Saturday Night Live’s Kate McKinnon may mock Hillary Clinton, but don’t be confused: She “loves” the Democratic politician. The comedienne appeared on Thursday’s Live! With Kelly and Michael to gush over how Clinton cares so much. After co-host Michael Strahan asked about her impression, McKinnon fawned, “Whenever I do an impression of someone, I have to love them. So everyone I've ever done, I personally love. And for her, what I love is how badly she wants to fix the country, and I genuinely know that.”
The comic continued, “And so I really just tapped into that spirit of, like, ‘I need to get in there and I need to make this better, and I know I can.’” Co-host Kelly Ripa joked that Clinton was in studio and a shocked (though probably joking) McKinnon jumped out of her seat. She added, “That would have been amazing though, wouldn’t it?”
In May, McKinnon asserted that she was “rooting for [Clinton], obviously.” She extolled, “I find her so resplendent.” In 2012, the comedienne portrayed Ann Romney as an out of touch elitist. Did she “love” Mrs. Romney?
On Monday, ABC and NBC raved over the “hilarious” and “spontaneous” appearance of the real Clinton on SNL.
A transcript of the October 1 Live! exchange is below:
Live! With Kelly and Michael
10/01/15
9:42KELLY RIPA: Do you hear from Hillary Clinton after you impersonate her?
KATE MCKINNON: I not heard from her yet and I would love to, and I hope I do, and I will do this —
RIPA: Well, let’s bring her out, everybody. Just kidding. That would be amazing.
MCKINNON [Stands up, then trips on chair.] I was so flustered by that that I almost spilled my vodka.
RIPA: Your ice water glass. Okay.
MCKINNON: Wow, that would have freaked me out.
RIPA: That would have been amazing though, wouldn’t it?
MCKINNON: You tricked me. You tricked me. Because if she had come out, I would have gone like this. [Screams.]
MICHAEL STRAHAN: It has happened. We usually do. People do walk out and scare you here. It's happened to me several times. Believe me. And I don't talk bad about anybody anymore. I learned my lesson. But your impression of Hillary Clinton is so great, and we're looking forward to doing it throughout this whole election process. Is there any part of Hillary Clinton that you feel like is a part of you?
MCKINNON: Oh, totally. Whenever I do an impression of someone, I have to love them. So, everyone I've ever done, I personally love. And for her, what I love is how badly she wants to fix the country, and I genuinely know that. And so I really just tapped into that spirit of, like, “I need to get in there and I need to make this better, and I know I can.” I feel like I have felt that way about, you know, dinners that I make, arranging my furniture in my room. You know, it's like smaller scale stuff, but it's still that spirit.
STRAHAN: Want to get better.
