“Saturday Night Live” returned for its 50th season over the weekend, bringing back some “SNL” vets during its premiere.
Jean Smart made her hosting debut on the late night sketch comedy show during the Sept. 28 episode alongside first time musical guest, Jelly Roll.
The milestone season featured changes and additions to the show’s cast members, and brought back some familiar faces to portray key figures in the upcoming election, including Maya Rudolph to reprise her impression of Vice President Kamala Harris.
The episode kicked off with a cold open that followed Harris and former President Donald Trump’s competing campaign rallies.
After a summer of online debate about who would portray Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on “SNL,” Jim Gaffigan stepped into the role alongside “SNL” alums Andy Samberg as Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff and Dana Carvey as President Joe Biden.
When Gaffigan joined Rudolph on stage as Walz, he joked that he had “BDE,” though his definition of the slang term meant “Big dad energy.”
“When Kamala Harris called me and asked me to be her vice president, I said, ‘Uh, yeah!’” the comedian added. “This is personal for me. I love this country and as a former teacher, I need the money. This suit is from Costco. It’s a Kirkland brand!”
Samberg entered the stage as Emhoff to the song “Teach Me How to Dougie” and shared how happy he was to be supporting his wife.
“I am proud to join the esteemed list of presidential spouses throughout history — women and men, but all women — that have stood by the president’s side,” Samberg said. “And I for one can’t wait to decorate the White House for Christmas. The theme will be Hanukkah.”
The cold open made a pivot from the Harris rally to the Trump rally, which was “entering its third hour.” Cast member James Austin Johnson brought back his Trump impression for the occasion opposite Bowen Yang as JD Vance.
Johnson poked fun at the criticism of Trump’s running mate, noting, “People are saying he was a bad pick and in many ways, he was.”
“How much do we love Donald Trump?” Yang said later in the cold open. “Just this afternoon he told me ‘JD, you’re like a son to me because I don’t like you and I’m stuck with you.’”
Carvey debuted his Biden impression toward the end of the cold open, feigning disorientation the entire time as he walked slowly to the podium and later was seen walking back and forth behind Rudolph when she resumed her spot at the podium.
After Rudolph thanked Carvey’s Biden for “putting the country first” and “handing over the reins,” he chimed in, “I didn’t want to! They made me.”
Will Heath / NBC
After Walz was selected as Harris’ running mate for the upcoming election, the internet had one actor’s name in mind to portray the governor on “SNL”: Steve Martin.
However, the “Only Murders in the Building” star told the Los Angeles Times in August that he turned down the role after it was offered by Lorne Michaels.
“I wanted to say no and, by the way, he wanted me to say no,” Martin explained. “I said, ‘Lorne, I’m not an impressionist. You need someone who can really nail the guy.’ I was picked because I have gray hair and glasses.”
Martin also noted that the role was “ongoing,” adding, “It’s not like you do it once and get applause and never do it again. Again, they need a real impressionist to do that.”