SNL hilariously lampoons VP debate with unexpected friendly gestures
Election season gets the SNL treatment
The October 5 episode of “Saturday Night Live” wasted no time diving into political waters, opening with a biting and humorous take on the recent vice presidential debate. The show brought back some of its finest talent to encapsulate the tension, awkward moments, and the occasional comical relief typically found during these heated political exchanges.
Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff enjoy the show
The scene is set with Kamala Harris (Maya Rudolph) and her husband Doug Emhoff (Andy Samberg) comfortably enjoying the debate from their living room. Their reactions provided a humorously human backdrop to the political antics on stage. The moderators, Norah O’Donnell (Heidi Gardner) and Margaret Brennan (Chloe Fineman), orchestrated the debates, asking pointed questions to the contenders Tim Walz (Jim Gaffigan) and JD Vance (Bowen Yang).
Moments of awkwardness
JD Vance kicked off the comedic chaos with an opening remark designed to appeal to female voters: “I want to begin with something that will appeal to women voters: I understand both moderators tonight are mothers, and I like that.” The self-conscious tone set the stage for a night filled with deliberate discomfort and exaggerated humility.
In contrast, Tim Walz reminisced about his days as a teacher, humorously noting, “I gotta grade these papers … I gotta stack of midterms.” However, it was his gaffe—mentioning his friendships with “school shooters”—that swiftly became the highlight, drawing both laughs and cringe.
A bizarrely romantic twist
The sketch took an unusual turn when the candidates, mid-debate, began to show surprising affection for each other’s points. “This guy is good — he’s got an answer for everything,” Walz mused, looking fondly at Vance. The scene escalated as they reached out to touch each other across their podiums, pushing the envelope on political camaraderie.
Fact-checking frustration and unexpected ice cream
In a continuation of the evening’s theme, Vance went on a tirade about his frustration with constant fact-checking, delivering a powerhouse performance filled with exaggerated vexation. Just when the debate seemed to reach its climax, Joe Biden (Dana Carvey) made a surprise entry into Harris and Emhoff’s watch party, armed with his trademark ice cream and a mix of homely wisdom and endearing confusion.
Season premiere highlights
The season 50 premiere on September 28 had already set high expectations with Jim Gaffigan and Andy Samberg stepping into their respective roles as Tim Walz and Doug Emhoff. Jim Gaffigan’s portrayal of the Minnesota governor was met with enthusiasm, especially with lines that poked fun at Minnesota’s unique quirks: “In Minnesota we have a saying: ‘Mind your damn business.’ We also have another saying in Minnesota: ‘My nuts froze to the park bench.’”
Trump and Vance back in action
The show saw the return of James Austin Johnson’s Donald Trump, this time paired with Bowen Yang’s take on Ohio Senator JD Vance. Andrew Dismukes also shone as “World News Tonight” anchor David Muir, humorously jabbing at the debate format with lines like, “biased toward the Democrats, which … duh.”
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