Just three days before the presidential election, Vice President Kamala Harris showed up unannounced Saturday evening live heading to a series of rallies in Michigan taking place on Sunday. The show’s cold open pitted the Democratic nominee for president against Maya Rudolph, who has portrayed Harris for five consecutive weeks.
John Mulaney returned as host SNL for the sixth time, keeping his monologue more or less apolitical and discussing everything from his grandfather’s dairy farm in Wisconsin to the likelihood of his future hip replacement surgery.
Joining Mulaney was Chappell Roan, the first musical guest, who debuted a country-inspired lesbian ballad, “The Giver,” after performing “Pink Pony Club” from her 2023 album, The rise and fall of a Midwestern princess.
In another surprise cameo, Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, Hillary Clinton’s running mate in the 2016 election, appeared during the game show sketch “What’s That Name: Election Edition.” In the piece, Mulaney and cast member Sarah Sherman were tasked with identifying famous political figures, a challenge that proved difficult.
“I was Hillary Clinton’s vice presidential running mate,” Kaine said, introducing himself. “At the time you said it was the most important election in American history and that democracy was at stake. It’s been less than eight years. What’s my name?”
A visibly stunned Mulaney looked for an excuse, joking, “It’s not my fault if he is [wasn’t] a more memorable guy like Tim Walz,” referring to Harris’ running mate.
A side-by-side image of Kaine and Walz then flashed on the screen, highlighting the uncanny resemblance and eliciting laughter from the audience.
Cold open: Kamala gives herself a pep talk
In the final cold open before the election, Rudolph reprized her role as Harris as she watched clips from a chaotic Trump rally.
Cast member James Austin Johnson, reprising his role as Trump, muttered at the rally: “Where the hell am I? This place stinks.” He then handed it to his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance (played by Bowen Yang), who asked the audience, “Where are my normal gay men?” referring to a comment Vance made on Joe Rogan’s podcast last week.
Also reprising their roles were Jim Gaffigan as Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Andy Samberg as Second Gen. Doug Emhoff and Dana Carvey as President Biden, all of whom tried to offer support to Harris before the vice president spotted them from her dressing room.
When Rudolph’s Harris was finally alone, she wanted to talk to someone in her shoes: “A Black, South Asian woman running for president, preferably from the Bay Area.”
When she turned to the mirror, the real Harris was staring back at her. After thunderous applause, the duo said to each other, “Nice to see you Kamala,” before Harris gave Rudolph a pep talk.
“You have this because you can do something your opponent can’t do: you can open doors,” Harris said, a subtle jab at a clip of the real Trump appearing to struggle to open a garbage truck door during a press event in Wisconsin last week.
In response to Rudolph’s imitation of her laugh, the real Harris said, “I don’t really laugh like that, do I?” Rudolph responded with, “Uh, a little bit.”
Rudolph then asked Harris to “take my palm-ala” to continue their pep talk: “The American people want to stop the chaos,” Rudolph said, and Harris followed with, “And end the drama-ala.”
“What do we always say?” Rudolph asked, prompting them both to say together, “Keep calm, ala and carry on, ala.”
Who will host next?
November 9: Bill Burr with musical guest Mk.gee
November 16: Charli XCX will serve as host and musical guest
