It finally happened. For fifty years, Meryl Streep was the white whale of Studio 8H. The most decorated actress of our time had never—not once—graced the Saturday Night Live stage. Fans just assumed she was too "prestige" for the chaos of live sketch comedy. Then came SNL50, and everything changed.
The roar from the audience when Streep walked through those doors on February 16, 2025, wasn't just a standard "celebrity cameo" cheer. It was a release of fifty years of tension. And the fact that she chose to make her debut alongside Kate McKinnon in the single most "un-Meryl" sketch imaginable? That's just classic Streep.
Why the SNL Meryl Streep and Kate McKinnon Pairing Was Genius
If you've watched SNL at all in the last decade, you know the "Close Encounter" sketch. It’s the one where three people recount an alien abduction to the government. Two of them have a spiritual, life-changing experience. The third, usually played by McKinnon as the chain-smoking, gravel-voiced Colleen Rafferty, has a very different story. While her friends are seeing the face of God, Colleen is usually getting "tapped on the knocker" or having her "coot-coot" poked by a grey alien named Kevin.
It is raunchy. It is physical. It’s basically a masterclass in how to make Ryan Gosling or Casey Affleck break character.
So, when the 50th Anniversary Special rolled around, McKinnon returned to her signature role. She was joined by Pedro Pascal and Woody Harrelson as her fellow abductees. But the real shocker came midway through. McKinnon’s character, Colleen, mentions her mother, and out walks Meryl Streep as "Colleen Sr."
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Basically, the greatest actress alive spent her first-ever minute of SNL airtime talking about her "into the woods" situation—and she wasn't talking about the Disney movie.
Breaking the Internet (and Character)
The energy in the room was electric. Streep didn't just stand there and look pretty; she leaned into the filth. Clad in a Hawaiian shirt and a short gray wig, she sat right next to Pedro Pascal and started flirting with him. She called him "mustache." She threw a leg over the chair. She was, quite frankly, having the time of her life.
Honestly, the best part wasn't even the scripted lines. It was watching Meryl Streep—the woman with 21 Oscar nominations—completely lose it. She broke character hard. When she had to deliver a line about landing on a guy named Phil McDermott and his "closed casket funeral," she couldn't stop laughing.
- The Look: Streep matched McKinnon's aesthetic perfectly. It was the "Rafferty look"—disheveled, exhausted, and strangely horny.
- The Movie Nods: She managed to work in a reference to The Devil Wears Prada, saying "this devil wears nada" regarding her missing undergarments.
- The Chemistry: Watching McKinnon and Streep bounce off each other was like watching two generations of comedic timing collide.
The Backstory: How Kate McKinnon Got Meryl to Say Yes
You’d think Lorne Michaels would be the one to make the call. But it turns out, it was way more personal. During an interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in late 2025, McKinnon spilled the tea.
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The producers asked Kate who she wanted in the sketch. She jokingly said, "I don't know, Meryl Streep?" A few days later, they called her back and said Meryl was in. But there was a catch: Kate had to call Meryl herself to talk her through it.
Imagine that phone call. You’re Kate McKinnon, and you have to explain to the woman who played Sophie in Sophie’s Choice that she’s going to be playing a woman who got her "business" examined by a space alien. Apparently, Streep was all in. She even offered to bring her own wig!
Why This Moment Matters for SNL History
For years, people wondered if Streep had a "beef" with the show. She’d been parodied dozens of times. Abby Elliott did a famous "Meryl Streep on Ice" bit. Chloe Fineman basically built a career on her Streep impression.
By showing up for the 50th anniversary, Streep signaled that she was in on the joke. She chose the "Close Encounter" sketch specifically because it’s a fan favorite that relies on "breaking." It showed a vulnerability and a sense of humor that you don't always see on the red carpet.
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It also cemented Kate McKinnon’s legacy. Even after leaving the main cast, she remains the "gold standard" for the modern era. Getting the most respected actress in Hollywood to play your mother in a sketch about alien prodding? That’s the ultimate flex.
Key Takeaways from the Sketch
If you haven't seen the clip yet, look for these specific moments:
- The Entry: The audience reaction is genuine. You can see the cast members on the side of the stage trying to catch a glimpse.
- The "Into the Woods" Joke: It’s a double entendre that only someone with Meryl's filmography could pull off.
- Pedro Pascal's Face: He looks like he’s won the lottery and been hit by a bus at the same time. He's struggling to stay in character while Meryl Streep flirts with him.
- The Exit: The way Meryl and Kate walk off together feels like a passing of the torch.
What’s Next for the Duo?
Since that appearance, fans have been clamoring for more. Will Meryl Streep finally host? At 76, she shows no signs of slowing down. Her chemistry with Martin Short on Only Murders in the Building has already proven she’s a comedic force.
There have been rumors of a "Rafferty" movie, though that feels like a stretch. For now, we just have that one perfect, chaotic moment where the Queen of Cinema and the Queen of 30 Rock shared a cigarette and a story about "the freaks."
If you want to catch the full magic, here is how you can dive deeper:
- Watch the SNL50 Special: It’s currently streaming on Peacock. Look for the "Close Encounter" segment toward the middle of the broadcast.
- Check out Kate McKinnon's Tonight Show Interview: She goes into detail about the "wig" conversation with Meryl, which is arguably funnier than the sketch itself.
- Revisit the Originals: Watch the 2015 debut of Colleen Rafferty with Ryan Gosling to see how the character evolved into the version that Meryl Streep eventually played.
- Follow the "Only Murders" Updates: Since Streep is a recurring star there, look for more "meta" jokes about her SNL debut in the upcoming season.
There’s no doubt that the SNL Meryl Streep and Kate McKinnon crossover will go down as one of the top five moments in the show's 50-year history. It was a reminder that even the biggest stars in the world sometimes just want to put on a bad wig and talk about aliens.