The curtain opened on Saturday Night Live's 50th season with a bang, as the iconic sketch comedy series kicked off its milestone anniversary with a hilarious cold open. Jim Gaffigan joined Maya Rudolph in the season premiere, playing Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Harris' running mate, respectively. Andy Samberg made a surprise appearance as Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, bringing his signature goofy charm to the role.

The sketch saw Rudolph's "Funt" character return, with a rebooted version that poked fun at the absurdity of politics. Gaffigan's Walz quipped about Minnesota's laid-back attitude, saying, "In Minnesota, we have a saying: 'Mind your damn business.' We also have another saying in Minnesota: 'My nuts froze to the park bench.'" Samberg's Emhoff, meanwhile, joked about decorating the White House for Christmas, proclaiming, "The theme is Hanukkah."

The cold open also featured Dana Carvey's spot-on impression of Joe Biden, who stumbled over his words, saying, "A lot of people forget I'm president. Even me!" Carvey's Biden was confused and flustered, but ultimately endearing. James Austin Johnson returned as Donald Trump, while Bowen Yang stepped in as his running mate, JD Vance.

The sketch was just one of many highlights from the season premiere, which also saw Rudolph return as Vice President Harris, and Bowen Yang's debut as a cast member. The show kicked off its 50th season with a bang, and it's clear that SNL is ready to bring the laughs for another year.

DOUG EMHOFF

Laughter and Politics: SNL's 50th Season Premiere

Continue reading...