The Only Thing Leslie Jones Misses About Saturday Night Live

Saturday Night Live has proven to be a training ground for some of the most successful comedians in Hollywood. Before making it big, Will Ferrell, Adam Sandler, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Chris Rock and many more first made their mark in the halls of 30 Rockefeller Plaza on Saturday nights. SNL alum Leslie Jones is no different. 

The Emmy-nominated comedian spent five seasons making fans laughs on the NBC show before announcing her departure in 2019. According to Deadline sources, Jones left the sketch-comedy series of her own accord, opting not to finish out her contract.

In January 2020, it was announced that the Ghostbusters actress would be hosting the revival of the game show Supermarket Sweep. While preparing for her new gig, the comedian reflected on her time on SNL. "I don't miss it. At all," Jones told Entertainment Tonight in October 2020. The comedic actress went on to explain, "That job was hard, man. That job was like two jobs and very restrictive too. I wasn't very free there."

Leslie Jones became well-known for her appearances on the Saturday Night Live sketch "Weekend Update." Getting her start on the series as a writer, the comedian eventually became a full-time cast member in the fall of 2014, per Deadline.

After her departure in 2019, Jones tweeted her farewell, writing, in part, "I cannot thank NBC, the producers, writers, and amazing crew enough for making SNL my second home these last five years. Lorne Michaels, you've changed my life in so many ways! Thank you for being my mentor and confidant and for always having my back."

Despite the fact that a year after her exit she admitted that she didn't miss the show, Jones did admit to Entertainment Tonight that there's one thing she misses about SNL: working with former castmate Kenan Thompson. The actress revealed that Thompson means "so much" to her. It makes sense that Thompson would be at the top of Jones' mind as the two are apparently close friends.

In fact, a source reportedly told Rob Shuter of Straight Shuter that Thompson had "begged" Jones not to leave the hit NBC show. "People do not realize how close Leslie and Keenan are," the source said (via Radar Online). "They are not just friends at work, they are pals even when they are outside of the famous 30 Rock studios. They have always been there for each other."