In the finale of the 47th season, Saturday Night Live (SNL) bid adieu to multiple fan-favorite cast members, including Kate McKinnon, Pete Davidson, Aidy Bryant, and Kyle Mooney. While Pete Davidson appeared on Weekend Update with Colin Jost and Micheal Che as the resident "young person" for one last time, McKinnon reprised her recurring role of Colleen Rafferty in a skit.As per the norm of the previous comedy skits featuring the character, McKinnon as Rafferty talked about her experiences with alien abduction in the special "Cold Open." At the end of the act, McKinnon was seen accompanied by two aliens into a spaceship set to leave the planet.Saturday Night Live - SNL@nbcsnl162831691❤️ https://t.co/4bRmTszD0gIn a visibly emotional moment, McKinnon addressed the audience and said:"Well, Earth! I love ya. Thanks for letting me stay a while. Live from New York, it's Saturday Night."Kate McKinnon's SNL journey of over 10 yearsThe 38-year-old actress, comedian, and writer will perhaps always be best known for her association with NBC's Saturday Night Live (SNL). Kate McKinnon was cast in SNL by Lorne Michaels in March 2012. She later made her official debut on April 7, 2012. The actress has been a part of SNL for over a decade.With her quick rise to fan-favorite appearances, McKinnon was promoted to a more permanent position amongst the recurring cast members in 2013's Season 39. The New York native was nominated for the "Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series" Primetime Emmy Awards within a year.Throughout her career on SNL, Kate McKinnon has been nominated for an Emmy six times and has won the award twice. The actress won an Emmy for her various roles on SNL consecutively in 2016 and 2017. Previously, in 2014, McKinnon also won the "Best Comedy Supporting Actress - TV" recognition at the American Comedy Awards. Furthermore, she received a Critics' Choice TV Award for her portrayals on the show.McKinnon is wildly famous for her portrayal of various characters and impressions of numerous celebrities like Hillary Clinton, Justin Bieber, Donald Trump's counselor Kellyanne Conway, late US judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elizabeth Warren, and innumerable others.The actress and comedian is also famed amongst SNL fans for hilariously forcing her fellow cast members to break their character with her comedic responses amid skits. While the aforementioned pattern was seen in several performances, Kate McKinnon famously broke Ryan Gosling twice during their "Close Encounter" sketch.In 2015, McKinnon debuted her character Colleen Rafferty in the skit series, during which Cecily Strong and Ryan Gosling accompanied her. The Pentagon was interviewing the three characters regarding their alleged alien abduction. At the time, the Ghostbusters star's risque account of her experience with the alien abduction made Gosling laugh uncontrollably during the skit. The same happened with Gosling and McKinnon in another skit of the "Close Encounter" series two years later.SNL fans react to Kate McKinnon's departure from the showMcKinnon has been a fan-favorite cast member of the NBC show, and this has led to emotional responses from fans of the show. Following the departure of the actress from the show, legions of fans took to Twitter to reminisce on the most memorable moments from her time on SNL.Alexis Benveniste@apbenvenKate McKinnon was the best part of SNL — hands down. 10 awesome years.616614406Kate McKinnon was the best part of SNL — hands down. 10 awesome years. https://t.co/7msCU5CuthBarry Murphy@CaptainCDA@apbenven 100%. I’ve been watching SNL since Steve Martin & John Belushi days and my opinion she is probably the best cast member of all time. 72@apbenven 100%. I’ve been watching SNL since Steve Martin & John Belushi days and my opinion she is probably the best cast member of all time. 👍👏👏stella loves kate forever@lornesgf@nbcsnl thank you kate mckinnon for everything <3 you will be greatly missed :((25320@nbcsnl thank you kate mckinnon for everything <3 you will be greatly missed :(( https://t.co/4dTlNbUjSnDarlene@DarMV@lornesgf @nbcsnl Probably one of my favorite cold opens with #KateMcKinnon was the Saturday after the 2020 election when she sang Alleluia.20512@lornesgf @nbcsnl Probably one of my favorite cold opens with #KateMcKinnon was the Saturday after the 2020 election when she sang Alleluia. https://t.co/GhUQ0PVK34lucy@margotskate@nbcsnl im crying so hard kate mckinnon i love you so much <3373@nbcsnl im crying so hard kate mckinnon i love you so much <3https://t.co/53LxYtpScHStephen A. Rhodes@StephenARhodesI’m really going to miss Kate McKinnon and Aidy Bryant. SNL’s success in the past few years has been due to their enormous talent. I wish them both even greater success.188201039I’m really going to miss Kate McKinnon and Aidy Bryant. SNL’s success in the past few years has been due to their enormous talent. I wish them both even greater success. https://t.co/UWRxVpvC5j🇺🇦marie🇺🇦@pittsburghRNI love Pete Davidson, but Kate McKinnon leaving SNL should be the headline. She has been consistently brilliant from day one.471812946I love Pete Davidson, but Kate McKinnon leaving SNL should be the headline. She has been consistently brilliant from day one.Josh Charles@MrJoshCharlesKate McKinnon must go down as one of the all time greats on SNL. HOF no doubt.376661753Kate McKinnon must go down as one of the all time greats on SNL. HOF no doubt.mike murray@snlmikemurrayKate McKinnon will be credited in her 211th episode tonight, more than any woman in SNL history.4667277Kate McKinnon will be credited in her 211th episode tonight, more than any woman in SNL history. https://t.co/sPUaJ3a9yfemily@lokimulaneykate mckinnon i will always love you #SNL2188190kate mckinnon i will always love you #SNL https://t.co/FU2odMWHL6Claudia Torres@cltorres73Kate McKinnon is a bigger loss to SNL!!!! 1124180Kate McKinnon is a bigger loss to SNL!!!! 😭😭😭💔💔 https://t.co/Q18COPFb9IDavid Darmofal@david_darmofalKate McKinnon had so many memorable performances on SNL, but the one I think of the most is still her performing Hallelujah. A deeply transcendent, painful, & prophetic moment. One of the most memorable moments in the history of the show.2333195Kate McKinnon had so many memorable performances on SNL, but the one I think of the most is still her performing Hallelujah. A deeply transcendent, painful, & prophetic moment. One of the most memorable moments in the history of the show.🇺🇦 Cogito Ergo Sum@dezzthehumanistKate McKinnon’s been the best part of SNL for most of the last decade. twitter.com/SilverAdie/sta…SilverAdie⚡️Political Digital 🔥future⚡️NFTs@SilverAdie"Awesome "Kate McKinnon" is leaving #SNL She was a great addition to that show and will be missed-by millions of fans.76297🙌"Awesome "Kate McKinnon" is leaving #SNL She was a great addition to that show and will be missed-by millions of fans. https://t.co/A07PWjWtvjKate McKinnon’s been the best part of SNL for most of the last decade. twitter.com/SilverAdie/sta…Bre Offenberger@bre_offenbergerKate McKinnon starting to cry at the end of her last SNL opening skit ever ... I’m crying with her4599231Kate McKinnon starting to cry at the end of her last SNL opening skit ever ... I’m crying with herHowever, some fans expressed their displeasure with most publications paying more attention to Pete Davidson's departure. Meanwhile, others labeled the 38-year-old star as one of the greatest cast members of SNL.