Advertisement
In a sign that the departing Saturday Night Live stars might return to their biggest hits when they step out the door, there was a wild farewell for at least two of them at this week’s Cold Open. For Kate McKinnon, that meant her fan-favorite alien abductor Ms. Rafferty, who once again shared a totally inappropriate experience with NSA officers played by Aidy Bryant and Mikey Day.
After McKinnon presented her experience, McKinnon made her way to space as Ms. Rafferty after saying one last goodbye. This was clearly a farewell to McKinnon as well. “I kind of felt like an alien on this planet,” the character said. “Well Earth, I love you, thank you for letting me stay a while. Live from New York, it’s Saturday night!”
The clip began with Bryant and Day and continued applause – clearly aimed at Bryant, who also departs after this episode.
McKinnon has played Ms. Rafferty in several episodes over the years, usually making the guest presenters laugh – like Ryan Gosling did in 2015. Here is open on Saturday nights:
Thank you Mrs Rafferty #SNLfinal pic.twitter.com/eJ7YaonB4U
– Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) May 22, 2022
Russian Doll star Natasha Lyonne has been selected to host the season finale of Saturday Night Live on May 21, marking her debut as a host.
“I have a show called ‘Russian Doll,’ the second season of ‘Russian Doll,’ which just premiered on Netflix,” she said. “And two things you definitely want to be associated with right now are Russia and Netflix! It’s my first time hosting and I’m really honored to be here. The truth is that I feel a cosmic connection with SNL. The people here, my real family of choice. I’ve been coming here since I was a teenager.”
Lyonne was then joined on stage by Fred Armisen and Maya Rudolph.
“Freddy and I were together for seven years. We had the only sex tape nobody wanted to buy,” she quipped.
Lyonne then opened up about her career path: “My parents have this big idea that I have a future in show business,” she said. “So I start auditioning. It turns out a lot of casting directors are looking for a ‘Little Orphan Annie’ guy who speaks like Deedee Ramone.”
She then presented one of her first performances as a child, “Pee-wee’s Playhouse.”
“I do some TV, my mom and I moved to the Upper East Side. All of a sudden I’m at the movies, oh, and all these ’90s movies – American Pie, American Pie 2, American Pie: The Multiverse of Madness. The cult favorite “But I’m a Cheerleader”. Things are going great and then knock knock. Who’s there? Multiple arrests and drug addiction! Oh yes I went to hell and back. life was hard But just like when Fabio was on that coaster and a bird flew in his face – and we have a photo of it – I brushed myself off and got back on the ride.
“But I’m here and I’ll tell you what I found. There is always hope and despair. And there’s always a reason to get back in the ring and fight another day.” Watch Lyonne’s monologue here:
Natasha Lyonne’s monologue! #SNLfinal pic.twitter.com/hehBSls4oA
– Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) May 22, 2022
Japanese Breakfast, the indie rock moniker Michelle Zauner uses, was scheduled to serve as a musical guest in the finale.
Prior to the episode, it was revealed (as first reported by Variety) that Pete Davidson, Aidy Bryant, Kate McKinnon, and Kyle Mooney were all scheduled to leave “SNL” after this season 47 finale.
On Saturday, Davidson wrote a goodbye message via Instagram to pal and Saturday Night Live writer Dave Sirus. “It’s crazy to think that today I’m going to do my last,” he said. “I have so much to share with this audience and literally grow up before your eyes. We’ve been through the good times and the bad, the happiest times and the darkest together. I owe my life to Lorne Michaels and everyone at SNL.” (Read the full text here.)
Lyonne is the co-creator, executive producer, director and star of the comedy-drama series Russian Doll, which premiered its second season on April 20 on Netflix. In Season 2, Nadia (Lyonne) and Alan (Charlie Barnett) are transported into different versions of the past in the process, forced to understand their family histories.
Lyonne will also star and executive produce Poker Face, an upcoming mystery drama created by Rian Johnson for Peacock. This is also the first time Japanese Breakfast has appeared on SNL. She is currently on a North American tour in support of her album Jubilee, which was released last June.
Selena Gomez made her debut as a presenter last week. Previous hosts of Saturday Night Live this season have included Lizzo, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jerrod Carmichael, Zoe Kravitz, Oscar Isaac, John Mulaney, Willem Dafoe and Will Forte.
