Why we’re crushing big-time on Kate McKinnon

I love funny people – which means, by default, I love Kate McKinnon. For starters, her Ellen impression alone is worth watching on repeat. And the best part is I don’t love her because she is a woman, but because she is hilarious. And being a hilarious woman in a world where some people think this is an anomaly is enough to make any modern feminist say, “Heck yes. This is what it’s about.”

In my world, there is truly no shortage of funny women – in fact, most of the women close to me are hilarious. I even run a Twitter account just to post quotes from my best friend that are super funny out of context. One gem, for example? We were at the gym and Queen’s “Under Pressure” started playing. She said, and I quote: “Ugh, every time I think it’s ‘Ice Ice Baby,’ it ends up being that effing Rolling Stones song.” So many things wrong with that, but there’s just so much goodness in one sentence.

Anyway, the beautifully talented Kate McKinnon, who has emerged as one of the biggest faces to watch on Saturday Night Live, is no exception to the hilarious group of women I surround myself with – even though I, sadly, don’t know her personally (which might be good for her, because I’d continuously harass her to take over as my BFF).

Here are only a few of the reasons Kate is my first #WCW subject for HelloGiggles.

She has played a huge role in making Saturday Night Live what it is in the past few seasons

Kate started on Saturday Night Live in 2012, and since then she has easily become my favorite cast member. In Kate, I can see snippets of past successful female cast members like Cheri Oteri, Molly Shannon, Maya Rudolph, Rachel Dratch, and many others who weren’t afraid to get a little uncomfortable for their craft and contributed much to the SNL I knew and loved in my youth.

The Emmys seem to agree, as Kate has been nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for the past two years running. Here’s hoping this is the year she takes home the prize.

She is one of the awesome female comedians out there today who is not afraid to be “inappropriate” (psh)

I know I’m not alone in my side-eyeing of these ridiculous expectations, and Kate is busy spinning them on their heads alongside other women like Amy Schumer, Melissa McCarthy, Mindy Kaling, Amy Poehler, and more. She has put comedy first and being seen as an object…well, last. Dead last.

Kate has helped ensure this safe space for women to be funny at any cost they wish, which will be passed on to future generations of female comedians. For that alone, I salute her.

Her Justin Bieber impression is spot-on

Aside from her Ellen impression, her Justin Bieber one has to be the greatest. If anyone was made to parody Bieber, it was Kate McKinnon. Just watch this and try not to laugh until you cry. And for the record, it was hard picking just one video to link to. This entire piece could have been just videos and GIFs of Kate’s Bieber impression and we would’ve had some hard-hitting journalism.

She is 25 percent of the initial reason to go see the new Ghostbusters movie

OK, 20 percent if you count the involvement of Paul Feig, who was the creative mind behind our favorite gone-before-its-time TV show, Freaks and Geeks. And a percentage I need a calculator for if you count Chris Hemsworth as the receptionist (which I kind of do, if we’re being honest).

The announcement of the Ghostbusters reboot was like Christmas morning for all of us who have been waiting for another female-driven ensemble comedy a la Bridesmaids for a few years now. I can’t wait to see the hilarity Kate will undoubtedly bring to the table alongside the aforementioned comedy goddess Melissa McCarthy, plus the equally amazing Kristin Wiig and Leslie Jones. The only things that could make this better are a Rick Moranis cameo and the reappearance of the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.

She represents and is contributing to progress for the LGBT community.

Kate is SNL’s first openly lesbian cast member. Considering the show will have been on the air 40 years this upcoming October, this is huge. I applaud Kate for being proud of who she is, and for representing funny gay ladies everywhere. She’s just flat-out amazing.

Thank you, Kate McKinnon. I think I speak for everyone when I say please continue to grace my TV and movie screens with your wit, charm, and talent.

Related:

The first official ‘Ghostbusters’ cast photo could not be any more perfect
Fangirl This: SNL’s Newest Cast Member Kate McKinnon

[Image courtesy NBC]