MINNEAPOLIS – “Saturday Night Live” kicked off its 50th season with a cold open featuring comedian Jim Gaffigan as Democratic vice presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz.
Gaffigan appears in the sketch alongside Maya Rudolph as Vice President Kamala Harris at a campaign rally.
“Folks, I haven’t been this excited since I got 10% off a leaf blower from Menards,” says Gaffigan like Walz when he takes the stage — even though the retailer’s discount offer is actually 11%.
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“This is personal to me. I love this country and as a former teacher I need the money,” Gaffigan said in the sketch.
Gaffigan then reveals that his suit was from Costco, showing off the Kirkland branding.
“They make great dog food,” he continued before hugging Rudolph and leaving the stage.
Other famous “SNL” alumni appeared in the sketch: Andy Samberg as Douglas Emhoff and Dana Carvey as President Biden. This isn’t Carvey’s first time playing a president: he previously played George HW Bush during the 1992 election.
Also in the sketch were James Austin Johnson as Donald Trump and Bowen Yang as JD Vance.
Fans of the late-night comedy show clamored after Walz was selected as the vice presidential candidate to see who would be picked to play him.
“SNL” producer Lorne Michaels told the Los Angeles Times that he had called Steve Martin to offer him the role of Walz in the upcoming 50th season, but Martin declined.
