What was Kate McKinnon's original plan for her SNL farewell?

Kate McKinnon's original plan for her SNL farewell was to do a sketch where her character, Sheila Sovage, the barfly, would "tongue every single person in the cast in a line."

Why did Kate McKinnon ultimately not go with her original farewell plan?

Kate McKinnon ultimately decided not to go with her original "tongue-forward" farewell plan because she felt the alien-themed sketch she ended up doing was "a little more meaningful and had a better tone."

How long was Kate McKinnon on the SNL cast?

Kate McKinnon was on the SNL cast for a decade, setting the record for the longest-serving female cast member on the show.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / SNL Star Kate McKinnon's Surprising Farewell Plan Revealed

SNL Star Kate McKinnon's Surprising Farewell Plan Revealed

30 Oct, 2025

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Summary

Kate McKinnon pitched a "tongue-forward" farewell skit
She ultimately went with a more meaningful alien-themed sketch
McKinnon held the record for longest-serving female SNL cast member

SNL Star Kate McKinnon's Surprising Farewell Plan Revealed

In October 2025, former Saturday Night Live cast member Kate McKinnon opened up about her original plan for a memorable farewell when she exited the show in 2022 after a decade-long run. McKinnon explained that her initial pitch involved a character named Sheila Sovage, a barfly, who would have "tongued" every single cast member in a line. However, she ultimately decided to go with a more meaningful alien-themed sketch instead.

McKinnon, who held the record for the longest-serving female SNL cast member, described the experience of leaving the show as "very emotional," as it had been "everything" to her, and the cast members were "everything" to her. During her time on the show, McKinnon was known for her impressive impersonations of public figures like Hillary Clinton, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Kellyanne Conway, earning her nine Emmy nominations, two of which she won.