With the mighty exception of Gilda Radnor, Saturday Night Live has never really been about the ladies. The classic sketches, success after the show and crossover to dramatic film-making have always belonged to SNL’s men. Each of the show’s first three decades boasts a handful of male cast members who have gone on to solidify themselves as icons in popular culture. But looking at the current stable (one that I’m quite fond of), the most exceptional performances and characters of the last few seasons have belonged to the ladies. And this weekend’s incredibly welcome post-strike return marked an overdue hosting appearance by one of the greatest female alums.

Tina Fey’s transition from SNL to 30 Rock was so speedy and seamless, I never had the opportunity to mourn her absence. And without any real time when she wasn’t making regular appearances on NBC, I also never realized how vital she is to my weekly TV consumption. I certainly have since the strike started. When Steve Martin came on during her monologue to tell her it was time to behave more like an actor, I couldn’t help but think he was passing the torch. I may have even shed an approving tear. Tina Fey is (and should be) someone who is going to be around for a long time.

As for show itself, most of the skits were great. There was the obligatory digital short, the return of Amber the overly confident amputee, two outstanding commercials and even a timely Oscar spoof of Bill Hader as a milkshake-guzzling Daniel Plainview. It wasn’t all funny though. I had a moment of paralyzing fear during the opening credits. Maya Rudolph, after the drawn out “is she or isn’t she?” debate over her return for the 07/08 year, was notably absent. Turns out she never hammered out a contract, but there’s also talk that she was just AWOL to accompany her director husband to last night’s Oscars. Bullet dodged? If so, then it’s not for long. Rudolph (along with Amy Poehler) is expected to depart at the end of this season. In the unlikely event that Kristen Wiig would follow suit, there’d be my three favorite cast members right there.

SNL took the opportunity to fill the Rudolph-shaped hole by introducing a new featured player, UCB’s Casey Wilson. Every time she was in a scene (which was frequently), I was reminded of the old View parody when faux-Barbara Walters would tell faux-Debbie Matenopoulos to go into a cage and shut up. They set her up for diaglogue and then awkwardly cut to another character. She only really spoke once during a spot-on caricature of Rachael Ray - amusing, but she doesn’t seem likely to ever command the presence of our other gals.

My favorite skits either didn’t show up on Hulu or primarily featured men, so, in the feminist spirit of the post, enjoy this NBC-U sanctioned clip of the Tina Fey’s Weekend Update segment on women’s news. If I have any readers in Texas or Ohio, I’d appreciate it if they paid particularly close attention…