SNL’s Kate McKinnon Shares “Geographic Tongue” Diagnosis

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Kate McKinnon is looking at oral health in a tongue-in-cheek way.

The former Saturday Night Live actor has received a diagnosis for geographic tongue, a harmless inflammation that affects the tongue’s muscle layer.

She shared with People magazine in an interview on September 6th that she had snapped a picture of her own tongue and sent it to a friend who’s an actor. They both suffer from the same health condition called geographic tongue. This condition causes your tongue to shed in patches, giving it a map-like appearance, which is where its name comes from.

“It’s gross,” the 41-year-old continued. “We brag about how geographic we are on any given day.”

As a tongue enthusiast, I’ve learned that geographic tongue is quite common among us who have less of those tiny, hair-like bumps known as papillae on our tongues. The Cleveland Clinic explains this fascinating phenomenon. Don’t worry, it’s entirely harmless! These strange patches tend to appear and disappear from time to time.

Although Kate didn’t reveal her fellow celeb with a similar rare condition, it’s worth noting that Sadie Robertson from “Duck Dynasty” is another high-profile individual who’s been diagnosed with geographic tongue as well.

2020 saw this 28-year-old share an amusing selfie on Instagram with a caption: “I have geographic tongue-it’s a real condition,” she explained, referring to the peculiar appearance of her tongue.

Maura Nava, the singer, also verified her diagnosis by commenting on Sadie’s post, stating, “I have a geographic tongue too.

For Kate, leaving SNL in 2022 provided her with additional time to prioritize her personal health and overall wellness. Following the conclusion of her 10-year stint on the NBC comedy series, she shared on the Vulture podcast Good Ones that she feels both healthy and great.

The Barbie actress mentioned that she’s resumed wearing her retainer, and also shared that she’s started taking vitamins for the first time.

Still, Kate misses her former costars from time to time. 

At the 2022 Emmys, she shared with TopMob News that it truly feels like a family – encompassing the actors, production team, scriptwriters, and producers. Her favorite individuals on the planet, she declared.

Read on to find out what other SNL alums are up to these days.

Robert Downey Jr., known today as the star of Marvel’s Iron Man series, started his journey in show business as a cast member on Saturday Night Live (SNL) from 1985 to 1986. This was before he joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

During this time, Lorne Michaels, the creator of SNL, had also returned to the program after a five-year absence. The period was labeled as “The Weird Year” in the Peacock documentary SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night, indicating it was a challenging time when Lorne was trying to save the show from being canceled.

Reflecting on this period, Robert admitted during an episode of The Howard Stern Show in 2016 that their performances were not groundbreaking. However, he looks back at this time fondly and considers it valuable training for his career. Interestingly, Robert returned to host SNL again in 1996, and he described that week as “the most exciting week you can have on Earth.

Role: Primary actor in the show

Time on SNL: 2004-2005

If you’re seeking guidance on manifestation, Rob Riggle might be a good person to consult. Known for his role in “Let’s Be Cops,” Riggle shared that he transitioned from pilot training to pursuing a spot on SNL, demonstrating the power of setting goals and intentions.

Rob reminisced during a 2024 episode of the Diggin’ Deep Podcast about never having quit anything in his life. He explained that if he were to ever quit, it would have to be significant and meaningful. His initial goal, which he had written down in a book, was to appear on Saturday Night Live. Ten years later, following two wars, a marriage, and the birth of a child, Rob made his debut on Saturday Night Live in September 2004. Rob’s first job ever was on Saturday Night Live, and he considered it the fulfillment of a long-held dream as he stated during a 2023 interview with The A.V. Club.

Role: Ben Stiller briefly appeared as a main performer on Saturday Night Live
Time on SNL: His tenure lasted for merely four episodes in 1989

Ben Stiller’s stint on Saturday Night Live was incredibly brief.

Indeed, as reported by The New York Times, the celebrated star of films like Zoolander graced the sketch comedy series with his presence for a mere four episodes. He still recalls Lorne Michaels’ reaction when he decided to leave.

“He said, ‘Alright. Ben’s going to do what Ben’s going to do,'” Stiller recalled, mimicking Michaels’ voice during an episode of The New York Times‘ The Interview podcast in January 2025. “It wasn’t great, but I knew that I couldn’t excel there because I wasn’t skilled at live performing.”

Stiller confessed he became too anxious on the show, didn’t enjoy it, and preferred to produce short films instead. Furthermore, he was keen on creating The Ben Stiller Show for MTV in 1990.

“I had always dreamed of being on Saturday Night Live,” the Severance director admitted while looking back at his decision to depart. “However, as I now reflect upon it, I’m not entirely sure how I found the courage, but for some reason, I trusted my instincts.”

Still, Ben Stiller has occasionally returned-hosting in 1998 and 2011, as well as making surprise appearances on various occasions.

Position: Screenwriter
Years on SNL: 1987 – 1995

You might want to share with your friends that Bob Odenkirk, now famously known as Jimmy McGill from “Better Call Saul”, was once a screenwriter for Saturday Night Live. In particular, he penned the well-known sketch where the late Chris Farley portrayed Matt Foley-a motivational speaker who resided in a van by the river.

In an interview on the 2021 episode of The Howard Stern Show, Bob recalled writing that sketch all alone in his Chicago apartment while they were both part of Second City. “It’s one of the few sketches-and I’ve written thousands-where not many were composed in this manner. I sat down, wrote it, and it turned out almost perfect,” he said. “Chris then took it to an entirely new level.”

Remarkably, Bob won an Emmy for his writing contributions on SNL. However, he has expressed remorse over his behavior during that time.

“I wish I hadn’t been such a self-righteous young man,” Bob confessed on a 2021 episode of PeopleTV’s Couch Surfing. “I had a fantastic opportunity there. I made the most of it, learned a lot about comedy writing, and made lifelong friends at that show. But looking back, I wish I’d been kinder. I always wish that about my younger self.

Function: Primary Cast Member
Duration on SNL: Two guest appearances, one in 1981 and one in 1988
If you don’t recall seeing Laurie Metcalf on Saturday Night Live, it’s likely because her performances were brief. In an interview with Late Night host and former SNL cast member Seth Meyers, she recalled that her first appearance was in 1981, where she performed a “man on the street” sketch, and her second was in 1988 when she starred alongside Catherine O’Hara in a skit called “Laurie Has a Story”.
The Roseanne and Lady Bird actress shared with Vulture in 2019 that the experience felt like a dream, as it was her first visit to New York and she had no prior connections. She said, “I didn’t know anyone, and I was put up in a hotel. They dressed me in a business suit and sent me out onto the street with a small camera crew. I was way out of my depth; I had no idea what I was doing. But I did it because there is footage of me doing it. When I see that, I realize how innocent and courageous I must have been, like ‘Alright, you want me to do this? Alright, let’s go.’

Narrative: The Amusing Story of Larry David’s Departure from Saturday Night Live

The tale of comedian Larry David’s departure from his role as a writer for Saturday Night Live (SNL) in 1984-1985 is sure to amuse audiences.

On The Howard Stern Show in 2015, the Curb Your Enthusiasm star explained that despite his sketches performing well during readthroughs, they were repeatedly cut each week. Frustrated by this continuous pattern, Larry decided to take action one night before the show. As another sketch of his was dropped just five minutes before the start, he had reached his limit.

Walking over to executive producer Dick Ebersol, Larry expressed his displeasure with the show: “This fking show stinks. It stinks! It’s st! I’m done! I’m gone! Fk this! I’m out!”

Feeling the cold air, Larry walked home and realized the financial repercussions of his actions. The following week, he returned to SNL as if nothing had happened. At the Monday meeting, the writers were aware of his outburst but remained silent until it was Larry’s turn to discuss his plans for the week. He proposed a circus sketch and managed to keep his job for another year.

It was during this time that Larry met the future Seinfeld star, Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Over the years, Larry has returned to SNL twice as host and made numerous guest appearances, even portraying Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus may be recognized by some for her roles on “Seinfeld” and “Veep”, but not everyone might recall that she was an SNL (Saturday Night Live) cast member from 1982 to 1985, even joining the show while still in college. Despite the fact that her husband, Brad Hall, was also on SNL during this time, Julia admitted that her experience on the show wasn’t particularly enjoyable.

In an interview with Andy Cohen on Radio Andy in 2020, she shared that she didn’t have a lot of fun on SNL, but she did learn a great deal. At just 21 years old, she went into it quite innocently and gained valuable lessons quickly. She likened her time on SNL to a comedy grad school and explained that it had an impact on the choices she made in her career moving forward.

She decided to prioritize finding the fun and creativity she experienced with improv shows and Second City in Chicago, and if such opportunities didn’t exist, she was determined not to pursue a similar path. However, Julia has revisited SNL multiple times since then-making history as the first female former cast member to host in 2006 and taking on additional roles twice more.

Damon Wayans joined Saturday Night Live for less than a season in 1986 and was eventually fired. He revealed in a 2020 interview on The Breakfast Club that Lorne Michaels, the show’s creator, tried to protect him from being compared to Eddie Murphy after Murphy left. Wayans felt stifled and purposely changed his character during a live taping to be an over-the-top flamboyant gay cop in a Miami Vice spoof sketch. He was fired on the spot for doing so with the wrong intentions, but later returned to host the show. According to Wayans, this bold move ultimately helped him land a role in In Living Color.

Title Role: Lead Performer on SNL

Duration on SNL: 2009 – 2010

Jenny Slate’s tenure on Saturday Night Live wasn’t entirely positive. In an interview with Off Camera with Sam Jones in 2017, she recalled, “Joining SNL was intense – it was both good and disappointing for me. Everyone was kind to me, but I was deeply disappointed in myself. It was a dream of mine since childhood. When I arrived, I found the environment challenging, uncomfortable, and surprisingly risk-averse. I thought Belushi, Gilda Radner, and others would be wild, but it’s just a TV show.”

Ultimately, Jenny remained on the show for one season. After being let go, she felt humiliated, both by her own behavior and the belief that everyone cared about her. She admitted, “Nobody actually cares at all.”

The I Want You Back star struggled to move past this experience and developed stage fright, which led her to momentarily halt stand-up comedy. However, she refused to abandon her passion and shared with Sam Jones that she underwent hypnosis to conquer her stage fright.

“I don’t want that experience to take away my ability to do what I love on my own,” she concluded.

Role: Main cast member
Time on SNL: 1993-1994

During her time as a main cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1993 to 1994, Sarah Silverman cherishes every moment of her experience.

In a January 2025 episode of The Tonight Show starring fellow SNL alum Jimmy Fallon, she reminisced about the year: “I had a fantastic time! I got along with everyone, and I was feisty. I just remember being astounded by how adults behaved. Since I was young, I thought, ‘I can’t believe grown-ups act like this.’ People would have major disagreements. Back then, there were even physical fights when I was around. But it was incredible.”

She also vividly recalls an unusual activity she did in her office: “I discovered a craft where you could soak tampons in water and then flick them against a wall for them to splatter. They would stick to the wall and stay there. Forever, or at least a decade,” Sarah shared.

Remarkably, when she returned to SNL 10 or 15 years later, she found out that her tampon craft had endured: “I saw [producer] Mike Shoemaker, and he said, ‘Guess what’s still in your office?’ It was still there!

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2025-09-09 02:48