Actress and comedienne Cecily Strong has exited Saturday Night Live halfway through her 11th season on the NBC sketch comedy show. Strong’s departure was announced on Saturday Night Live’s official Twitter page hours before her final episode aired. The post read, “Tonight we send off one of the best to ever do it. We’ll miss you, Cecily!” Strong is the latest of many performers to leave SNL this year. Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant, Kyle Mooney, Pete Davidson, Alex Moffat, Melissa Villaseñor, and Aristotle Athari all departed the show in 2022. With tonight’s episode, Strong has surpassed McKinnon as the longest-running female cast member in SNL’s history.
Tonight we send off one of the best to ever do it. We'll miss you, Cecily! pic.twitter.com/zsoGfw8SdP
— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) December 18, 2022
Cecily Strong Leaves ‘SNL’ After Historic and Acclaimed Run
Cecily Strong joined Saturday Night Live as a featured player in September 2012. She became a preparatory player and a Weekend Update co-host the following season. She co-hosted Update with Colin Jost for one season before she was replaced with Michael Che at her request so she could perform regular sketches with the cast. Strong’s work on the show earned her two Emmy nominations.
Strong is known for being funny and for not steering away from controversy. Earlier this year, she garnered acclaim and backlash for a sketch she performed as Goober, the Clown, in which she tackled the subject of abortion. The sketch, which contained no notes, was based on Strong’s own story. She also performed as former Arizona gubernatorial candidate and 2020 election denier Kari Lake. Strong’s other impressions have included Melania Trump, Dianne Feinstein, Majorie Taylor Greene, Tulsi Gabbard, Alanis Morissette, Sofia Vergara, and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Cecily Strong’s final Saturday Night Live episode contained a couple of proper send-offs for the record-breaking performer. She made one last appearance on Weekend Update as her character Cathy Anne. Strong held back emotions before receiving a hug from Michael Che. The episode’s host, Elvis star Austin Butler, performed a rendition of “Blue Christmas” with Strong and her fellow SNL cast members. That moment can be viewed below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvTmjdhBRVs