FINALE FAREWELL?
KATE McKinnon has become one of the top female comedians since joining Saturday Night Live, but she's officially had her final curtain call.
McKinnon joined SNL in 2012 for season 38 alongside Cecily Strong and Aidy Bryant but said goodbye in 2021.
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Is Kate McKinnon leaving SNL?
Replacing the usual cold open sketch, the cast opened the season finale in May 2021 reflecting on the "crazy" past year in, What I remember about this year.
McKinnon stood on stage with Strong, Bryant, and Kenan Thompson as she tearfully recounted, “This was the year we realized we’re more than just a cast, we’re a family."
McKinnon's emotional moment sparked rumors that she may be leaving the show, which were quickly proven true.
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In July 2022, the two-time Emmy winner opened up about her decision to leave during an appearance on Live With Kelly and Ryan.
"I thought about [leaving] for a very long time, and it was very, very hard," McKinnon recalled, via .
“All I ever wanted to do in my whole life was be on Saturday Night Live. So, I did, I loved it, I had the best decade, and then I was just like, ‘My body was tired,’ and I felt like it was time.”
When asked if she would return for the upcoming season, she replied: "I don’t know what I’ll do. I don’t know if I can watch the show yet. It’s just too emo because I miss everyone so much. I mean, it’s my other family…. I think I’m just going to tape The Bachelorette and watch that instead."
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While on SNL, she was known for her celebrity impressions, and famously portrayed the likes of Justin Bieber, Hillary Clinton, Ellen DeGeneres, and Anthony Fauci.
What has Kate McKinnon done outside of SNL?
Since starting at SNL, McKinnon has risen to fame as one of the top female comedians in the industry and has made her way to some more serious roles.
McKinnon has stayed very active during her time on the show while starring in several Hollywood blockbusters.
One of her biggest roles was Dr. Jillian Holtzmann in the female-led 2016 Ghostbusters film alongside fellow SNL stars and alumni Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, and Leslie Jones.
That same year she starred in the R-rated comedy Office Party, and she went on to play Mila Kunis' comedic best friend in the 2018 comedy The Spy Who Dumped Me.
Showing off her acting chops outside of comedy in 2019, McKinnon played the intense music producer in the romantic comedy Yesterday and the closeted lesbian in the biographical drama Bombshell.
She also had several voice-overs gigs in popular shows such as The Magic School Bus, Nature Cat, The Simpsons, and Family Guy.
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Who else left SNL?
Along with McKinnon, SNL fans had to say goodbye to Strong and Pete Davidson.
During the season finale, Strong brought back her popular impression of Judge Jeanine Pirro and belted out "My Way" during the Weekend Update.
Davidson also seemed to bid the show farewell during the Weekend Update when he thanked viewers saying: "It has been an honor to grow up in front of you guys."
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Strong joined the cast on SNL with McKinnon in 2012 for season 38.
Davidson joined the show two years later in 2014 as one of the youngest cast members in the show's history.
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