SNL Kicks Off Its 50th Season with a Hilarious Cold Open
Highlights
- Jim Gaffigan plays Tim Walz in SNL’s 50th season opener.
- Maya Rudolph returns as Kamala Harris, showcasing her comedic flair.
- Andy Samberg makes a long-awaited return as Doug Emhoff.
- Dana Carvey debuts his impression of President Joe Biden.
- SNL continues its legacy of sharp political satire and humor.
The iconic sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live (SNL) launched its 50th season with a bang on September 28, 2024, featuring a star-studded cold open.
This episode prominently highlighted Jim Gaffigan’s portrayal of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz alongside Maya Rudolph’s Vice President Kamala Harris.
The comedic duo was joined by other notable stars, including Andy Samberg as Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff and Dana Carvey debuting his impression of President Joe Biden.
In a sketch titled “The Funt has been rebooted,” Rudolph’s Harris character returned as America’s “fun aunt,” delivering laughs with her unique charm.
Gaffigan, portraying Walz, delighted the audience with witty quips like, “In Minnesota, we have a saying: ‘Mind your damn business.’ We also have another saying: ‘My nuts froze to the park bench.’”
Samberg, a former SNL cast member, made his comeback after six years, humorously referring to himself as the “Second Gentlemensch.”
He cleverly joked about holiday decorations at the White House, saying, “The theme is Hanukkah.”
The comedy segment also featured James Austin Johnson as Donald Trump and Bowen Yang as his running mate, JD Vance, with Andrew Dismukes stepping in as journalist David Muir. Dismukes quipped about ABC News debates being “biased toward the Democrats,” drawing laughs from the audience.
Prior to the show, there was much anticipation regarding who would portray Tim Walz.
While Jim Gaffigan was a popular choice, Steve Martin had also been approached for the role but declined, suggesting that SNL needed someone who could truly capture Walz’s essence.
Martin noted that he didn’t consider himself an impressionist, stating, “You need someone who can really nail the guy.”
Emhoff had previously been portrayed by Martin Short in a 2021 Passover-themed sketch. Recently, he expressed his hopes for a “good Doug character” to appear on the show leading up to the election.
He jokingly suggested casting someone like Hugh Jackman or Ryan Reynolds to take on the role.
Rudolph has a rich history with SNL, first portraying Harris in December 2019. Her portrayal resonated with audiences, earning her an Emmy for guest actress in a comedy series.
She continued to capture viewers during the 2020 election cycle and has now returned to SNL, reigniting interest in her comedic take on Harris.