There’s no debate that Kristen Wiig is one of the greatest cast members in the history of Saturday Night Live. We have her ranked in the top ten of SNL cast members all-time.
Wiig’s seven seasons on Saturday Night Live from 2005 to 2012 is considered by some as the most recent “golden era” for the show.
Since her sentimental final episode of SNL, on May 19, 2012, Wiig has appeared in many roles in films. She’s also returned to Studio 8H to host SNL five times, most recently in Season 49. But not until recently had Wiig found her way into a series project again. That’s changed with Emmy Award winning Palm Royale.
Earlier this month, Palm Royale returned for its second season, following a critically-acclaimed first-run on Apple TV. Wiig serves as one of the stars, and also as an executive producer of the series.
If this were the 1970s instead of the 2020s, Wiig would probably have her own variety show. She’s a multi-talented, beloved entertainer. Much like Carol Burnett, her co-star on Palm Royale. But variety shows are essentially gone (sadly), so we have to settle for streaming gems like Royale, which is quickly ascending to become one of the best projects featuring a former SNL cast member on screen and behind the camera.
Like her SNL pal Bill Hader, Wiig is involved extensively in her post-SNL show. Hader helmed the dark-but-sometimes-light Barry for four seasons, winning an Emmy twice for his acting in that HBO series. He was co-creator, executive producer, and also directed many of the episodes.
Wiig is the central star of Palm Royale, a rollicking comedy-drama set in the late 1960s. But her character is surrounded and supported by (mostly) women who carry a lot of the weight in this wonderful ensemble piece. It succeeds at being smart-funny, silly-funny, slapstick-funny, and also heartwarming more than you’d think it could be. There have been few shows that achieve such a thing in episodic entertainment.
Like Hader, Wiig has chosen to carve her own creative way in her years after leaving SNL. While some cast members have remained at the feet of Lorne Michaels, such as Jimmy Fallon, Tina Fey, Fred Armisen, Kenan Thompson, Seth Meyers, and Cecily Strong, there are those SNL alum who forge off to make their own way in “Hollywood.” Wiig is among that brave group, with Hader, Mike Myers, Adam Sandler, Will Ferrell, Amy Poehler, Jason Sudeikis, and the original maverick, Dan Aykroyd.
Palm Royale season two is streaming now on Apple TV.
