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20 Kate McKinnon SNL Sketches That Belong in the Comedy History Books
Paranormal close encounters, killer impressions, and physical comedy: No wonder Seth Meyers says "nobody did it better" than Kate McKinnon.
The Season 47 finale of Saturday Night Live was bittersweet—because it was Kate McKinnon's last SNL episode as a long-running cast member. The comedian and Barbie actress joined the cast midway through Season 37 in 2012, and over the course of 11 seasons in 10 years, McKinnon truly delivered. From her face-contorting impressions of political figures like Hillary Clinton, Rudy Giuliani, and Kellyanne Conway to a way of delivering lines that made Hosts and cast members break into laughter, McKinnon proved her singular talent in Studio 8H every week.
The SNL MVP left the building in 2022. On December 16, 2023, Kate McKinnon will host SNL for her first time—a feat she told Seth Meyers is blowing her mind, even after all of her success on the program.
"It's something I always wanted to do," McKinnon said. "The dream was to be on the show, and the exponential dream was to host the show—which is like, beyond the imagination."
Ahead of McKinnon's hosting debut, Meyers told his fellow SNL alum, "I'm so jealous of everybody who works on that show—that they get to get one more week with Kate McKinnon, because nobody did it better."
Below, revisit some of Kate McKinnon's greatest SNL moments.
Kate McKinnon's political impressions, from Hillary Clinton to Rudy Giuliani
McKinnon has played countless political characters, expertly imitating their mannerisms while staying focused on the funny. Some of her most memorable impressions include German Chancellor Angela Merkel, former Mayor turned indictee Rudy Giuliani, and Hillary Clinton.
Summertime Cold Open
Michigan Hearings Cold Open
Weekend Update: Angela Merkel on Donald Trump
Jeff Sessions Gump Cold Open
Kate McKinnon makes everyone break
SNL Hosts have the challenging task of not busting out in laughter while performing live with some of the best working comedians. McKinnon made that task even more difficult. Exhibit A: The "Close Encounter" sketches with Host Ryan Gosling.
Close Encounter
Another Close Encounter
A Journey Through Time
Final Encounter
Christmas Miracle
Hotel Ad with Billie Eilish
Weekend Update: Olya Povlatsky
Kate McKinnon's celebrity impressions are A+
McKinnon's tackled numerous Hollywood names like Jodie Foster, Ellen DeGeneres, and Justin Bieber during her time on the show.
Kate McKinnon as Justin Bieber
Kate McKinnon as Jodie Foster
Kate McKinnon as Ellen DeGeneres
Kate McKinnon as Long Island Medium's Theresa Caputo
Kate McKinnon as RBG
Cat ladies, Kellyanne Conway, and alien abductions: Kate McKinnon shines as a recurring character on SNL
With standouts like the "Whiskers R' We" sketches, saucy "Paranormal Encounter" bits, and her Kellyanne Conway impression, SNL fans lived for McKinnon's recurring characters.
Revisit all your favorite McKinnon sketches by streaming episodes of SNL on Peacock.
Originally published Jun 16, 2022.
