SNL Kicks off 50th Season with a Star-Studded Cast
“Saturday Night Live,” one of the most celebrated and longest running sketch comedy shows on TV, has kicked off its 50th season in high style. The premiere episode brought back 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.
These comedy veterans took to the stage with their always spot-on impersonations, lighting up the SNL stage once again. From Maya Rudolph’s Vice President Kamala Harris reminding everyone to stay focused, to Dana Carvey’s forgetful President Joe Biden, it was a night of familiar laughs. After all, who could forget Carvey’s iconic impression of President George H.W. Bush from the late 80s?
Yet, the surprises didn’t stop there. Comedy heavyweight Jim Gaffigan showed up to play running mate Tim Walz, while “Designing Women” star and recent Emmy winner Jean Smart graced the stage as host. It was a night of unexpected returns, hilarious sketches, and more than a few surprises.
Key Highlights of the Premiere
The 50th season of SNL opened with a mock rally, wherein Rudolph-as-Harris delivered a humorous speech about ending the “drama-la and the trauma-la.” Following this, she invited Samberg’s Emhoff and Carvey’s Biden – the latter of whom humorously noted how people, including him, often forget he’s the President.
Smart, who has never hosted the show in her four-decade career, took to the stage saying she remembered watching the first episode of SNL and wishing to host it one day. SNL’s tradition of musical guests continued with country singer and rapper Jelly Roll, who was introduced by Smart and her co-star Hannah Einbinder, the daughter of original cast member Laraine Newman.
Despite the line-up of guest stars, the regular cast members carried the bulk of the show, with James Austin Johnson reprising his role as Donald Trump and Colin Jost and Michael Che returning for another season of the mock-news “Weekend Update.”
Looking Ahead: SNL’s 50th Season
Upcoming episodes promise to continue the trend of star-studded features, with hosts and musical guests including Nate Bargatze with Coldplay, Ariana Grande with Stevie Nicks, Michael Keaton with Billie Eilish, and John Mulaney with Chappell Roan.
All this leads up to a three-hour primetime special on Feb. 16, which will serve as the official 50th season celebration. It’s set 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.
In conclusion, the 50th season of SNL has kicked off with a bang. The premiere episode was a testament to the show’s enduring appeal and its ability to continually surprise and delight its audience. As the season progresses, viewers can look forward to a mix of fresh talent and beloved veterans, all adding to the legacy of this iconic show. Here’s to 50 years of SNL, and many more to come.
