Saturday Night Live poked fun at Minnesota Governor Tim Walz after he turned in a disastrous vice presidential debate performance earlier this week.
The new cold open features Vice President Harris, played by Maya Rudolph and Doug Emhoff, played by Andy Samberg, as they watched Tuesday’s debate.
“Ok, he’s out there, he’s doing his thing… whatever that may be,” Rudolph said, employing a brilliant Harris impression with a glass of wine in-hand.
She goes on to state that she wish she had picked “Josh,” seemingly in reference to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who was widely viewed as a strong vice presidential contender until Harris decided on Walz at the last minute. A number of pundits have questioned the decision given Shapiro’s popularity in a pivotal swing state.
Samberg then asks if she was referring to Josh Shapiro, at which point Rudolph pulls out another bottle of wine called “Josh” and starts pouring.
“Look, Tim will be fine. It’s not like he’s gonna say anything crazy,” Samberg then says reassuringly. At that point, the debate cuts to Walz’s “friends with school shooters” gaffe, causing Rudolph to break the wine glass in her hand.
SNL — which still retains its left-wing lean — has managed to poke fun at the Biden-Harris Campaign on multiple occasions over the past two weeks.
In last week’s season premiere, Rudolph’s Harris character was joined by SNL veteran Dana Carvey as President Biden. Carvey — who portrayed multiple president’s during his time on the show — proceeded to deliver an expert impression of President Biden’s mannerisms and forgetful speaking style.
“Folks! That’s right. A lot of people forget I’m president, including me. But guess what? And by the way,” Carvey said before pausing.
“I think I did a pretty good job. I passed more bills than any president in history. But folks, we still got work to do. No joke. I’m being serious right now. Come on. And guess what? And by the way, the fact of the matter is.”
As the debate disaster continues to play out, SNL leaned into the awkwardness of Walz’s performance by introducing a mock analysis segment featuring cast members as political pundits. Kenan Thompson played a seasoned political analyst, offering his take on Walz’s slip-up.
“Listen, folks, debates are tough. One wrong move, and you’re the headline for the next week,” Thompson’s character quipped. “But saying you’re ‘friends with school shooters?’ That’s a new one.”
The segment then cuts back to Samberg’s Emhoff, looking increasingly worried as he watches his wife, played by Rudolph, visibly struggling to keep her composure. “I mean, who among us hasn’t had a gaffe or two?” Emhoff offers nervously, trying to lighten the mood.
The sketch ends with a mock post-debate analysis where cast members hilariously over-analyze Walz’s performance. Cecily Strong, portraying a cable news anchor, sums it up: “In summary, the debate had winners, losers, and Tim Walz — who might now be reconsidering his friendship policy.”
SNL’s playful jab at the Biden-Harris campaign, particularly their vice-presidential pick, reflects the show’s tradition of using humor to comment on current political events. Despite the left-leaning tendency of the show, this season has seen an increase in humor aimed at both sides of the political aisle, adding more complexity and balance to their satire.
Fans of the show have praised its renewed focus on political humor, which has been a hallmark of SNL for decades. As the election season heats up, viewers can likely expect more cold opens and sketches that humorously dissect the ups and downs of the campaigns.
