With the clock ticking on SNL’s 50th season, speculation is high about who will depart and how. Will it be a send-off like Kristen Wiig’s, or a sketch à la Kate McKinnon? The SNL farewell sketch has become a staple, but it’s a relatively recent development.
While modern fans are accustomed to bidding farewell to favorite performers, SNL didn’t always showcase cast departures. This tradition can be traced back to Phil Hartman.
Even in 1994, momentous endings weren’t new. The Season 5 finale saw the cast exiting Studio 8H, symbolizing uncertainty for the show. Season 11 ended with cast members trapped in a burning room. Cast members occasionally referenced their departures, as Jon Lovitz did in 1991. However, Hartman’s farewell was the first time a cast member was truly celebrated on their way out.
Phil Hartman’s Departure: The Original Farewell
Hartman, known as “The Glue,” ended his run in 1994 after eight years. A farewell sketch was crafted, featuring the Saturday Night Live Family Singers, with cast members dressed as their famous characters, singing “So Long, Farewell” from The Sound of Music. The sketch concluded with Hartman cradling a sleeping Chris Farley, dressed as Matt Foley.
The sketch, written by Robert Smigel, was intended as self-referential snark. Smigel tells LateNighter, “I first thought of it just as a funny way to end a season… As I wrote it, I realized Phil leaving would make for a funny ending with Chris on his lap like the smallest child, falling asleep. The poignancy really only hit me when he did it on stage.”
The sketch gained new meaning after the deaths of Farley and Hartman. Smigel noted that some cast members disliked the sketch, and the crowd didn’t fully embrace it. However, it allowed Hartman to bid a sincere goodbye.
The Evolution of SNL Goodbye Sketches
SNL explored various ways to say goodbye. Some were subtle, while others, like Adam Sandler’s “Operaman” in 2002, openly announced the departure. Jimmy Fallon incorporated his exit into a Grease-inspired performance of “Goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye.”
In 2012, Season 37 concluded with a sincere goodbye to Kristen Wiig. Written by Seth Meyers, the sketch celebrated the “graduating class” and featured Arcade Fire performing “She’s A Rainbow” and “Ruby Tuesday.” Wiig later described it as one of the best and saddest moments of her life.
Smigel told LateNighter, “Wiig’s [farewell sketch] really got me. The affection that cast had for each other was special.”
More Recent SNL Farewell Tributes
The affection within the cast likely fueled the surge of farewell tributes that began with the 2012 finale. Andy Samberg delivered his parting words, reuniting with The Lonely Island for “Lazy Sunday 2.” The following year, Bill Hader’s Stefon married Anderson Cooper. Fred Armisen reprised Ian Rubbish and the Bizarros for “It’s a Lovely Day.”
Months later, Hader, Armisen, Samberg, and Seth Meyers helped Meyers sign off from Update. In Season 42, Taran Killam and Jay Pharoah received a subtle tribute in “Senior Video.”
SNL Goodbyes in the 2020s
SNL went five years before another on-air goodbye, then wrote off Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant, and Pete Davidson in one episode. McKinnon tearfully said goodbye in the cold open, while Bryant bid adieu during a Trend Forecasters segment on Weekend Update. Davidson reflected on his run during an Update segment anchored by Colin Jost.
Months later, Cecily Strong received Saturday Night Live’s most recent sendoff. She first said goodbye on Update as Cathy Ann. At the show’s end, Austin Butler performed Elvis Presley’s “Blue Christmas.”
The Murky Truth Behind SNL Farewells
The rise of goodbye sketches has led fans to speculate at the end of each season. However, some sketches have been misinterpreted. Season 34’s closing sketch, “Goodnight Saigon,” was seen as a farewell to Darrell Hammond, though he didn’t view it that way. Writer John Mulaney intended it as a farewell for the group but thought it fitting that Hammond get the last line.
Pete Davidson’s Season 47 closer, “Walking in Staten,” and Cecily Strong’s giant shoe in Season 46 both sparked rumors of their departures. In both cases, they returned, though the sketches may have been intended as sendoffs before their departures were delayed.
The Enduring Connection Between SNL and Its Fans
The show’s intent is only part of the story. Like many things in the SNL universe, finale sketches often take on a life of their own. A cast member’s last moment can become permanent lore. This is typical for SNL, a show that has cultivated a sports-like fandom over the years.
Perhaps this is why farewell sketches have become more common. Fifty years ago, the connection between viewers and SNL’s comics was uncertain, but the show has become an institution. When a cast member leaves, it’s not just the cast saying goodbye; it’s the audience at home, too.
Saturday Night Live’s Season 50 finale airs this Saturday, May 19th.
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