Kate McKinnon gave “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” a sweet start as her two-decade run comes to an end by reading an imaginary 13-year-old letter from herself to DeGeneres.
In a preview for Monday’s episode, DeGeneres asked McKinnon to share her favorite memory from the show.
“My favorite memory of that show is maybe right now,” McKinnon said. “As a thank you, I wanted to read you a letter that I would have written to you when I was 13 years old.”
“Dear Mrs. DeGeneres,” the “Saturday Night Live” actor read in the voice she often uses for her teenage characters. “My name is Kate. I’m from Long Island. I learned that I’m gay as hell. No one else is gay for 200,000 miles, so it’s good to know you exist. I bet if I ever met you, I would act so weird, so I hope I never do,” she said, prompting a big laugh from the audience.
“Thank you for being so funny and being such an inspiration and making me feel less alone,” she continued. “PS My iguana is not eating. What do I do?”
Earlier in the clip, the two recalled when McKinnon began portraying DeGeneres on “SNL” 10 years ago when she joined the NBC sketch series.
“I didn’t know you, but I saw you do it to me and I was flattered,” DeGeneres recalled.
Turning to the audience, McKinnon recalled the moment DeGeneres got in touch after making her debut impersonating. “Imagine me — I’m from Long Island, she’s my idol — and then she calls me on the phone and I’m like, in the hallway at work, and I’m like, ‘Yes, Mrs. DeGeneres, I “I am a fan,” she said in an overly formal British accent.
McKinnon also recalled acting “so weird” when DeGeneres first asked her to come on her show, prompting an image of the two of them dressed in identical outfits to appear on the screen behind them. .
In addition to impersonating DeGeneres on “SNL” and “The Ellen Show,” McKinnon has repeatedly paid tribute to the comedian-host. While presenting DeGeneres with the Carol Burnett Award at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards, she called her “the greatest comedienne of all time” and thanked her for changing her life and “the lives of so many people.” .
“The Ellen Show” ends at the end of the month. In addition to McKinnon, guests will include former First Lady Michelle Obama, Jennifer Garner, Channing Tatum, Serena Williams, Zac Efron, Adam Levine, Behati Prinsloo, Gwen Stefani, David Letterman, Diane Keaton, Kim Kardashian and Portia de Rossi.
You can watch the full video here. The reading of McKinnon’s letter begins at 6 minutes and 25 seconds.