"Saturday Night Live" graced the stage with the launch of its illustrious 50th season, ushering in the festivities with a dazzling, star-laden cold open that deftly zeroed in on the impending presidential election, satirizing the rallies held by Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump in hilarious fashion.
Maya Rudolph, effortlessly slipping back into her portrayal of Harris, quipped that her campaign mirrored the summer sensation "Espresso" by Sabrina Carpenter – "the words may be elusive, but the energy? It slaps you right in the face." Her scene was enriched by the presence of three illustrious guest stars: Jim Gaffigan, donning the role of Harris' running mate, Tim Walz, who humorously played up his Minnesotan charm, quipping with a hearty Midwestern twang, "This suit? It's straight from Costco, Kirkland brand, they even make great dog food!"
Andy Samberg, as Harris' husband Doug Emhoff, garnered chuckles with his witty remark, "I'm honored to join the esteemed ranks of presidential spouses, both women and men – but let's be real, it's mostly women." And Dana Carvey, impeccably impersonating President Joe Biden, added another layer of comedic gold to the mix.
Flipping the script, James Austin Johnson seamlessly reprised his Trump persona, addressing a rally where the crowd gradually dwindled as he embarked on his third hour of non-stop speechifying. Before introducing his running mate, Johnson's Trump quipped, "Folks are saying he's a subpar choice, and in many ways, they're right."
Entering the fray, cast member Bowen Yang stole the spotlight as Senator JD Vance, delivering a gem of a line: "How deeply do we adore Donald Trump? Just today, he told me, 'JD, you're like a son to me, only because I don't like you and I'm stuck with you.'"
The season premiere was masterfully hosted by Jean Smart, accompanied by the soulful tunes of musical guest Jelly Roll, setting the tone for a season filled with laughter, satire, and unforgettable moments.
