NEW YORK – “Saturday Night Live” began its 50th season with 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.
“We have to stay focused,” Rudolph-as-Harris said at a mock rally in the program’s cold open. “If we win, together, we can put an end to the drama-la and the trauma-la and go relax in our pajamas.”
After bringing up his running mate Tim Walz, played by comedian and actor Jim Gaffigan, he invited Samberg, as Emhoff, to the stage and then, almost as an afterthought, Biden, played by the oldest of the group, Carvey, 69 years old. .
“A lot of people forget that I’m president, including me,” said Carvey, best known on the show for playing President George HW Bush in the late 1980s.
Rudolph and Carvey co-presented “Live from New York, It’s Saturday Night” which kicked off the sketch comedy institution’s 50th season.
Rudolph had been reported returning to play Harris (she won an Emmy for playing her previously), but he wasn’t sure when she would appear. Carvey, Samberg and Gaffigan’s guests were surprises.
“Designing Women” star Jean Smart, who just won her sixth Emmy for her lead role in “Hacks,” was the host, a role the 73-year-old has somehow never played in her four decades of career.
“I remember watching the first episode of ‘SNL’ and thinking, ‘Someday I’m going to host that show,'” Smart said in her opening monologue. “And this is the first Saturday that fits into my schedule.”
That first episode occurred on October 11, 1975, with Lorne Michaels at the helm, just as he is now.
George Carlin hosted and the nation got its first dose of the players not ready for prime time: Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman and Garrett Morris.
There were two musical guests, Billy Preston and Janis Ian, playing two songs each, the norm in the early days.
Country singer and rapper Jelly Roll had the musical role to himself on Saturday, singing his songs “Liar” and “Sober.” Like Smart, it was his first time.
Smart hosted Jelly Roll with his “Hacks” co-star, Hannah Einbinder, daughter of original cast member Newman.
That debut show is documented and recreated in Jason Reitman’s newly released film, “Saturday Night,” part of a wave of reflection and celebration the show is riding on the cusp of its 50th anniversary.
Despite this Saturday night’s eye-catching guest stars, the regular cast members took on the bulk of the show, which quickly settled into its usual routine.
James Austin Johnson reprized Donald Trump at his own rally, saying he wanted Biden as an opponent instead of Harris.
“We miss Joe Biden, folks,” Johnson’s Trump said. “What we would give to have him by my side and be old.”
Colin Jost and Michael Che returned for another season of the news drill “Weekend Update.”
“There were so many crazy political stories this summer and everyone kept asking, ‘Are you so bummed about not being on the air right now?’ Jost said let’s open the segment. “And I thought, ‘I have a feeling there’s more going to happen when we get back.’”
Rudolph, Carvey, Gaffigan and Samberg joined Smart, Jelly Roll and the cast on stage for the traditional farewell.
Upcoming episodes are set to feature host Nate Bargatze with musical guest Coldplay, Ariana Grande with Stevie Nicks, Michael Keaton with Billie Eilish and John Mulaney with Chappell Roan.
Those shows will lead up to a three-hour primetime special on February 16 that will serve as an official celebration of the 50th season. It’s sure to feature a wide range of the many stars the show has spawned, including Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy, Billy Crystal, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Robert Downey Jr., Mike Myers, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler . and Will Ferrell.
