Kate McKinnon Says She 'Refused to Dance' Before Playing Ellen DeGeneres on 'SNL' - Watch

Pink is reflecting on her decades-long friendship with Ellen DeGeneres.

Ellen DeGeneres bid farewell to her eponymous daytime talk show after 19 seasons, her wife, Portia de Rossi, took the opportunity to share what the longtime talk show host has meant to her, anointing her an «icon» and «idol.»De Rossi took to Instagram on Thursday and shared a photo slideshow that included DeGeneres on the iconic  magazine cover in April 1997 with the headline that read, «Yep, I'm Gay.» Some of the other pics were throwbacks to the comedian hanging out with Oprah Winfrey, R&B singer Usher and one of her first appearances on .«To my utterly beautiful, supremely talented, insanely accomplished wife on the day of your final show,» de Rossi started her caption. «I married an icon.

Ellen DeGeneres signed off from her eponymous talk show for the last time on Thursday.'s final episode kicked off with the opening from her very first show, back in September 2003, before flashing back through the openings from all 19 seasons.DeGeneres was clearly emotional as she walked on set for the last time, as were her friends, family and fans in the crowd — including wife Portia de Rossi, who could be seen tearing up even before the host began her monologue.A source told ET of the milestone, «Ellen's last show was emotional for her. It feels like an end of an era, but she is ready for the next chapter of her life.

shed more than a few tears leading up to the final episode of her eponymous talk show.But her last dance on Thursday, May 26, will be an especially “emotional” one, an insider who was at the taping has told The Post.In her remaining weeks after nearly two decades on air, she’s welcomed some final face time with a procession of A-list guests including Oprah Winfrey, Justin Timberlake, just-anointed “Saturday Night Live” alum Kate McKinnon, Michelle Obama, Sean “Diddy” Combs, potty-mouthed Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Kevin Hart, Chelsea Handler and Michael B. Jordan, among others.But the show source said her tears have been “happy” ones untinged by bitterness or regret, despite the heavy cloud hanging over her since allegations of a “toxic” work environment first cast a pall over her “be kind” brand.

Kate McKinnonThe versatile impressionist’s “Tiger King”-inspired limited series “Joe and Carole,” in which she played Carole Baskin, debuted on Peacock in March. She’s currently filming Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” movie and voices Lulu, a hairless guinea pig, in “DC’s League of Super-Pets,” which hits theaters July 29.Pete DavidsonHis A24 horror film “Bodies, Bodies, Bodies” opens on August 5 and and he’s filming the retirement home thriller “The Home” from “The Purge” director James DeMonaco. He just signed to star opposite Naomi Scott in David Michôd’s “Wizards!” for A24 and Plan B.

Four stars of Saturday Night Live just enjoyed the final episode of their final season on the late-night show — and they got a touching send-off for the finisher!

her final appearance as a regular cast member, “SNL” opened with a cold open sketch featuring Rafferty once again escalating how gross and explicit she gets describing what happened to her. And yes, as always it was hilarious.In this installment, the government agents questioning abductees were once again played by Aidy Bryant and Mikey Day, while McKinnon’s fellow abductees were once again played by Cecily Strong and the show’s host, in this case Natasha Lyonee.As always, they joke is that two of the alien abductees had a remarkably easy time during their abductions, with the experience being either fun or just spiritually profound.

Her swan song! After it was announced that Kate McKinnon would depart Saturday Night Live after 10 years, her final cold open sketch brought plenty of nostalgia and emotions.

After it was announced that Kate McKinnon is one of several longtime cast members leaving “Saturday Night Live”, fans were anticipating some truly memorable sign-offs — and they got it right off the bat with a special “Cold Open” sketch.

#SNLFinale pic.twitter.com/7yOZJJSdloDavidson, who has rarely appeared on the show in recent months, said when he started on “SNL” people thought he was racially ambiguous.“Now everyone knows I’m white because I became hugely successful while barely showing up to work,” he cracked.Davidson gave a shoutout to Executive Producer Lorne Michaels, who took a chance on hiring the comic when he was just 21.“He led us through the COVID-era, even though the only time he wears a mask is at his ‘Eyes Wide Shut’ parties,” Davidson joked.“Thank you for believing in me and allowing me to have a place that I can call home, with memories that will last a lifetime. So thank you guys,” he said earnestly to the cast and crew.Lyonne’s monologue played up her “real New Yorker” status, and brought out her friends and former “SNL” cast members Fred Armisen and Maya Rudolph, who did impressions of the “Orange is the New Black” star.“‘SNL’ combines everything I like.

Saturday Night Live bid farewell to four veteran cast members tonight, Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant, Pete Davidson and Kyle Mooney. McKinnon, Bryant and Davidson, who have all become household names since SNL launched their careers, all got individual sendoffs with some of their most popular recurring skits. Mooney, who has spent most of his time on the show as a valuable but underrated performer, made an understated — yet dramatic — exit.

NEW YORK -- Kate McKinnon and Pete Davidson are among those departing from “Saturday Night Live," leaving the sketch institution without arguably its two most famous names after Saturday's 47th season finale.Aidy Bryant and Kyle Mooney will also leave the cast after the episode hosted by Natasha Lyonne.The departures represent one of the biggest cast shake-ups in years on a show that has seen unusual steadiness in recent seasons.McKinnon, 38, won two Emmys and was nominated for nine in her 10 seasons on the show, during which her impressions included Hillary Clinton, and former Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Her comic chops with characters like alien abductee Miss Rafferty frequently drove castmates and guest hosts to lose it live on air.McKinnon opened the show with an out-of-this-world skit, and said her final goodbyes on “Earth.”“I love ya, thanks for letting me stay awhile.

Kate McKinnon is one of several longtime cast members leaving, fans were anticipating some truly memorable sign-offs -- and they got it right off the bat with a special «Cold Open» sketch.In the final episode of the season, McKinnon appeared as her recurring character Colleen Rafferty, a woman who has been frequently abducted by aliens and then interrogated by government agents.Joined by Cecily Strong and host Natasha Lyonne as fellow abductees, the trio answer questions from two agents — played by the departing Aidy Bryant and longtime castmember Mikey Day. And, as fans have come to expect from Colleen Rafferty's tales of alien encounters, things got really dirty really fast.The «Close Encounters» series of sketches was made famous back in Season 41, when the sketch featured host Ryan Gosling, and McKinnon's flawless performance as Rafferty made him break down into fits of laughter throughout nearly the entire sketch.This time around, Colleen's tale was particularly vulgar, but ended on a sweet note when the agents informed the interviewees that the aliens are looking to take one of them permanently in exchange for some advanced technology.«Well, I can read the room.

Saturday Night Live opened with one of the show’s most popular skits: Close Encounter, this time with departing cast member Kate McKinnon bidding adieu as Colleen Rafferty really is sent off on an alien spaceship.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeIn a sign that perhaps the departing “Saturday Night Live” stars are returning to their greatest hits as they head out the door, this week’s cold open featured a wild sendoff for at least two of them. For Kate McKinnon, that meant her fan favorite alien abductee Ms. Rafferty, who once again shared a wildly inappropriate experience with NSA officers played by Aidy Bryant and Mikey Day.After showcasing her experience, McKinnon as Ms.

Saturday Night Live’s 48th season is going to look a little different. Variety reported Friday that Pete Davidson, Aidy Bryant, Kate McKinnon, and Kyle Mooney are all expected to leave after the 47th season finale tomorrow. As noted by the outlet, the show typically recalibrates its caste of players and contributors during summer.McKinnon and Bryant joined the program in 2012 and have a decade of hilarious characters.

Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant and Kyle Mooney will not return to the long-running sketch series next season, ET has learned. McKinnon and Bryant both joined in 2012, while Mooney was cast on the series the following year. was first to report the news. NBC had no comment when reached by ET.When ET’s Will Marfuggi spoke to Bryant in March, she had yet to decide if she'd return to the series for another season.«It's definitely where I've grown up,» Bryant told ET of .