A comedic twist on the election in ‘SNL’ promo

Sound gags and timely satire

Bill Burr and Marcello Hernandez kick off this week’s episode of Saturday Night Live with a hilarious twist on the presidential election. Their challenge: how to reference an ongoing presidential election without knowing the outcome at the time of filming? The answer? A blend of ingenious sound gags and clever comedic timing.

Crafting the perfect sketch

Election jokes amidst absurd interruptions

During a light-hearted discussion on the elections by the craft services table, Burr and Hernandez are humorously interrupted by increasingly loud and absurd noises. This creative setup cleverly implies election results without revealing anything.

“Dude, I cannot believe that … won,” says Hernandez, just as a crew member turns on a blender, completely obscuring the winner’s name.

Burr continues, “Never in a million years — in a million years — did I think that…” only to be drowned out by a vacuum cleaner in the background. This relentless cacophony not only keeps the audience laughing but also maintains the election’s tension without taking sides.

The Epstein gag

Sound gags keep Epstein’s ‘truth’ mysterious

Burr raises the stakes by telling Hernandez a far-fetched tale involving Rudy Giuliani in a steam room, revealing “who actually killed Epstein.” However, just as he is about to spill the name, another crew member conveniently drills into a wall, keeping the ‘revelation’ a secret.

Hernandez doesn’t miss a beat, remarking that his “cousin who works at the Pentagon” shared the same information, just as someone running a leaf blower passes by.

Recreational commentary & voting humor

The sketch’s sharp conclusion

The bit concludes with Hernandez going through a faux list of recreational drugs, exaggeratedly stating, “I have them all stashed.” The absurdity peaks as a band member adds a saxophone solo in the background.

The humor culminates when Hernandez asks Burr who he voted for.

“I voted for everybody,” Burr quips. “Just filled them in.”

Their tie-in to the election ends on a humorous yet reflective note when Hernandez concurs.

“Me too, me too!” he declares, to which Burr adds, “No matter what, I’m right! It wasn’t us. We’re on the sidelines.” This tongue-in-cheek dialogue perfectly encapsulates the feeling of many viewers who feel disconnected from the political process.

Expert analysis

Technical brilliance in satire

This sketch demonstrates SNL’s technical brilliance in satire, exhibiting how sound design can be an integral part of comedic storytelling. The seamless integration of sound gags enhances the absurdity and maintains unpredictability. The precise timing of these noises shows an expert understanding of comedic rhythm and audience engagement.

Moreover, the script’s writing cleverly uses interruption as a narrative device to create humorous suspense and leave audiences guessing the punchlines. This method is often used in comedy to great effect, an example being the classic “Who’s on First?” routine by Abbott and Costello.

Societal reflections

The sketch also subtly reflects on societal sentiments regarding elections and high-profile controversies like Epstein’s death. By using humor to address these heavy topics, SNL continues its tradition of serving as a cultural barometer, providing relief and commentary in turbulent times.

Bill Burr’s episode of Saturday Night Live, featuring musical guest Mk.gee, is set to air on Nov. 9 at 8:30 pm PT / 11:30 pm ET on NBC.

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