In a recent episode of The Ellen Degeneres Show, comedian and SNL cast member Kate McKinnon had the audience in stitches for a whopping 46 minutes straight. From her spot-on impressions to her quick wit, McKinnon proved why she is one of the funniest performers on television right now.
The interview kicked off with McKinnon expressing her excitement and nerves at meeting Ellen, someone she has admired her whole life. McKinnon’s love for Ellen was so deep that her mother even came up with schemes in the past to try and get her on the show. McKinnon shared the story of how her mother suggested she paint a portrait of Ellen and send it to her, in the hopes of being invited as a guest. However, fate had other plans for McKinnon, as she was destined to appear on the show as a cast member of SNL first.
During the interview, McKinnon couldn’t contain her excitement at being in the presence of Ellen. She even compared meeting Ellen to meeting Jesus, jokingly adding that she had arrived at the gates of heaven. Ellen, being humble as always, expressed her hope that she wouldn’t disappoint McKinnon.
The conversation took a turn towards McKinnon’s journey on Saturday Night Live, where she has been a cast member for just over a year. McKinnon revealed that SNL was her first audition and how she used all of her material for the five-minute audition. She admitted that if it hadn’t worked out, she would have been out of material, but luckily, she impressed the right people and secured her spot on the show.
Of course, they couldn’t skip over McKinnon’s incredible impression of Ellen. McKinnon shared that she spent years trying to perfect the impression, as everyone told her she should do it. Then, one day in her apartment, she decided to figure it out and watched Ellen’s stand-up special to study her mannerisms and speech patterns. McKinnon nailed the impression and has been making audiences laugh with her spot-on portrayal ever since.
The conversation also veered towards McKinnon’s hilarious sketch on SNL where she plays Ellen. McKinnon shared that the name “Amelon” came from the brilliant writers of SNL, Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider. McKinnon revealed that the first time she did the impression of Ellen on SNL, it was during a stand-up set where she improvised at the end, saying, “That’s my time. I’m Alen.” The line stuck, even though Ellen never actually said it herself.
As the interview progressed, McKinnon and Ellen shared many laughs and even played an impromptu game of Heads Up. McKinnon’s infectious energy and comedic timing had the audience roaring with laughter. They discussed McKinnon’s role as a softball umpire when she was younger and how she didn’t quite know the rules of the game, resulting in some challenging moments.
Towards the end of the interview, McKinnon couldn’t help but express her admiration for Ellen once again. The two shared a heartfelt moment, with McKinnon thanking Ellen for making her laugh and for being her hero. Ellen reciprocated the love and expressed her admiration for McKinnon, praising her exceptional talent and calling her one of her favorite performers on SNL.
In the end, the interview proved that McKinnon’s humor and wit make her a standout in the comedy world. Her ability to bring characters to life and make people laugh is truly remarkable. With her hilarious impressions and quick-thinking, it’s no wonder McKinnon has become a fan-favorite on The Ellen Degeneres Show and Saturday Night Live.
