Kristen Wiig gets emotional sendoff from ‘SNL’
ASSOCIATED PRESS May 20, 2012 3:02AM
FILE - Kristen Wiig arrives before the 84th Academy Awards on in this Feb. 26, 2012 file photo taken in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. Wiig got a musical sendoff Saturday May 19, 2012 on the season finale of "Saturday Night Live" as the versatile cast member makes her exit after seven years. Wiig starred in and co-wrote the hit comedy "Bridesmaids," and has six more films in some form of development. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, File)
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Updated: May 20, 2012 8:12PM
NEW YORK (AP) — Kristen Wiig got a musical sendoff on the season finale of “Saturday Night Live” as the popular and versatile cast member made her exit after seven years.
In the show’s final sketch, guest host Mick Jagger played the principal at a high school graduation and brought up Wiig, in cap and gown, as “one particular student who is leaving this summer.”
She danced in turn with Jagger, cast members and executive producer Lorne Michaels to the tune of the Rolling Stones classic “She’s a Rainbow.” Then the ensemble sang another Stones hit, “Ruby Tuesday,” with its line, “still I’m gonna miss you.”
Wiig appeared to be holding back tears.
Though NBC had made no prior announcement of her departure, it comes as no surprise. She starred in and co-wrote the hit comedy “Bridesmaids,” and even before that had notable roles in “Friends With Kids,” “Paul,” “Adventureland” and “Knocked Up,” among other films. She has six more in various stages of development.
Wiig’s almost limitless range of characters on “SNL” has included neurotic attention-seeker Penelope; Kat, half of the musical duo Garth and Kat (alongside Fred Armisen); and such real-life notables as Bjork, Kathie Lee Gifford and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
Cast colleague Andy Samberg also signaled his exit, reteaming with show alum Chris Parnell for a sequel to their breakout music video “Lazy Sunday” and rapping, “That’s how it began, and that’s how I’m-a finish it.”
Less clear is the future of Jason Sudeikis, rumored to be out but also potentially valuable in election season as the cast’s Mitt Romney and Joe Biden impersonator.
