Saturday evening live kicked off the 50th anniversary season premiere with a mix of political satire and star power, thanks to host Jean Smart and musical guest Jelly Roll.
Fans had been eagerly waiting to see how SNL would handle the shakeup in the Democratic ticket following President Joe Biden’s July 21 exit from the 2024 presidential race. The response came in the cold, with the expected return of Maya Rudolph as Vice President Kamala Harris and the debut of Jim Gaffigan as Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, delivering a perfect dose of Midwestern dad joke humor.
While the episode didn’t pay too much attention SNL‘S 50-year milestone, there was nodding during the monologue and Weekend updatewhich also covered the summer’s biggest news stories – from famed hippo Moo Deng and New York Mayor Eric Adams’ legal drama to the Harris-Trump debate and Diddy’s criminal case.
But you don’t have to worry, SNL fans! Expect a bigger celebration with a special three-hour primetime set on February 15, while a biopic about the show, starring Cory Michael Smith as Chevy Chase and Dylan O’Brien as Dan Aykroyd, hits theaters this weekend can be seen.
In the meantime, here’s a recap of last night’s episode.
Who were the political players?
The 13-minute cold open saw a new crop of political figures emerge, with Maya Rudolph reprising her role as Kamala Harris, Jim Gaffigan debuting as Tim Walz, Dana Carvey returning as Joe Biden and Andy Samberg reprising the role of Second Gentleman Dougl Emhoff played. Meanwhile, cast members James Austin Johnson and Bowen Yang played Donald Trump and JD Vance, respectively.
Andrew Dismukes, as ABC News host David Muir, kicked things off by checking in on each candidate’s meeting.
“Well, your nice aunt is back,” Rudolph’s Harris announced at the start. “I’m so happy to be campaigning in whatever swing state I’m in, which I’ll just call Wisconsin-Pennsylv-Georgia, because I’m going to protect your Va-Georgia.”
She added: “This election is about progress. You see, Donald Trump is stuck in the past, but as I tell my husband Doug when he leaves his phone at Chili’s, “We’re not going back!”
Gaffigan’s Walz leaned into his “Big Dad Energy” and joked, “I haven’t been this excited since I got 10% off a leaf blower from Menards.”
Rudolph continued to laugh: “My campaign is like the Sabrina Carpenter song ‘Espresso,’” she joked. “The lyrics are vague, but the atmosphere is striking.”
Samberg’s Emhoff delivered a memorable line to Republicans who questioned his masculinity: “If supporting my wife means being a little spoon, then you can kiss my little ass.”
Johnson’s Trump, meanwhile, lamented Biden’s absence, saying: “Oh Joe, we miss Joe Biden. What we wouldn’t give for him to be standing next to me and being old. We had this in the bag, but then they did a switcheroo.
Yang’s JD Vance joked about Trump’s relationship with his children: “Trump told me, ‘JD, you’re like a son to me because I don’t like you, but I’m stuck with you.'”
The sketch ended with Carvey’s Biden mocking his lame presidency, saying, “A lot of people forget I’m president, including me.”
Weekend Update tackles Diddy, Eric Adams, Chappel Roan and more
At the Weekend Update desk, Colin Jost and Michael Che dove headfirst into the 2024 presidential race and the indictment of New York Mayor Eric Adams.
Jost highlighted Trump’s last rally, where the former president insulted Harris and joked, “I can’t believe Trump admitted he lost a debate to a mentally disabled person.”
The segment also featured Devon Walker as Adams, who defended himself against accusations of accepting lavish gifts by saying, “New York City needs me in first class.”
Bowen Yang appeared as Moo Deng, a viral baby pygmy hippopotamus from Thailand, who lamented the pressure of newfound fame. Jost compared Moo Deng’s complaints to singer Chappell Roan, with Yang’s hippo character cheekily replying, “I’m ten weeks old, Colin.” Of course I know Chappell Roan.’
Che later mentioned rapper Diddy’s indictment for sex trafficking and racketeering. Diddy’s attorney, Che noted, said he’s not sure he can keep his client off the witness stand if his case goes to trial.
“Because you can’t stop a guy if he’s wearing all that baby oil,” Che joked, while Jost added, “First of all, it’s never a good sign when R. Kelly is the first person you compare your client to. I agree, it’s true: Diddy looks nothing like R. Kelly. I mean, R. Kelly’s songs are good.’
Striking sketches
“Ghost Halloween”
One commercial highlights Spirit Halloween’s ability to take over empty storefronts in low-income communities.
“$100,000 Pyramid.”
Devon Walker starred as Michael Strahan hosting a parody of $100,000 pyramidwith Kenan Thompson’s Mark Robinson stealing the spotlight.
“I love Lucy”
Jean Smart plays a dramatic actress who almost starred in it I love Lucywhich hilariously shows how the 1950s sitcom would have failed without Lucille Ball’s comedic touch.
“Talk Talk”
Yang’s Charli XCX presents a bizarre, hilarious boiler room show with topical humor and Sarah Sherman as Troye Sivan.
Jelly Roll performs
Musical guest Jelly Roll performed “Liar” and “Winning Streak” from his upcoming 10th studio album, Beautifully broken. He was introduced by Smart and her Hacking co-star Hannah Einbinder.
Who will host next?
October 5: Nate Bargatze with musical guest Coldplay
October 12: Ariana Grande with musical guest Stevie Nicks
October 19: Michael Keaton with musical guest Billie Eilish
November 2: John Mulaney with musical guest Chappell Roan
