Cecily Strong Says Hilarious and Heartfelt Goodbye on 'SNL'

'Saturday Night Live' star Cecily Strong didn't go quietly into that good night, saying a heartfelt goodbye to the show during her final appearance on “Weekend Update,” appearing as her popular character Cathy Anne.

Wearing a Santa hat, which she claims was due to being scalped hair during an escalator accident, Cathy Anne reveals the reason for her appearance.

"I'm a little emo tonight, because I'm here to say goodbye", she said.

When pressed for a reason for leaving by anchor Michael Che, she says “turns out, jail.”

"After seven years you've had enough of me," she snapped, saying that prison would give her stability and she already had "friends inside". (Kate McKinnon and Aidy Bryant were pictured as friends inside.)

As a farewell to Colin Jost, Strong shared a 'photo of you and me doing' Update' together , she said.

"Everyone has to go to jail at some point, and it's just my time now , but I feel so lucky to have been able to spend so many of the best times of my life with these people that I love so much,” she said as she nearly broke character, then kissed the two actors afterwards. singing a snippet of "I did it my way", changing the lyrics to "high Che".

In the show's final sketch, Kenan Thompson said goodbye to Strong, saying honoring his "11 years at Radio Shack" before host Austin Butler and the cast serenaded him with a tearful rendition of Elvis Presley's "Blue Christmas."

Ahead of tonight's show, which Butler and musical guest Lizzo, NBC announced that the December 17 episode would be Strong's last.

The news of his departure was posted on the Instagram of "Saturday Night Live". "Tonight we're sending one of the best ever. We'll miss you, Cecile!"

For 11 seasons, Strong distinguished herself by portraying characters such as The Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation with at a party and with a sleazy impersonation of Fox News opinion host Judge Jeanine Pirro and, most recently, the gubernatorial candidate of Arizona, Kari Lake. During his tenure on "SNL," Strong even had a stint as an anchor on "Weekend Update" opposite Seth Meyers and then Colin Jost.

She is currently starring in the second season of "Schmigadoon!", a musical parody streaming on Apple+ . Like "SNL," the show is produced by Lorne Michaels.

Brian Steinberg contributed to this report.

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