NEW YORK — “Saturday Night Live” has a parade of former co-stars, including Maya Rudolph as Vice President Kamala Harris, Andy Samberg as her husband Doug Emhoff and Dana Carvey as President Joe Biden. It started its 50th season.
“We have to stay focused,” Rudolph, who plays Harris, said during the show’s cold outdoor mock assembly. “If we win, we can put an end to the drama and trauma together and relax in our pajamas.”
After bringing out vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, played by comedian and actor Jim Gaffigan, she invited Samberg, who plays Emhoff, onto the stage, and then, almost as an afterthought, brought Biden, played by the oldest of the group, 69-year-old Carvey, on stage. I was invited to .
“A lot of people, myself included, forget that I’m the president,” said Carvey, who is known for playing President George H.W. Bush in the late 1980s on the show.
Rudolph and Carvey collaborated on “Live from New York, It’s Saturday Night” to kick off the sketch comedy troupe’s 50th season.
Rudolph was reported to be returning to the role of Harris, but it was unclear when she would appear. The guest appearances from Carvey, Samberg, and Gaffigan were all surprises.
“Designing Women” star Jean Smart, who had just won her sixth Emmy for her lead role in “Hux,” hosted the show, but for some reason the 73-year-old has never been in the spotlight in her 40-year career. It was a role I had never played before.
“I remember watching the first episode of ‘SNL’ and thinking, ‘One day I’m going to host that show,'” Smart said in his opening monologue. “And today is the first Saturday that fits my schedule.”
Its first episode took place on October 11, 1975, and was helmed by the same Lorne Michaels as he is today.
Hosted by George Carlin, the nation’s “Not Ready for Prime Time” cast included Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman and Garrett Morris. We were introduced for the first time.
It was an early standard for two musical guests, Billy Preston and Janis Ian, to each perform two songs.
On Saturday, country singer and rapper Jelly Roll took the musical duties to himself, singing his songs “Liar” and “Sober.” Like Smart, he was also a beginner.
Smart introduced Jelly Roll along with his “Hux” co-star Hannah Einbinder, the daughter of original cast member Newman.
That debut show is documented and recreated in the newly released Jason Reitman film Saturday Night, part of a wave of reflection and celebration for the show as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Despite some fancy guest appearances this Saturday night, the regular cast carried most of the show and quickly settled into a regular routine.
James Austin Johnson once again played Donald Trump at his rally, saying he wanted Biden to be his opponent instead of Harris.
“Folks, we’re going to miss Joe Biden,” Johnson said. “Even with him next to me and being older, things we can’t give.”
Colin Jost and Michael Che are back for another season of mock news “Weekend Update.”
“There was so much crazy political stuff this summer that people kept asking, ‘Are you depressed that it’s not on the air now?'” Jost said to open the segment. “And I thought, ‘I feel like something more is going to happen when I go back.'”
Rudolph, Carvey, Gaffigan and Samberg joined Smart, Jelly Roll and the cast on stage for the traditional greeting.
Upcoming episodes will feature host Nate Bergatze and musical guests Coldplay, Ariana Grande and Stevie Nicks, Michael Keaton and Billie Eilish, John Mulaney and Chapel Lawn.
The shows will lead into a three-hour primetime special on February 16th to officially celebrate the 50th season. The show has produced such greats as Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy, Billy Crystal, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Robert Downey Jr., Mike Myers, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and more. There is no doubt that a wide range of stars will appear. And Will Ferrell.
