Hilarious Politics on SNL

Saturday Night Live kicked off its milestone 50th season with an energetic cold open, featuring a star-studded lineup including Maya Rudolph, Jim Gaffigan, Andy Samberg, Bowen Yang, and James Austin Johnson. The sketch hilariously captured the candidates for the 2024 presidential race, blending sharp wit and spot-on impressions.

Maya Rudolph, embodying Kamala Harris, quipped, “Well, well, well, look who fell out of that coconut tree,” bringing back her fan-favorite portrayal of the vice president. She joked about her campaign strategy: “I’m hitting every swing state—or should I say Wisconsin-Pennsylv-Georgia, because I’m here to protect your Va-Georgia!”

Rudolph drew a humorous parallel between Harris’s campaign and Sabrina Carpenter’s song “Espresso,” saying, “The lyrics are a bit vague, but the vibe is on point.” She also threw shade at former President Trump’s nostalgia-driven rhetoric, stating, “While Trump is stuck in the past, I tell my husband Doug when he forgets his phone at Chili’s... ‘We are not going back!’”

Jim Gaffigan's portrayal of Tim Walz added some laughs with a dad-joke twist, exclaiming, “I haven’t been this pumped since I got a 10% rebate on a leaf blower. I’ve got that BDE... Big Dad Energy!”

Andy Samberg’s Doug Emhoff, Harris's husband, chimed in with his signature humor, responding to Republican critiques with a light-hearted jab: “If supporting Kamala—who we lovingly call Mamala—means being the little spoon, then kiss my little butt!” He also teased plans for Christmas decor at the White House: “We’re going with a Hanukkah theme.”

SNL regulars James Austin Johnson and Bowen Yang stepped into the roles of Donald Trump and JD Vance. Yang humorously revealed, “This guy made several cast members cry before the table read—he hated all the ideas!”

The episode was hosted by Jean Smart, Golden Globe-winning actress, who nostalgically shared, “I remember watching the first-ever SNL episode and thinking, ‘One day, I’ll be hosting this show.’”

With its signature mix of political satire and comedy, SNL’s 50th season promises to bring fresh laughs and weekly entertainment on NBC.