Behind the Laughter: Ego Nwodim and Heidi Gardner Reflect on SNL’s Challenges

By Zoe Papadakis | Wednesday, 29 October 2025 01:03 PM EDT

Former “Saturday Night Live” castmates Ego Nwodim and Heidi Gardner have shared their experiences working on the NBC comedy sketch series, describing it as “not the easiest place to work.” The two reunited on Nwodim’s “Thanks Dad” podcast, where they discussed their time at SNL, their friendship, and the intense pressure of the show.

Nwodim, who left the program in September after seven seasons, emphasized the challenges of balancing creativity with competitiveness. “The sketches come, they go, they’re really fun. They can be hard, they can be things you’re not into,” she said. She praised Gardner for embodying a “light” in the demanding environment.

Gardner, who exited in August after eight seasons, echoed Nwodim’s sentiments, noting the difficulty of maintaining friendship amid rivalry. “We’re humans, so we have egos, we want things for ourselves,” she said. She also highlighted Nwodim’s viral “Miss Eggy” moment on “Weekend Update,” calling it a defining success.

Both expressed gratitude for their time on SNL, acknowledging the lessons learned and the support from colleagues. Nwodim described her departure as bittersweet, while Gardner reflected on the impact of their shared journey.

Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment.