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Variety, TVWeek, NBC

Is an ‘SNL’ Fixture About to Exit the Show?

Apr 29, 2019  •  Post A Comment

A regular on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” who has been one of the show’s most popular players may be nearing the end of her run on the show. Variety reports that Kate McKinnon is closing in on the end of her contract with the show, and suggests that McKinnon’s re-upping with “SNL” is far from a foregone conclusion.

Like many of the show’s cast members, McKinnon has been keeping busy with other projects. As we reported earlier this month, she is scheduled to star in and executive produce “The Dropout,” based on the ABC News/ABC Radio podcast about the rise and fall of Elizabeth Holmes and her company, Theranos.

The Hulu limited series is expected to run between six and 10 episodes. Variety cites sources saying McKinnon’s participation in the project could get in the way of her ability to appear full time on “SNL” next season.

McKinnon, who has been on “SNL” since 2012, won Emmys for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her work on the show in 2016 and 2017, and is a six-time Emmy nominee. She has earned praise for her impressions, which have included Hilary Clinton, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani.

Variety’s sources described talks between McKinnon and “SNL” as “fluid.”

“A decision on the matter may not come until just before the show launches its 45th season in the fall,” Variety reports, noting: “’SNL’ executive producer Lorne Michaels typically doesn’t unveil changes to the program’s cast until the days before the start of the season.”

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