'You were the best': Fans elated as Kate McKinnon returns to 'SNL', jokes about being back at 'old job'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Fans of 'Saturday Night Live' (SNL) were thrilled to witness the eagerly awaited comeback of Kate McKinnon.

The cherished comedian returned to her 'old job' after departing 'SNL' last year, infusing the show with her distinctive comedic style.

In her monologue, McKinnon humorously quipped about her comeback, eliciting smiles and chuckles from the audience.

The talented actress's monologue was highly appreciated on social media with numerous admirers calling the 39-year-old "the best."

Kate McKinnon jokes about being back at 'old job' 

The actress from 'Barbie', took the helm as the host for the mid-season finale of 'Saturday Night Live'.

This marked her inaugural return to the sketch comedy series since her departure in 2022, and she humorously referred to it as being "back at her old job."

McKinnon wasted no time in launching her monologue, where she enumerated the reasons for her exit from the show, one of which was her "skin was reacting poorly to the prosthetics."

Despite this, she acknowledged that the past year had been eventful for her, including her role as "Weird Barbie" in the blockbuster movie, 'Barbie'.

"I walked in [the Barbie set] on the first day and they were like, 'You look perfect,' and I was like, 'These are my clothes'," she stated.

In her opening monologue, McKinnon humorously admitted that she felt somewhat uneasy being herself, as she's accustomed to embodying various characters and adopting comical voices.

She shared that since her departure from 'SNL', she had been attempting to cultivate a "human personality" beyond her usual role of the "freak next to the hot person" in sketches.

To provide a clearer picture of her point, the show showcased some of McKinnon's most unforgettable roles, such as her portrayal of the quirky character Effie Trinkett from 'Hunger Games' alongside host Josh Hutcherson, and as a Victorian lady next to Martin Freeman.

Since it was the holiday season, McKinnon also decided to show off her singing skills while pretending to play a mini-piano and mentioned that she was "required to sing" by Lorne Michaels, the creator of the show.

Instead of singing a regular version of 'I'll Be Home for Christmas', she chose to sing her special rendition with lyrics that reflected what she told Michaels when he asked her to host.

McKinnon also expressed her excitement about reuniting with old friends on 'SNL'. She brought fellow 'SNL' alums Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig on stage with her.

Wiig mentioned how wonderful it was to be back and reminisced about all the memories they shared.

The two even playfully listed their accomplishments since leaving the show, with Wiig mentioning Taylor Swift's achievements and Rudolph mentioning Beyoncé's.

McKinnon made her last appearance as a cast member in the season finale of May 2022.

She initially joined the ensemble during the show's 37th Season in 2012. Notably, she was the series' first cast member who was openly lesbian at the time of her joining, per People.

Internet reacts to Kate McKinnon's return to 'SNL'

The online community on X (formerly Twitter) hailed the return of Kate McKinnon to 'SNL'.

"Kate did an awesome job! Loved the singing and such a wonderful Christmas vibe :)" tweeted a fan.

Another user wrote, "What a very sweet monologue."

While one fan wote "3 #Queens what a treat!! Maya, Kate & Kristen!! #SNL," another wrote "Miss you. You were the best."

"Made me laugh and made me cry," added another. 

One person claimed, "She is hilarious! It is so good to see her back on #SNL! #SaturdayNightLive."

"SNL is not the same since Kate McKinnon left the show," noted another.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.