Top 10 Hilarious Cecily Strong SNL Performances
#10: Genie from “Girlfriends Game Night”
With some sketches, it’s not a matter of if the cast will start breaking, but when. In this risqué sketch, Strong plays a woman visiting friends for a game of UNO, and she’s brought along her significant other, Horace, played by Bill Hader. The age difference between Strong and Hader’s characters is immediately clear, and things get even wilder as the two attempt to procreate in front of the horrified others. Though Strong and the other cast members eventually get a major case of the giggles, she’s able to hold herself together and make her character’s delusions about her boy-toy and their relationship disturbingly believable.
#9: Kyra on “Girlfriends Talk Show”
Navigating the politics of teenage friendships can be incredibly traumatic, and this recurring sketch captures the awkwardness of trying to not feel invisible among your own friends. Strong plays Kyra, a co-host of a girl talk panel with Morgan, played by Aidy Bryant, and a rotating cast of guests, including Anne Hathaway, Miley Cyrus, and Amy Adams. In each sketch, Morgan finds herself iced-out by the guests and Kyra, who’s supposedly her best friend. Sitting in the middle with a perfectly nasal tone, Strong sells Kyra’s oblivious cruelty to Morgan’s earnestness and desire for fair treatment, creepy smile and all.
#8: Princess Jasmine
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Not only does Strong have incredible comedic timing, but she’s also a terrific singer, as shown in this sketch, where she plays Princess Jasmine, accompanying Aladdin, played by Adam Driver, on a magic carpet ride for a parody of “A Whole New World.” Along the way, Jasmine encounters numerous aerial mishaps, with birds, bombs, and worse hitting her. Strong has a vocal range ready for Broadway, and she uses it for a sketch where a beloved Disney icon suffers some truly awful indignities. This combination of natural talent and willingness to look silly has made Strong such a key part of the “SNL” cast for so long.
#7: Cindy from “Blue River Dog Food”
We've seen Oscar-winning dramatic performances that don't exhibit half the amount of passion Strong does in this four-minute sketch. A commercial for a premium-brand dog food is derailed when the starring couple, played by Strong and host Seth Rogen, start bickering over the quality of their previous brand as well as other issues bubbling under the surface. Weeping, screaming, and pointing fingers, Strong’s unbridled commitment to this sketch makes it so great, even if it’s a little uncomfortable. Also excellent is Rogen, who’s able to match Strong’s frustrated energy with his own guttural deliveries.
#6: “Reality Stars”
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When you’re starring in a sketch with an “SNL” legend like Will Ferrell, you have a lot to live up to. But Cecily Strong either doesn’t feel the pressure or is a pro at hiding it. In this sketch, Strong and Ferrell play two deluded and overly-Botoxed reality TV stars who come home to visit their friends in Flagstaff, Arizona, causing more drama along the way. Although Strong starts to break towards the end of the sketch, and makes Aidy Bryant and Kate McKinnon lose it as well, she still maintains her character’s hilariously spoiled nature.
#5: Gemma
We don’t know how much time Strong has spent around certain British people, but her work as Gemma suggests she’s studied their traits well. In most Gemma sketches, Kenan Thompson and Vanessa Bayer play a husband and wife whose date is ruined by the arrival of an old acquaintance and his British singer girlfriend. With her dentures, makeup, and Essex accent, Gemma is a larger-than-life character that Strong still manages to make feel real. It’s also another great showcase for Strong’s vocal talents, as she can make even these ridiculous pop song parodies sound good.
#4: Cathy Anne
Strong's tenure as a Weekend Update co-host only lasted for one season, due to her preference for playing characters. And Cathy Anne is one of her greatest contributions to the segment and to the show overall. While the chain-smoking and unkempt Cathy Anne originated in fairy tale-themed sketches, she found a new life playing a foil to Update host Michael Che, who introduces her as "the woman that's always yelling outside [his] window.” The speech-impaired Cathy Anne comments on current affairs through her own unique perspective. No matter where you stand on the issues, we can all agree that more political discussions could benefit from Cathy Anne's input.
#3: “Moët & Chandon Champagne”
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Strong only spent one season as a Featured Player before being bumped up to the main cast, and this sketch shows why. Strong and Vanessa Bayer play a pair of dead-eyed adult stars hawking champagne ideal for an array of situations. Despite playing a character who seems permanently zoned-out, Strong is always an engaging presence, as are Bayer and host Justin Timberlake, playing another member of their industry, one with a name you’ve probably never encountered before. When great comedic minds are given hilarious material like this sketch, the results are finer than any champagne.
#2: The Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation with at a Party
Have you ever met someone at a social gathering and quickly realized you needed to find a way out? Then, you’ve basically met the Girl You Wish You Hadn’t Started a Conversation with at a Party. This Weekend Update character, played by Strong, is like a composite of countless self-involved party guests. Speaking on multiple issues with a completely misplaced sense of authority, Strong wears down her hosts through her incoherent ignorance, combative attitude, and distinct vocabulary of words like “kardashtrophy” and “misrespectful.” We wouldn’t want to run into her at an actual party, but we love watching Strong play her. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few Honorable Mentions. Claire from HR Poor Claire Is Understandably Exasperated, to Great Comedic Effect “Chonk” Voiceover Strong Cracks Us Up Even Without Appearing on Screen “Memories” A Hilarious Journey Through Past Loves “Italian Restaurant” An Unforgettable Dinner with Ryan Gosling Dana from “McDonald's Firing” We’ll Never Forget Meeting Niff & Dana
#1: Jeanine Pirro
Strong has created multiple amazing original characters on “SNL,” but her best is based on an actual person. Strong has made multiple Weekend Update appearances as Fox News host Judge Jeanine Pirro, portraying her as an opinionated loudmouth with no apparent volume control and a love for alcohol. In every appearance, Strong starts by giving 100 percent, and somehow manages to go even further, getting her drinks all over “Update” host Colin Jost and breaking out into song. Whenever we see or hear anything about Pirro, we automatically think of Strong’s incredible performance, one of the absolute best in “SNL” history.
