Longtime cast members Pete Davidson, Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant and Kyle Mooney officially departed Saturday Night Live during Saturday’s Season 47 finale. ‘Russian Doll’ actress Natasha Lyonne hosted the episode.
Davidson confirmed his exit during the “Weekend Update” segment; he recalled that when he auditioned for ‘SNL’ nearly a decade ago, Michaels told him he didn’t think he was right for the show, but added, “Let’s screw this up together. And that’s exactly what we did and that’s why people who don’t think I deserve this job shouldn’t hate since we have so much in common. If anything, I should inspire hope that literally anyone can be on ‘Saturday Night Live.’ Seriously, you see a guy bumming cigarettes outside of a 7-11 at 2 a.m., that’s not some meth head — that’s the next Pete Davidson.” He thanked Michaels, the cast and crew for giving him a home for eight years as well as a lifetime of memories: “I appreciate SNL always having my back and allowing me to work on myself and grow,” he added.
McKinnon revived her character Coleen Rafferty, who gets abducted and abused by space aliens, then thrown back to Earth for her final episode’s cold open. The sketch ended with Coleen getting on a spaceship after government officials trade her for cutting-edge alien technology. McKinnon says as she fights back tears: “Well, Earth, I love you. Thanks for letting me stay awhile. Live from New York, it’s Saturday night.” Bryant again played her no-nonsense U.S. Pentagon interviewer, who tries not to laugh at Rafferty’s descriptions of her ordeal.
McKinnon was on the show for 11 years and Bryant for 10. Mooney, who was on the show for nine years, was seen hugging McKinnon at the end of the show when the cast gathered on stage.
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