A dedicated Chiefs fan and SNL cast member, Heidi Gardner campaigned for years to get Travis Kelce to host Saturday Night Live. During a recent appearance on the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast, Gardner revealed that executive producer Lorne Michaels had one crucial requirement: Kelce needed to win a Super Bowl first.

Gardner's push to get Kelce on SNL began after working with him at the ESPYs, where she noticed his natural charm and comedy potential. "I had seen him do other little acting gigs and appearances, and I was like, 'He's funny, he's charming,'" she explained.

The persistence paid off when Kelce hosted SNL in March 2023, notably before his high-profile relationship with Taylor Swift began in September of that year. The episode became particularly memorable as Kelce participated in what Gardner claims was likely the first-ever SNL hosting pre-show tailgate, joining her family and friends in the dressing room for BBQ.

Gardner brought her Kansas City spirit to the occasion, organizing a proper tailgate celebration with her family and friends before the show. "All my family came in for the show, all my friends. I got BBQ," she shared, making it a uniquely Kansas City-style SNL experience.

The success of Gardner's long-term campaign demonstrated how persistence and timing could align perfectly, resulting in one of SNL's most distinctive hosting experiences, complete with a pre-show tailgate that broke from traditional hosting protocol.

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