A very merry farewell.
The “Saturday Night Live” cast said au revoir to Cecily Strong Saturday evening after her 11th season performing on the popular late night show, filling the evening with skits and a song to send off the longtime cast member in a heartwarming fashion.
“As some of you know, this is Cecily’s last day working at RadioShack after 8 incredible years,” joked Keenan Thompson as he stood alongside Strong during a RadioShack skit depicting Strong’s last day at the retail store.
“Well, I’ve been here 11 [years],” Strong, 38, replied before the “Keenan and Kel” star quipped, “I know, and 8 of them were incredible.”
The “Good Burger” star went on to gush over Strong, saying “Frankly, I don’t think RadioShack could have lasted this long without Cecily. Every time she came to work, she had a new character, or a new accent, or a new impression that would just blow you away.”
“She’d have a power and joy to her performance that made you remember why you loved working at RadioShack in the first place,” said Thompson, 44.
In a festive manner, the “Ghostbusters” actress was also serenaded by “Elvis” heartthrob Austin Butler as the actor sang the Presley classic “Blue Christmas” while embracing the comedian before the rest of the cast joined in on the farewell melody.
The “SNL” vet also brought back her Cathy Anne character for one final skit, joking that the comedian was going off to prison.
Strong’s character reassured that she would be just fine because she had “friends on the inside, they seem to be doing OK,” she said as photos of recently departed castmemebers Kate McKinnon and Aidy Bryant appeared onscreen behind bars.
“I had a lot of fun here. And I feel really lucky that I have had so many of the best moments of my life in this place, and with these people that I love so much,” the comedian said near the end of the episode, seeming to break character just a little bit.
Strong is the longest tenured female cast member in the “SNL” timeline, with her exit following behind seven members — Pete Davidson, Chris Redd, Kate McKinnon, Kyle Mooney, Aidy Bryant, Melissa Villasenor and Alex Moffat — who left after the 47th season wrapped.
Strong intends to continue her work as the star of “Schmigadoon!,” an Apple+ musical comedy.