As a seasoned gamer of Saturday Night Live (SNL) and politics, I can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and nostalgia as we approach the 50th season debut. The anticipation is palpable, especially considering the political climate leading up to the upcoming presidential election.
In just a week’s time, we’re set to witness the start of Saturday Night Live‘s historic 50th season, airing in the 2024 TV lineup. Fans are already buzzing with anticipation, eagerly waiting to see how the writers will address the upcoming presidential election through their humor. It’s been announced that Maya Rudolph will rejoin the cast for SNL 50, taking on the role of Kamala Harris again, and James Austin Johnson is expected to continue his chilling impersonation of Donald Trump. Michael Che and Colin Jost have discussed their excitement about having talents like Rudolph join them for such roles and shared insights into how the cast feels about these appearances.
As a fervent fan, I’m eagerly anticipating the presidential candidates portrayals on SNL 50, especially since Lorne Michaels has been rather secretive about it. However, the identities of those who might embody Harris’s and Trump’s running mates, Tim Walz and JD Vance, remain a mystery. I can only imagine Doug Emhoff’s excitement at the prospect of an impression of him! But here’s the question on everyone’s mind: How do the cast members feel about outsiders being tapped for these roles? Colin Jost shed some light on this when he spoke to THR, saying:
If you’re among the actors who feel more confident about your performance compared to another newcomer, it can be quite disheartening. However, this seems to be the nature of our production.
It seems to imply that some actors may feel uncomfortable when other famous individuals join the cast, perhaps due to boosting recognition or resembling a certain political figure. However, it’s important to acknowledge that at times, personal pride must be put aside for the benefit of the production.
A challenge that Lorne Michaels and his team often encounter is that due to the exceptional presidential impressions on Saturday Night Live in the past, viewers now anticipate this element. Colin Jost mentioned they chose to postpone writing as news developments occur rapidly, but fans took matters into their own hands by preparing material ahead of time, similar to when “the public” assumed Maya Rudolph was coming back before she had agreed to it. Jost added:
As a follower, I find it peculiar how immediately after news like Kamala’s candidacy breaks, discussions about who should portray her on SNL ensue. It’s almost as if there’s already a shortlist of potential actors for Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, before we’ve even had the chance to discuss it!
Indeed, the list you see is authentic, and it showcases some remarkable ideas for Tim Walz’s impression, which was a delight to many viewers. This praise underscores the talent of actors such as Maya Rudolph, Alec Baldwin, Will Ferrell, and others on the cast, as Michael Che noted that political impressions on Saturday Night Live haven’t traditionally been the norm. Che shared this with Jost.
It seems like you initiated the trend of casting Melissa McCarthy as Sean Spicer, didn’t you? I remember when I arrived here, it wasn’t something I was aware of, but it eventually became quite popular.
Absolutely, Melissa McCarthy’s portrayal of the ex-press secretary was quite captivating (and even Spicer had his own opinions about McCarthy’s impression), and it’s not hard to see why fans of SNL would be thrilled to witness such iconic moments being generated from this current election period.
Luckily for us, we don’t have much longer to find out who’ll be gracing our screens, as Saturday Night Live’s 50th season kicks off at 11:30 p.m. ET on September 28. The premiere will feature Jean Smart from the show “Hacks” as host, and country artist Jelly Roll serving as the musical guest. This historic season is also expected to welcome back several past stars, causing quite a stir among fans, particularly with the news of John Mulaney and Chappell Roan’s appearances.
Saturday Night Live will air on NBC and can be streamed with a Peacock subscription.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-09-20 19:39