Late night television: Five things fans should be thankful for

Aidy Bryant on Saturday Night Live

For some fans, the Saturday Night Live hierarchy of cast members begins with Kate McKinnon and Kenan Thompson. Both are well-deserving of praise and both will likely end up on some “all-time” lists in the future. But right now, late night fans need to be thankful for Aidy Bryant.

Bryant has proven herself to be one of the most versatile perfomers Saturday Night Live has to offer. She can play it straight and let others shine, like she does with McKinnon in the “Close Encounter” sketches. She can deliver bizarre characters on “Weekend Update.” She can carry a sketch playing over-the-top or weird to the point that it is impossible to look away.

Season 45 has become something of the “Aidy Bryant Show” on Saturday Night Live. Thanks to Reddit user mmvrray, we know that Bryant has appeared in just over nine percent of sketches this season, the high mark among cast members. Bryant has also appeared in a cast-leading 31 sketches.

If you’ve been watching this season, then you can probably tell that Bryant looks to be having more fun than ever. Many of her sketches are alongside friends Cecily Strong and Kate McKinnon and feature Bryant nearly breaking. It could be a sign that season 45 will be Bryant’s last and she’ll focus on other projects similar to her television series Shrill.

Whether this season is the last Saturday Night Live fans see of Aidy Bryant or not, they should be thankful for what the comedian has provided. Bryant continues to elevate every sketch and remains a foundation of the show.