As Saturday Night Live nears the end of its summer vacation, a slew of beloved cast members say they've already taken their final bows ahead of the show's 51st season.

Performers Michael Longfellow, Devon Walker and Emil Wakim, as well as writer Celeste Yim, announced their departures on social media. Variety , The Hollywood Reporter and other outlets confirmed that Heidi Gardner is leaving the show after eight seasons.

It is customary for cast members to announce their exit when a season ends in the spring or before a new one begins in the fall. The show's much-hyped 50th season — celebrated with a series of star-studded events, from a homecoming concert to a prime-time special — ended with plenty of fan speculation but no explicit cast announcements.

SNL creator and produc

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