Cecily Strong Spills on Her SNL Departure and Why She Displays Wigs in Her Home | The Tonight Show

Cecily Strong talks about getting serenaded by Austin Butler as Elvis on her final episode of Saturday Night Live, Lily Tomlin attending the opening of her one-woman show, The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, and Season 2 of Schmigadoon!
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Cecily Strong Spills on Her SNL Departure and Why She Displays Wigs in Her Home | The Tonight Show
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[@philippegauvin-vallee9371]

I don't want to depreciate the new members of SNL cast (they more than deserve their place in SNL family) but losing Beck Bennett, Aidy Bryant, Kate McKinnon and Cecily Strong in the same year hurt.

[@ceciliaSF-TX]

It ain’t the same.

[@Needrng]

It’s been happening for decades, but the show goes on and new favorites come along eventually.

[@Monster_myron]

The new cast has been phenomenal this season. I had my hesitations especially after all that turnover but they’ve killed it. I’ve laughed consistently all season.

[@christinemaney2294]

It IS such a huge loss. But, that said, we’ve been here before and survived 😉

[@user-xn9xe5qu9j]

Don't forget our boi Kyle Mooney. 🥲

[@nicholasgarrick8855]

Cecily is greatly missed one of the best SNL members they ever had so iconic ,and talented. can't wait to see what she does next.

[@sheltonalexander6785]

I didn't know she talked like an Upper Ray Side widow in real life.

[@kassandra9448]

took the words right out of my mouth- so true!

[@melissacastro5006]

@@sheltonalexander6785😂😂😂

[@RavenclawNimbus]

I really feel like she could get popular. At least in broadway or something, ‘cause she is incredibly good at singing. She has a lot of versatility, and that’s incredibly important for some shows. The fact that she did a one woman show just makes it clear how talented she is!

[@cuteanimalseverywhere7620]

She’s done it with Schmigadoon, brilliant!

[@mayamckenna]

She's just so naturally, beautifully funny.

[@prasithoudomvilay8454]

She is so funny and amazingly beautiful I mean sorry

[@RavenclawNimbus]

@@prasithoudomvilay8454 Was?

[@radicalross7700]

​@@RavenclawNimbus Looks like she's really let herself go since leaving SNL (NOT!)

[@RavenclawNimbus]

@@radicalross7700 I still think she’s very beautiful. Have you seen her in Schmigadoon? Besides, she’s 40, so imo she looks _great._ You know how many 40yo’s don’t look that good?

[@radicalross7700]

@@RavenclawNimbus 40? But she just said she's 78 (actually Ms. Strong just turned 39 in February, but why quibble over a paltry 10 months?) 😃

[@shahartley]

Cecily was easily one of the bests on SNL. Can't wait to see what she does next.

[@reginaldperiwinkle]

She was a terrific cast member, but she's not, say, in the top 20 of SNL cast members or anything. I don't quite understand the need to give exaggerated praise like that.

[@shahartley]

@reginaldperiwinkle Who are you to tell me who I can & can't praise? I thought she was one of the bests. ME. I never said anything about her being on any top SNL list. You projected that onto me simply because I gave my own opinion. You're being a weirdo.

[@reginaldperiwinkle]

@@shahartley You said "Cecily was easily one of the bests on SNL". The only sensible conclusion from this is that you think she's "easily" better than a whole slew of other cast members. I don't think that you appreciate the underlying negativity in your comment. There is no need to praise someone by implying their superiority over others. Just say that you like her and be done with it. You seem to have a strong underlying negativity. I hope that you can let that go. Peace.

[@shahartley]

@@reginaldperiwinkle At this point, you're either trolling or you're a nutjob. Be gone.

[@Ottophil]

@@reginaldperiwinkle you’re wrong, its ok though

[@RavenclawNimbus]

The “aw” in the background when she talked about the hugs. It makes me cry seeing her leave the show - but everyone’s gotta go sometime. She’s a really beautiful person, and she deserves all the love. ❤️

[@armandoucles5346]

Cecily Strong is real great actress. She's shown on SNL that she can do drama as well even though the sketches were funny. I hope she finds more great roles in the future and I hope one day she wins an Academy Award because she's that talented of an actress.

[@simonjenkin]

i've thought this since the original "blue river dog food" sketch

[@RavenclawNimbus]

Seriously!! She did a whole one-woman show, and I didn’t see it, but I can imagine she killed it! Being on SNL you have to change outfits all the time, so I’m sure she’s used to that. She can also sing really well.

[@danpattyboucher523]

Schmigadoon - watch her continue to act even when it's not her turn for dialogue

[@emmarodden7178]

Cecilyyyy!!! 😭 miss her so freakin much. Just watched the new episodes of Schmigadoon and she is incredible. Such a good show, *so* glad we got a second season!!! And love the little musical callbacks to S1 🥲❤️

[@slayerduval1]

Whenever I saw a crazy lady on the news, I would pray that Cecily would mock them on SNL. She never disappointed! One of the most consistently funny cast members ever. And truly stunning in real life.

[@pastlivesprincess4594]

You're right. She is really stunning. She brings beauty and smiles to situations that would ordinarily be tainted with stigma. Thank you for showcasing the light that can be brought when people use outdated terms like the word "crazy" to paint women as villains.

[@slayerduval1]

@@pastlivesprincess4594 If you've been watching the last 7 years of our politics, there are plenty of willingly "crazy" people that desperately need mocking. Cecily did it perfectly.

[@luxitos2867]

Melissa Carone 💀💀💀 The belligerent, drunk lady with Rudy Guiliani 😆😆 She did that perfectly

[@blakekeane5507]

Cecily is one of my favourites, so funny and always on point. Brilliant snl career, one of the greats.

[@rj-zz8im]

She was one of my all time favorites on SNL. So many laughs to thank her for....

[@FreedomofSpeech865]

I love her, she is among the great ones!

[@waynej2608]

Absolutely! 😎👍

[@redwood421]

Cecily is greatly missed! She brought us lots of laughs.

[@jonathanrio6587]

I LOVE Miss Strong and miss her so much on SNL now. I am watching Schmigadoon now! I wish her the best!

[@greymatter33]

God, I love her, I miss her, she is amazing in so many ways. So talented, can't wait to see what she does next!

[@RobeLifeMusic]

Along with wigs & boots, Cecily also wore some beautiful robes on SNL, such as the blue silk one in the "Memories" sketch.

[@waynej2608]

Cecily would look good in a burlap bag.

[@CalebWilliams2030]

SNL fell off a cliff once Cecily left. It was the final mail in the coffin.

[@uglybetty8747]

Oh mannn yessss

[@iLLWiLL173]

Man, I miss her on SNL...I hope she does many projects...I'll watch all of them!

[@popculturedon]

I miss Cecily. I’ve had such a massive massive schoolboy crush on her for a very long time. My favorite cast member ever.

[@RavenclawNimbus]

Yeah, huge crush on her as well.. She’s so cute!

[@lealmelisa]

I missed her! Cecily is one of the best SNL members ever, she did so much for the show....i was thinking about Gemma the other day 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@TK-ge2gh]

Doing a Lorne impression is a requirement when quoting him 😅

[@just-tess]

*Lorne

[@RavenclawNimbus]

Haha you’re right! 😂

[@looney1023]

Most underrated cast member of the modern era? So fucking good at everything.

[@sabrinarene6909]

Cecile is a class act and will be so missed from the show!

[@wilderjai]

I get a warm feeling of happiness whenever i see Cecily . Her sketches especially Jeanine Piro were so funny. ❤her!

[@RavenclawNimbus]

Same! She seems like a really fun person to be around

[@timothyschuft3539]

I love Cecily Strong😊

[@charley.barley]

aw i miss her, it was such a nice surprise to see this pop up :))

[@lorrainescandia6267]

I do miss her on SNL but I wish her continued success in her new endeavors. I think she is so naturally funny and very pretty. 👍👏

[@stellafinelli]

The books organized by color is my favorite thing

[@jamespittman]

Great video and I love Cecily Strong she is a great actress.😀

[@kristeandreatujague7016]

Queen. I haven't really watched since she left much at all. 💙 I wish she could be on this Saturday night with Molly Shannon. 💙

[@Yannimalgr]

She is amazing!!!

[@jamesryan6008]

All of the new cast members combined don't equal one Cecily Strong.

[@dorothyallen524]

The impromptu French accents from both Jimmy and Cecily 😆😄5:48

[@RavenclawNimbus]

She was funny in an SNL sketch about funny cat videos She was French in that one 😂

[@ddbjg]

i love Cecily Strong she was great on snl

[@courtneyfurlotte]

excited to see all the great work to come

[@divainloveforever]

💎👑A QUEEN! Miss you a lot in SNL!!!😢

[@basementstudio7574]

I've always had a crush on Cecily Strong. Wish her nothing but the best.

[@jimd7875]

Amazing Cecily! Alwas happy for her. Strong says it all ❣

[@giseledasilva2654]

Talented, funny and adorable, Cecily Strong is a gift to us all.

[@RavenclawNimbus]

She is so adorable

[@Lucilletoo]

She is incredible 😍

[@thomasfoley4545]

She's so beautiful and talented

[@carolgomborone6034]

Austin singing "Blue Christms" to Cecily was my favorite skit of ALL time on SNL and I have been watching since the very first show. I love them both...still makes me tear up.💖

[@patrickbeck3285]

Cecily is in the same league as Gilda Radner in SNL history. Miss her, but you have to move forward.

[@NellieKAdaba]

Yes

[@bltvd]

Gilda did not even come close to accomplishing what Cecily did.

[@waynej2608]

Agree. Gilda and Cecily were my favorite female cast members. I also really liked Cheri Oteri. Come to think of it snl has quite an impressive track record in this regard; Julia Louie Dreyfus, Amy Pohler, Kristin Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Tina Fey, Molly Shannon etc..

[@eclectica1]

@@bltvd Wash your mouth out.

[@RavenclawNimbus]

Strong, Bayer, Bryant, McKinnon, Wiig.. So many classics imo Cecily’s my favorite out of those 5 though. She’s funny and adorable! Kristen Wiig and Vanessa Bayer are high up for me too

[@dylanalbuquerque4854]

Damn even Cecily does a good Lorne impression lol

[@DylanMadd]

She’s great.

[@michaelburke5907]

Just a brilliant talent.

[@francochan]

I miss her so much!

[@tomace4898]

She's a national treasure.

[@RealUnreleasedMusicForLife]

She’s The Best 🐐

[@JBob08]

Hated to see her go, but she's crushing it. Schmigadoon has been a surpise in the best way.

[@stellazstar5552]

I cried during Blue Christmas too!

[@RavenclawNimbus]

Tbh same. I didn’t start watching ‘til after she left and I even miss her 😂

[@keithf5883]

I loved her drunk girl at a party character on weekend update.

[@RavenclawNimbus]

Oh my gosh, ‘Girl You Wish You Hadn’t Started a Conversation with at a Party’ has like a million good lines!! I’m not sure there is a more quotable character. “People are talking about HMOs. Like, why not just call them gayyy peeeopllle” “It’s a kardastrophe. It’s a bamanation”

[@cachi-7878]

I never knew how Cecily Strong sounded like when not in character. Turns out, she sounds a lot like Cathy Anne! Hahahaha!

[@RavenclawNimbus]

Well, she was a little drunk, but yeah, isn’t her voice adorable?

[@DYA9091]

I love that they mentioned Austin, he is the ABSOLUTE BEST!!!

[@bwuepper439]

I love her, talented and beautiful.

[@080syedabubakermujeeb6]

Been watching SNL for a little while but never did I know that she sounded like this.

[@hugodaniel701]

Talented, funny, genuinely kind and beautiful ❤

[@petecartwright5211]

I always thought she'd go straight to Broadway if she left SNL. Her voice is VERY good and she's a long-experienced stage performer now. The last decade or so of female SNL performers are as good as they get. Strong was right in the middle of them. She was the go-to, steady-Eddie cast member who became relied upon in any sketch. Lots of good things still come her way. She's just getting started. Well done.

[@RavenclawNimbus]

She’s such a broadway nerd! I bet she freaked out when she heard that Lin-Manuel Miranda was hosting! 😆 It’s adorable how much of a nerd she is!

[@RW-gp1dq]

What a terrific human. A national treasure!

[@paintedpony2935]

Buy a brain! Stop being a lemming.

[@johncote2776]

Her and Susan Sarandon would be perfect in a movie, show, or commercial together. Their personalities seem alike.

[@chrisdesjeunes3691]

The Meddler (2016). You're welcome.

[@0920121908250727]

Love her!

[@btw1zzy]

Dang I love Cecily, she was my fav!

[@DiandraStarShine]

not at all weird that Matt Damon would be great at cabaret. because anyone who would think that hasn't seen the phenomenal job he did as the protagonist, Thomas, in the "Talented Mr. Ripley" film.👍🙂

[@loveinthematrix]

Welcome back to the show, Jimmy says. She responds “Uh” 😅 She’s so interesting in the best way 😍

[@aryk2001]

This makes me emotional. Cecily is one of the greats. Seriously. Don't believe me? Play her SNL reel and you'll see for yourself. I absolutely adore her! I'm sad that I don't get to see her Art regularly anymore. She's an incredibly likeable, funny woman who I sincerely hopes has a fantastic career. She's known though, and I'm sure she'll be fine. But just saying, as a huge fan, I'm sad she's not going to be on future sketches cause her characters are absolutely ICONIC! I'm just saying the girl has a fanbase already! She's someone I hope like just ridiculously blows up huge in the industry. She's incredibly stunning, and obviously a boss, which always adds that extra level of sexiness. She has a great personality, and her characters always hit all the right sexy...yes....but also funny that's in a FUN WAY! I probably sound weird, I just love Cecily! To Cecily directly: Girl! I love you (obviously) but....as someone who really really envies you and your SNL castmates, when you really think about it, of all these people on this planet, you were on SNL, because YOU ARE AMAZING, and also THANK YOU SO MUCH! I appreciate the laughter you guys provided! Our lives are still moving forward. But thank you for being someone who helped everyone and healed many with laughter. Again...this makes me emotional....SNL really is a BIG DEAL tho! I mean, it's an AMERICAN STAPLE. Dear Lorne, please make sure the person who succeeds you is dedicated to doing the same things you've been doing and following the same philosophy(s). This show needs to ALWAYS go on! It's Saturday Night tho! Like...in this world full of excessive media, this one is grandfathered in to being something that provides variable relief to what's happening in the news media. I sincerely do NOT understand why there aren't more improv-comedy based shows out there? It doesn't make sense to me. There needs to be TONS MORE. If you build it they will come. Ok sorry I'm done ranting. Just saying, people need to connect to each other and this show DOES THAT!

[@aryk2001]

I shouldn't be so honest online. This is alcohol induced. I do mean everything I said whole heartedly, but I'd never say it out loud. for that, I apologize to anyone who actually reads all of this. But thanks for taking this stroll with me ;-)

[@RavenclawNimbus]

@@aryk2001 Haha I knew something sounded odd.. I was thinking you were a biiig simp 😂 I can’t talk though, this fits perfectly with what I think as well- though I’d probably mention that she’s also so friggin adorable??

[@Vincent-fo7xp]

Love her.

[@Willa2689]

Love her✨💗💕

[@spcooper94]

I won’t say that I had a celebrity crush for Cecily Strong in my 20’s & I’m 29 now… But I won’t say I didn’t either. Blessings for the rest of her career and life

[@st3v3h4py]

OMFG I love her and miss her on SNL

[@catcatcatcathellocat]

Go Cecily!

[@ChipCain]

God I miss her on SNL…

[@DefiMark]

We love you Cecily ❤

[@MrJommins]

Truly a great talent. And god she is soooo beautiful!

[@RavenclawNimbus]

Right?? So darn pretty!!

[@Zig_Was_Here]

Strong is the best! 💪🏼

[@davidthanos]

She needs to come back and host. I miss her

[@cathygreiner4774]

If ever they make a movie about Karen Carpenter they should cast her

[@hagiospneuma23]

"The Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation with at a Party" ----------- BEST CHARACTER EVER

[@forestchild3511]

She is the best

[@passiveaggressive6175]

I lover her Kari Lake impression

[@BCD1964]

Stunning and smart.. oh my!!

[@unloveableandre]

Talent emanates from her

[@paulrussell2452]

She's hammered.

[@lawrencehawk5179]

She grew her hair. Nice to see her again. Sure she'll host the show on day. Maybe with Vanessa too.

[@RavenclawNimbus]

I hope Vanessa is a guest host on Molly Shannon’s episode. That’d be really cool to promote ‘I Love That For You.’

[@lawrencehawk5179]

@@RavenclawNimbus we'll see.

[@RavenclawNimbus]

@@lawrencehawk5179 Sadly not, but I still agree, I’d love to see that! Vanessa and Cecily are my favorite of the female cast members

[@stephenpatton8690]

Omg - smart, hilarious, and beautiful. What an amazing woman.

[@RavenclawNimbus]

Don’t forget adorable and amazing actress

[@armancho76]

Cecile...looking good as always mademoiselle ❤💙🧡

[@quertianmotto]

So talented

[@terencew7716]

It feels different that she isn't on SNL

[@divainloveforever]

😲😱🥶💕RU PAUL gave that advice?!!! MAMA RUUU!!!

[@RavenclawNimbus]

Cecily is a huge fan. She seems to like drag queens a lot

[@matthewmarana4573]

YES!!! We need to get to space!!!

[@ckmonarez]

I just did a deep SNL dive trying to find a Matt Damon cabaret sketch with a piano. Never did find one, but I DID find one with Chris Hemsworth, who Matt Damon does an impression of. It will make my year if Cecily Strong got Matt Damon mixed up with Chris Hemsworth. 😂

[@chrisdesjeunes3691]

Copyright reasons. The sketch was called "Jingle Bells" iirc. She also did one with Chris Pine in the vein of the one with Hemsworth, where she channels Bernadette Peters. It's not on KZbin either due to copyright as well.

[@ckmonarez]

@@chrisdesjeunes3691 Thanks for clearing up the mystery.

[@chrisdesjeunes3691]

@@ckmonarez You're welcome.

[@toonheaded1]

Queen

[@zzzcocopepe]

Oh I didn't know that! I skipped the goodbye part. I'm like okay sappy sappy

[@ruud2040]

She is funny and talented and a beautiful women. I am gonna miss you in snl. Love from The Netherlands😘

[@taravamos2954]

OMG I want to go to a party at Cecily Strong's.

[@rockingroby6060]

Loved her judge Jenne sketch

[@oregonsnob31]

Gods I need that dress. She looks amazing

[@TaharkahX]

SNL is really struggling after losing Kate, Aidy and Cecily.

[@dewolfeFSP]

I never knew she was a vampire, just that she's a great talent.

[@sarahfoss567]

Darn. I’d rather see her on SNL than Verizon commercials

[@RayRay-ex9gc]

❤️‍🔥 she was fire

[@zwsh89]

The wigs are nice, but I wish they were Kristen Wiigs.

[@kevinogracia1615]

What a talent.

[@jsdrn801]

When i read the title i thought they meant Kristen from SNL was on display

[@RavenclawNimbus]

Hahahaha Cecily Strong has Kristen Wiig just in her house at all times, on display 😂