Saturday Night Live season 50 only just ended, but that doesn't mean speculation is already in full swing for season 51. Cast member Heidi Gardner just dropped a major hint about her SNL future.
Gardner was among the names rumored to leave Studio 8H after season 50 wrapped. She's one of the longest-tenured cast members and admitted to feeling "sketch fatigue" over the past couple of seasons. However, nothing official either way was made public following the season 50 finale.
But a charity auction could be the key to confirming Gardner's future. The Kanas City native works with the Big Slick. The annual charity event brings together some of the biggest names in entertainment to raise money for Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City.
The 2025 event is this weekend and features a silent auction. Among the prizes on the website is the chance to attend a future episode of Saturday Night Live as Heidi Gardner's guest. The two winners will also join Gardner at an SNL after-party.
The prize would suggest Gardner will be back on Saturday Night Live for season 51 in 2025-2026. While the auction reward could easily transfer to another cast member willing to participate, it seems pretty clear that Gardner plans to return to the show that made her famous.
While not every SNL cast member gets a big sendoff at the end of a season, Gardner deserves some special recognition. Perhaps there was already too much going on during season 50 that Gardner didn't want, or expect, any extra attention. Or maybe she's recovered from "sketch fatigue" and feels like she has more to do at Saturday Night Live.