With election day just over a month away, Saturday Night Live is ramping up its comedic efforts.
The iconic show welcomed back former cast members Dana Carvey and Andy Samberg to portray President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ husband Doug Emhoff, respectively. The Season 50 premiere kicked off with a cold open featuring a comedic duel between Maya Rudolph’s Harris and James Austin Johnson’s Donald Trump at competing campaign rallies.
Rudolph’s Harris took center stage first, attempting to rally support in a swing state she humorously dubbed “WisconsnaPennsylvaGeorgia.” She assured voters that her administration would “protect your VaGeorgia” and likened her campaign to Sabrina Carpenter’s hit song “Espresso,” noting the lyrics may be unclear, but the vibe is strong. She introduced her running mate, Tim Walz, portrayed by comedian Jim Gaffigan, who boasted about his “big dad energy” while showcasing his Kirkland brand suit. Samberg’s portrayal of Doug Emhoff included a playful twist, where he referred to himself as the “Second Gentlemensch” and laid down a strong statement from his L.A. roots: “Don’t start no stuff, won’t be no stuff, Donald!”
On the flip side, Johnson’s Trump started his rally with a humorous observation about attendees trying to leave: “I see you trying to leave, but the doors are locked!” He expressed his discontent about not running against Biden, wistfully wishing for the days when Biden could stand beside him. He made some outlandish claims to scare the audience about immigrants, invoking a bizarre image of them doing freak-offs with dogs. The segment also featured cast member Bowen Yang as Trump’s vice presidential pick JD Vance, who awkwardly tried to rally the crowd while sharing the stage with Trump, who seemed less than enthusiastic about his running mate.
Back at Harris’s rally, Carvey appeared as a befuddled Biden, rambling nonsensically until Harris attempted to usher him off the stage. In a comedic moment, he lamented about not wanting to step aside as the nominee, insisting, “I didn’t want to! They made me!” Harris tried to redirect her speech, humorously stating, “We can end the drama-la, and the trauma-la, and go relax in our pajama-las,” only to be interrupted by a wandering Biden who was getting far too close for comfort.
You can check out a clip from this SNL cold open below and participate in our poll to grade the premiere.