Saturday Night Live has hosted a series of amazing female characters: Maya Rudolph, Amy Poehler, and Tina Fey, to name a few. Then… they left. It was great for their careers and our entertainment; we were blessed with hilarity in the comedic genius of movies like Bridesmaids, thought provoking sitcoms like 30 Rock, and the perfection of parody in pseudo-reality TV shows like Parks and Recreation. But that also entailed a dry spell for SNL female comedy. We waited for four long years after the departure of the last great female comedienne for a woman to enter with a bang. Suddenly, we were beholden to the artistry of Kate McKinnon. After joining in August of 2012, it was apparent that the next great woman of comedy had taken the stage. But that’s not even the best part—she’s also the first openly lesbian cast member in the show’s 45 seasons.
Before her big break on Logo’s Big Gay Sketch Show, McKinnon, like other great comics, was a member of the Upright Citizens Brigade in New York City. Upon joining SNL, she made a name for herself doing impressions and was featured in GQ’s 2014 list of 15 funniest people alive. Her list of awards includes Logo’s Best Rising Comic in 2009, the American Comedy Award for Best Supporting Actress, and a nomination for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, just to name a few.
Behold, Kate McKinnon’s top 10 SNL sketches and impressions:
10. Whiskers R We
9. Long Island Medium
8. Jeff Sessions Gump
7. Mermaids
6. Mother Knows Best
5. Sleepover
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4. Themyscira
3. Pantene Commerical with Sofia Vergara
2. Justin Bieber for Calvin Klein
1. Close Encounter
BONUS: Kate McKinnon’s Tribute to Ellen DeGeneres – 2020 Golden Globes
