Kate McKinnon Was Asked To Name The Perfect SNL Sketch, And I’m Loving Her Take: ‘Flawless From Start To Finish’

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Over its 50 seasons, *Saturday Night Live* has created many popular and widely shared sketches, and introduced audiences to a lot of memorable characters. Kate McKinnon, a former cast member, appeared in many of those viral moments, and she readily named her favorite character to play: the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. When asked about the ideal *SNL* sketch, her answer was a little unusual, but surprisingly fitting.

With so many sketches over the years, it’s tough to choose a favorite from *Saturday Night Live*, even if you focus on a specific cast member or type of sketch, like the fake commercials. But when Kate McKinnon was asked by Andy Samberg (a former *SNL* cast member and co-star from *Brooklyn Nine-Nine*) for Esquire, she immediately knew which *SNL* skit was perfect from beginning to end. She explained:

I did some initial sketches of the alien abduction character, but I wasn’t involved in the writing process. Streeter Seidell and Mikey Day actually wrote the script and gave it to me the morning of the table read. They just said they’d written it and weren’t sure why.

McKinnon is talking about the original “Close Encounter” sketch – the first one they did, and the start of a series of popular repeats on *SNL*. It’s not unusual for the show to bring back sketches that viewers enjoy, and I think McKinnon’s point is well taken.

The sketch first appeared on the December 5, 2015, episode hosted by Ryan Gosling. It featured Gosling, Kate McKinnon, and Cecily Strong as characters who had been abducted by aliens, and the sketch was delightfully unpredictable in terms of the characters, their histories, and how they related to each other. It’s remarkable that McKinnon only learned the basic idea for the sketch shortly before they rehearsed it, considering how well it all came together.

Streeter Seidell and Mikey Day wrote the sketch, but Kate McKinnon added her own personal touch, particularly with the character of Miss Rafferty. She said her interpretation didn’t change much during rehearsals, but she did appreciate one specific addition that was made.

I suggested the name ‘cahooters,’ and that’s all it took. The idea remained remarkably consistent throughout the week, working perfectly from beginning to end. My only contribution beyond that was adding a detail about me smoking and the visible outline of my body through my tight jeans.

The “Close Encounter” sketch has been featured on *Saturday Night Live* nine times in the past ten years, including the recent *SNL50: The Anniversary Special* with Meryl Streep, which felt especially fitting. It’s easily one of my favorite sketches, and it’s always hilarious to watch the wild stories told by Kate McKinnon’s character and how much the guest host enjoys it.

I absolutely love the “Close Encounter” sketches on SNL, and honestly, they wouldn’t be the same without Kate McKinnon. I keep hoping it’ll come back sometime! We don’t know who’s hosting Season 51 yet, but fingers crossed McKinnon and those aliens will be back at Studio 8H soon.

As a huge fan of comedy, I’m so glad those classic *SNL* sketches are up on YouTube! And with Peacock, you can stream every single episode. It feels like the perfect time to revisit some of the really memorable ones – especially the ones Kate McKinnon says are her favorites. Seriously, go check them out!

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2025-09-14 15:38