Cecily Strong exits 'Saturday Night Live' amid her 11th season (2024)

"Saturday Night Live's" final show of 2022 doubled as a send-off for Cecily Strong, who exited amid her 11th season and as one of the longest-tenured female cast members.

The show announced her departure on Twitter ahead of Saturday's airing, stating, "Tonight we send off one of the best to ever do it. We'll miss you, Cecily!"

Amid speculation she would depart before the 48th season started in fall, Strong stayed on. Cohorts Kate McKinnon, Pete Davidson, Aidy Bryant, Kyle Mooney, Melissa Villaseñor left and made room for a wave of new hires and a year of rebuilding.

Strong started at the show in 2012 and quickly established herself as indispensable, co-anchoring "Weekend Update" for a brief time and gracing Studio 8H with impressions of Dianne Feinstein, Melania Trump, and news anchor Brooke Baldwin.

The secret to her impressions was stridency, achieved by amplifying voices and characters almost to the point of absurdity. Her skill was seen in her beloved impression of Fox News personality Jeanine Pirro, played as a wine-addicted blowhard who has a crush on former President Donald Trump.

The same touch was seen in Strong's recreations of Sofia Vergara, with an over-the-top accent and expansive gestures, and Marjorie Taylor Greene, played as a know-nothing whose voice was more assured than her facts.

Her original characters on the show included Cathy Anne, "Weekend Update" anchor Michael Che's chain-smoking neighbor, which she reprised Saturday in a goodbye sketch.

In the sketch's narrative, Cathy Anne is taking leave because she's headed to prison.

"Actually, I’m a little emo here tonight because truth is I’m here to say goodbye," Cathy Anne said.

She elaborated on what landed her behind bars — "the crimes I confessed to you here for the past seven years finally caught up with me."

But Cathy Anne wasn't too worried.

"I got friends on the inside," she said, as a picture of McKinnon and Bryant in orange jumpsuits appeared on screen. "They seem to be doing OK."

Strong's character couldn't leave without saying she spent "so many of the best moments of my life at this place, with these people, that I love so much."

Cecily Strong exits 'Saturday Night Live' amid her 11th season (1)

She performed in a final sketch set at a Radio Shack, where Kenan Thompson, tearing up, lamented the exit of Strong's character.

"She'd have a power and a joy to her performance that made you remember why you loved working at ... Radio Shack," he said.

The cast, including host Austin Butler, then sang Elvis Presley's rendition of "Blue Christmas."

Some of Strong's other notable characters included The Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started A Conversation With At A Party, a version of whom who everyone seems to know; Heather, the spot-on One-Dimensional Female Character from a Male-Driven Comedy; and Sharon, a staple of McKinnon's sketches about close encounters with space aliens that always end up being sexual.

Strong, 38, grew up in Oak Park, Illinois, as the product of divorced parents. She was kicked out of high school after marijuana was found in her backpack, Strong has said.

She ended up at famed Chicago theater and school of improvisation Second City, where she was an understudy at its Mainstage and member of its National Touring Company.

"SNL" creator Lorne Michaels has tapped Second City talent since the show's first season, and told the The New York Times last year that Strong was part of Chicago's strong tradition of producing outstanding comedy talent.

"Chicago looks at both coasts and isn’t terribly impressed," he said.

Strong arrived one season after McKinnon, another of the show's all-time greats, and the pair, joined by Bryant, took the baton from Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, who left the previous decade, to create one of "SNL"'s greatest eras, one often driven by the cast's women.

While Strong's characters were almost always loud and almost never ambiguous, she's described herself as shy and introverted, and her own personality seemed largely unseen until last year.

In her 2021 book, "This Will All Be Over Soon: A Memoir," Strong wrote about coming to terms with her cousin's death from brain cancer in early 2020, according to its summary.

The journal-style book pondered an unlikely relationship that started during the pandemic's darkest days of isolation in 2020. It was during this time she also grieved over the loss of "SNL" music producer Hal Willner, who died of complications related to the virus.

On Saturday, Strong appeared in the cold open as Kimberly Guilfoyle, Republican operative and fiancée of Donald Trump Jr. Piggybacking on former President Donald Trump's introduction Thursday of NFT trading cards of him in various, muscular and superhero-style poses, Guilfoyle hawked music.

"Now that’s what no one calls music!" the character proclaimed. "I guarantee, 'You’ll sleep in heavenly peace!'"

With her departure from “SNL,” Strong will have plenty of venues to continue to bring her comedy to life: She has worked in film (the “Ghostbusters” reboot in 2016), and in television outside sketch comedy (Apple TV+’s “Schmigadoon!” on which she’s credited as a producer).

“Saturday Night Live" and NBC News are all entities of NBCUniversal.

Dennis Romero

Dennis Romero is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.

Alex Lo

contributed

.

Cecily Strong exits 'Saturday Night Live' amid her 11th season (2024)

FAQs

Cecily Strong exits 'Saturday Night Live' amid her 11th season? ›

Strong's exit from "Saturday Night Live" after 11 seasons came as a surprise to the program's fans. Just hours before airing its latest episode, which featured "Elvis" star Austin Butler and Lizzo as the musical guest, on Saturday evening, NBC announced the news in an understated message shared on Twitter.

What episode did Cecily Strong leave SNL? ›

On last night's Christmas episode, Cecily Strong took her final bow as a cast member of the long-running sketch series, reviving her windbreaker warrior Cathy Anne while host Austin Butler serenaded her, in his best Elvis vibrato, with "Blue Christmas."

Did Cecily Strong come back? ›

Former “Saturday Night Live” cast member Cecily Strong made a surprise appearance at “SNL” dress rehearsal in her first return to the show since leaving at the end of 2022 — but was replaced in the actual show. Strong played the Rep.

Why did Cecily leave the weekend update? ›

Near the end of the hour-long talk, host Maron asks Strong why she left the segment, with the comic replying that she felt limited by the role. Weekend Update anchors typically don't appear in regular sketches, and Strong wanted to create more characters for the show to illustrate her whackier comedy sensibilities.

Who left the SNL cast? ›

Whatever happens with Michaels, the spring and summer of 2025 is expected to be another moment of transition for the show, drawing parallels to the post-pandemic changeover of 2022, which saw the departure of veterans McKinnon, Aidy Bryant, Pete Davidson and Kyle Mooney in the May Season 47 finale, followed by Cecily ...

What nationality is Cecily Strong? ›

Cecily Strong (born February 8, 1984) is an American actress and comedian. She is former a cast member of Saturday Night Live, joining the show in 2012, and left in December 2022. Springfield, Illinois, U.S.

Who is the longest tenured SNL cast member? ›

Kenan Thompson (/ˈkiːnən/; born May 10, 1978) is an American comedian and actor. He has been a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live since 2003, making him the longest-tenured cast member in the show's history.

Is Cecily Strong married? ›

Personal life. In March 2024, Strong revealed that she is engaged to her partner Jack.

Why did Kate Mckinnon leaving SNL? ›

“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.”

How much does Michael Che make on SNL? ›

He earns around $25,000/episode and is among the richest cast members on the show. Michael Che's net worth is alleged to be $10 million.

Who is the youngest cast member of SNL? ›

According to The Independent, when Anthony Michael Hall became an SNL regular in 1985, he set the record for the show's youngest cast member at just 17 years old.

Which cast members are not returning to SNL? ›

Stars Aidy Bryant, Kate McKinnon, Pete Davidson and Kyle Mooney departed SNL after the end of Season 47 in the spring. Earlier this month, it was announced three other cast members, Melissa Villaseñor, Alex Moffat and Aristotle Athiras were also leaving. And it was reported Monday that Chris Redd will not return.

Has anyone rejoined SNL? ›

Aside from hosting duties, which is how many successful SNL players have returned, a few returned to the cast after a break. Al Franken - he left with Lorne Michaels at the end of Season 5, returned for Season 11, and stuck around from Seasons 14 through 20.

Who was on SNL Season 48 episode 10? ›

Aubrey Plaza; Sam Smith

Fresh score. Host Aubrey Plaza; Sam Smith performs.

Who left SNL Season 38? ›

This was the final season for longtime cast members Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, and Jason Sudeikis. Armisen had been on the show for 11 seasons since 2002, Sudeikis had been on for nine since 2005, and Hader had been on for eight since 2005.

How long was Cecily Strong on weekend update? ›

1 season

Who is leaving SNL in 2024 season 49? ›

On August 1, 2024, it was announced that cast member Punkie Johnson would be departing the series, after four years.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Virgilio Hermann JD

Last Updated:

Views: 5787

Rating: 4 / 5 (41 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Virgilio Hermann JD

Birthday: 1997-12-21

Address: 6946 Schoen Cove, Sipesshire, MO 55944

Phone: +3763365785260

Job: Accounting Engineer

Hobby: Web surfing, Rafting, Dowsing, Stand-up comedy, Ghost hunting, Swimming, Amateur radio

Introduction: My name is Virgilio Hermann JD, I am a fine, gifted, beautiful, encouraging, kind, talented, zealous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.