The SNL50: The Anniversary Special on Sunday brought back Kate McKinnon‘s signature Colleen Rafferty alien abductee character in a special edition of the popular recurring sketch “Close Encounter,” with a special appearance by Meryl Streep as her mom, Mrs. Rafferty.
In addition to McKinnon, also back was SNL alumna Aidy Bryant as one of two specialists interviewing a trio, including Rafferty, who all claimed that they have been abducted by aliens. This time, the other two people with alien abduction stories were played by Pedro Pascal and Woody Harrelson, with Jon Hamm as a Space Force general conducting the interview alongside Bryant.
Refferty acknowledged her repeat abductions, all of which somehow revolved around her only being dressed from the waste up. “Only other place I have been pant-less five times is Six Flags,” she deadpanned.
As usual, Refferty’s account of her abduction differed drastically from the accounts of the other two interviewees.
Also typical for a Close Encounter sketch, her scene partners could not keep a straight face once McKinnon as the cigarette-puffing Rafferty got to the part where she demonstrates on the other alleged abductees how the aliens got into her private parts.
Pascal and Harrelson both cracked up. Still, they did admirably well compared to former “Close Encounter” co-star Ryan Gosling, who completely broke character.
What was unexpected was Steep joining the group as Colleen’s mom, Colleen Sr., aka Mrs. Rafferty, who claimed she was also abducted alongside her daughter.
Explaining her lateness with a bathroom break where “No. 1 turned into No. 3,” Streep’s Mrs. Rafferty channeled her daughter, telling a similar story that also involved her ending up being pant-less.
“As for underwear-wise, this devil wears nada,” she said, a nod to one of Streep’s most famous movies, The Devil Wears Prada. A little earlier, she also spoke of going “into the woods,” another reference to a Streep movie.
“A good mother could also be a bad girl,” she said at one point, turning to Pascal’s character, “What’s your name, mustache?”
Watch the video above.
