In a dramatic revelation, comedian Dana Carvey opened up about the surprising shakeup at ‘Saturday Night Live’ during a recent episode of his podcast ‘Fly on the Wall’ with David Spade.

Carvey disclosed that it wasn’t Heidi Gardner’s choice to exit the beloved NBC sketch show. "From what I know as of this recording, it was not her idea to leave," he stated, adding cautiously, "I could be wrong about that, but that’s what I read."

David Spade, a former ‘SNL’ cast member, expressed his shock at the news, indicating that Gardner was a standout talent on the show. "She really is one of the core ones you know from that show and she always does a great job," he remarked.

Carvey, 70, echoed Spade's sentiments, saying, "I was really, really surprised. She’s got a likability. She can play real, straight news woman, she can play big, brawn, funny, physical." His surprise was compounded by the fact that Gardner has dedicated eight seasons to the series.

As confirmed on August 28, Gardner will not be returning for Season 51, marking an end to her tenure as the longest-serving woman on the show. Joining as a featured player in Season 43, she made her way to the main cast by 2019.

While Gardner hasn’t released a statement regarding her departure, several other cast members—Devon Walker, Emil Wakim, and Michael Longfellow—are also leaving the show, prompting the introduction of five new faces into the Season 51 lineup.

On the podcast, Carvey praised these outgoing talents, particularly highlighting Michael Longfellow. "He’s a really cool, interesting character," Carvey said, while also noting the charm of Emil Wakim, 27, saying, "They can’t have 100 cast members. I give them my props. I was there with all of them."

Carvey reminisced about his conversations with Walker, who had publicly branded the show as 'toxic' during his exit announcement. Carvey shared Walker's concerns about the emotional pressure of performing on ‘SNL,’ where infrequent airtime can lead to significant stress when the opportunity finally arrives.

In Carvey’s words, the experience can be "emotionally violent depending on where you are in the show, or it could be a magic ride." With Season 51 set to premiere on October 4, fans are left wondering what this new chapter will bring.