The second episode of Saturday Night Live’s 50th season brought big laughs with Nate Bargatze as host and Coldplay as musical guest — but it was the cold open that stole the spotlight.
The sketch spoofed the vice presidential debate on Oct. 2, with Maya Rudolph returning as Vice President Kamala Harris and Andy Samberg as second gentleman Doug Emhoff, watching from home.
Also returning were Bowen Yang as Ohio Sen. JD Vance and Jim Gaffigan as Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, with Heidi Gardner and Chloe Fineman taking on the roles of CBS moderators Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan, respectively.
The sketch captured the cordial and, at times, awkward energy of the real debate, with Vance and Walz deflecting difficult questions — such as Vance’s past comments comparing Donald Trump to Hitler, to which Yang’s Vance claimed, “Context matters. I meant that as a compliment.”
Gaffigan’s Walz countered with his own blunder, parodying the real Walz’s attempt to explain his discredited claim that he was in Hong Kong during the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre: “I think what happened is I went to Epcot,” he responded. “Anyway, I’m a knucklehead.”
As the debate continued, Rudolph’s Harris grew increasingly exasperated, especially when Walz blurted, “I’ve become friends with school shooters,” a line that echoed his real-life debate gaffe.
While Samberg’s Emhoff tried to calm her, she jokingly lamented, “I kind of wish I had picked Josh right now,” referring to a cabernet wine rather than Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who at one point was on a shortlist to become her running mate.
Yang’s Vance dodged questions about Trump’s refusal to accept the results of the 2020 election, while repeatedly telling the moderators not to fact check him, falsely claiming, “Trump peacefully gave over power … after saving Obamacare.”
Similar to the real debate, Walz and Vance found common ground on certain topics. The camaraderie caused Rudolph’s Harris to humorously spit out her wine after realizing they were seeing eye-to-eye — and finishing each other’s sentences.
“Why are they friends? Why are they vibing?!” she yelled at the television with red wine spilling from her mouth.
The sketch concluded with Dana Carvey reprising his role as President Biden, perfectly capturing some of the president’s real-life phrases like: “Oh, and by the way,” “Here’s the deal…” and “I’m being serious.”
Carvey’s Biden downplayed the significance of VP debates by quipping, “Who the hell was Obama’s VP? Nobody knows!”
Who’s hosting next?
Oct. 12: Ariana Grande with musical guest Stevie Nicks
Oct. 19: Michael Keaton with musical guest Billie Eilish
Nov. 2: John Mulaney with musical guest Chappell Roan
