Cecily Strong comments on her Saturday Night Live future

Cecily Strong gave an update on her future status as a Saturday Night Live cast member.

Season 44 of Saturday Night Live came to end last weekend. While there is still time to look back on the season’s best sketches and performers, it is also a time to look forward to the future. Veteran cast member Cecily Strong may have already answered one of the biggest questions going in to the summer.

It isn’t always the case that we know if a season finale will be the last time we see a particular performer. Not everyone gets a sendoff like Kristen Wiig or Bill Hader. Sometimes the powers that be at NBC and Saturday Night Live choose not to rehire a cast member or extend a contract. Other times it is the performer who decides that he or she is ready to move on to something different.

As this season went on, there was some concern that Kenan Thompson would be walking away from SNL. He has two new shows coming up including the NBC sitcom The Kenan Show. But despite that, he confirmed that  he would be back for a 17th season on Saturday Night Live.

Other cast members have been mentioned as potentially walking away from the show following the finale. Kate McKinnon was reportedly unsure of her future earlier this year. But it seems unlikely based on her popularity that she would depart without any on-air recognition. Aidy Bryant’s lead role in Hulu’s Shrill also made her a candidate for leaving SNL.

Another name that has popped up is Cecily Strong. Season 44 marked her seventh season on the show. Coincidentally, seven years is the standard contract length at Saturday Night Live which is why some fans were worried that Strong would exit after this year. But a line from her recent Instagram posts suggests fans have nothing to worry about:

According to Strong herself she is “pretty sure” she will be back for season 45. That should bring on a sigh of relief for fans and everyone else involved at Saturday Night Live. It isn’t the most rock solid of confirmations but it should put a pause on any speculation for now.

I would argue that Strong was one of the highlights this season, both in sketches and in her “Weekend Update” bits. Seven seasons on the show is an accomplishment in itself and Strong is better than ever as a performer. If McKinnon and/or Bryant do leave, Strong would be tasked with filling a very large void. But it would be a challenge she could absolutely overcome given her talents, along with help from Leslie Jones, Melissa Villasenor and others.

The larger point of Strong’s Instagram post is dedicated to the retirement of a crew member shows just how attached the performer is to everyone at Saturday Night Live. It is not surprising that the season finale would bring on a lot of emotions and reflection on the cast and crew. For as much as the theme was “goodbye,” Strong’s Instagram post still suggests she will be back in the fall.

Saturday Night Live is a better show with Cecily Strong on it. So it is welcomed news to hear that she will most likely be back for season 45. Keep checking in with Last Night On for more SNL updates this summer as well as a look back at the best moments from the past year.