difficult for them to work on their friendship while being in such a competitive space.
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SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE — “FYC 2025 Event” — Pictured: (l-r) Heidi Gardner, Ego Nwodim at The Television Academy in North Hollywood, CA on June 2, 2025 — (Photo by: Todd Williamson/NBC via Getty Images) -
SNL50: THE ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL — Pictured: (l-r) Sarah Sherman, Heidi Gardner, Sabrina Carpenter as Sophie, and Ego Nwodim during the “Domingo: Vow Renewal” sketch on February 16, 2025 — (Photo by: Theo Wargo/NBC via Getty Images)
“We’re humans, so we have egos, we want things for ourselves, we want to succeed, and there weren’t a lot of times when we were able to succeed in the way we wanted at the exact same time,” she said.
Nwodim said she was grateful that she and Gardner were able to get close quickly, despite the intensity on set.
“I remember so many times being like, why can’t we be able to be winning together at the same time, so it could feel like full celebration and not one of us mourning or frustrated and one of us like on cloud nine.”
Ego Nwodim, Heidi Gardner and more exit ‘SNL”
In September, it was revealed that both Nwodim and Gardner would be leaving the show after seven and eight seasons, respectively.
“The hardest part of a great party is knowing when to say goodnight,” Nwodim wrote in an Instagram story on Sept. 12.
“But after seven unforgettable seasons, I have decided to leave SNL. I am immensely grateful to Lorne for the opportunity, to my castmates, the writers, and the crew for their brilliance, support, and friendship,” she said.
As for Gardner, her contract wasn’t renewed for the show’s 51st season.
“SNL” chief Lorne Michaels revealed this summer that there would be a cast shake-up ahead of the show’s October premiere.
Comedians Devon Walker, Emil Wakim and Michael Longfellow were let go from the sketch comedy show.
However, staples such as Keenan Thompson — “SNL’s” longest running cast member — have returned, as well as Bowen Yang, Colin Jost and Michael Che.
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