“Saturday Night Live” kicked off its 50th season this weekend with an episode packed with references to the upcoming elections. Actress and comedian Maya Rudolph reprised her role as Vice President Harris, while James Austin Johnson took on the part of former President Trump in a cold open that humorously mocked their respective campaign rallies.
Rudolph joked about Harris’s viral “coconut tree” line from the early days of her campaign, comparing it to Sabrina Carpenter’s hit “Espresso,” saying, “The lyrics are unclear, but the vibes are immaculate.”
The stage was filled with big names, with various guests stepping into the shoes of political figures. Jim Gaffigan portrayed Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, leaning into dad jokes, while Andy Samberg took on the role of Harris’s husband, Doug Emhoff. Dana Carvey made an appearance as President Biden.
As Walz, Gaffigan humorously referred to Trump and Senator J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) as “weirdos,” a nod to a popular comment Walz made earlier this summer. Before Harris became a vice-presidential candidate, Walz had gained national attention for bluntly calling out the other side.
Samberg, playing Emhoff, joined Rudolph on stage, proudly defending his wife’s campaign amidst Republican criticism. “I’m honored to be part of a long list of presidential spouses,” Samberg joked, “both men and women—but mostly women.”
Rudolph thanked Biden (played by Carvey) for stepping aside to let her run, to which Carvey’s Biden humorously responded, “I didn’t want to, but they made me.”
The cold open also poked fun at Trump, with Johnson portraying him in a rally. He referenced recent assassination attempts and Trump’s remarks about Harris’s race.”They argue that accusing Democrats of inciting violence is a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black,” Johnson remarked, mimicking Trump. “But honestly, I just found out the kettle is black. I thought it was Indian, but it decided to be black.”
Before introducing his running mate, Johnson’s Trump jokingly said people had criticized J.D. Vance as a bad candidate. “In many ways, they were right,” he admitted. Bowen Yang, as Vance, added, “How much do we love Donald Trump? Just this afternoon, he told me, ‘J.D., you’re like a son to me, because I don’t like you, and I’m stuck with you.'”
The episode was hosted by Jean Smart, with a musical performance from Jelly Roll, making it a memorable start to the milestone season.
- Drake Hogestyn, ‘Days of our Lives’ veteran, dead from cancer a day before his birthday
- SNL kicks off with a star-studded cold open featuring Maya Rudolph as Kamala Harris and a return of Trump
- A mother of two, currently pregnant, feels utterly confined within her home in North Carolina.
- Caleb Williams Shines with Key Highlights in Stellar Preseason Debut for Bears
- USWNT Completes Redemption with Paris Olympics Gold: The Real Challenge Starts Now for the 2027 World Cup
