As a long-time SNL fan and avid political observer, I must say that Saturday Night Live has always been a unique blend of humor and social commentary, especially during election seasons. However, this time around, it seems like they’re treading on familiar yet slightly different territory with the return of Donald Trump to the presidency.
On Saturday night, Saturday Night Live made its return after Donald Trump’s election win, and the show delved into a political satire, albeit indirectly. Instead of placing us in a scene with Trump or Kamala Harris, the cast spoke directly to the camera, sharing their thoughts on recent events, while playfully praising both Trump and the future President with lighthearted humor. They also discussed their longtime backing of him.
The viral drawing cleverly combines humor with a delicate balance between the show’s intense and polarizing response following Donald Trump’s 2016 victory and its usual lively cold openings. Audience responses have been generally positive, and I found it amusing as well. However, while watching, I couldn’t help but ponder some significant questions that the show might need to address in a scenario where Trump is president once more. Let’s discuss a few of these questions.
How Negative Is SNL Going To Be In Its Portrayal Of Donald Trump?
Before delving into politics, Donald Trump frequently appeared on Saturday Night Live, mainly due to Darrell Hammond’s impression of him. Hammond’s portrayal of the real estate tycoon was exaggerated and comical, yet endearing. He was audacious, but in a playful manner that made him appear innocuous.
Despite his competition with Hillary Clinton, the television series shifted focus towards Alec Baldwin, who portrayed a Trump character marked by intense anger and malice. This representation was evidently rooted in hostility and ill-will, which attracted considerable media attention and viewership. However, it also lent an overtly political tone to the show that had not been present before. Interestingly, the President himself openly criticized this portrayal, expressing his preference for a different version by Hammond.
More recently, Trump (who hasn’t been as frequent a guest on the program) has been played by James Austin Johnson. His portrayal, which many consider the most authentic of the three, attempts to strike a balance between the initial harmless depiction and Baldwin’s more intense interpretation. This week saw an exaggerated and muscle-bound version in the cold open, leading many to believe that Johnson will continue with this impression in future episodes.
Instead of focusing on how negatively the show will portray Trump, let’s discuss how Baldwin’s harsh depiction contributed significantly to the cultural impact of the program in political discourse, yet it also deterred some viewers due to its overly critical stance. In contrast, Johnson’s approach has been more balanced, but it hasn’t garnered the same level of mainstream attention. Will the portrayal be adjusted to highlight different aspects of Trump’s character?
What Random Celebs Could We See Play Key People In Trump’s Orbit?
Well, let me tell ya, I’m feeling pretty darn certain that James Austin Johnson will carry on portraying Trump. His impersonation is simply spot-on. Now, you might remember Alec Baldwin returning a while back to play another character, not old man Trump. As for Bowen Yang, I reckon he’ll keep up with his JD Vance impression too.
In political satire, it’s tough to predict the frequency of Vice Presidents’ appearances because their roles in real-life politics can vary greatly. Some Vice Presidents play significant roles in the administration, while others are more ceremonial and less involved in daily affairs. However, given Vance’s involvement, it seems unlikely that Yang would be sidelined from the show in this regard.
During the transition and early days in Trump’s presidency, we’ll encounter numerous political figures, much like Melissa McCarthy’s well-known portrayal of Press Secretary Sean Spicer or Kate McKinnon’s popular depiction of advisor Kellyanne Conway on SNL. Expect more characters similar to these, and it’s possible that they won’t be played by the show’s regular cast. There’s a chance we might see familiar faces from the past or unexpected celebrities making an appearance.
Will We See The Celebs Who Played Harris And Her Team Again?
Discussing past show participants and well-known figures like Maya Rudolph, Andy Samberg, Jim Gaffigan, and others, what can we anticipate regarding their impressive impersonations? The audience’s reception to their performances during this election season has been overwhelmingly favorable. It was expected that we would continue enjoying their work throughout Season 50; however, with Kamala Harris not winning the election, it seems there won’t be as great a demand for them in the future.
Can we expect these characters to be incorporated into other segments throughout the remainder of the season, or are they no longer going to make an appearance? Despite this, Dana Carvey, who has been appearing as outgoing president Joe Biden, recently made a guest appearance and impersonated Elon Musk. This was a smaller part, but it suggests that we might continue seeing Carvey on the show, with the possibility of other guests also joining in. At the very least, I would appreciate an update from the Kamala campaign to wrap up the impression series.
How Important Is Politics Going To Be To The Show Moving Forward?
In the realm of gaming, this question might translate as: “Out of all the questions, this one seems to be the biggest and most crucial. Sometimes, during the epic journey of Saturday Night Live spanning over five decades, politics took center stage, becoming the main attraction that viewers were eagerly waiting to see. They wanted to know the show’s take on the President or a significant political scandal. But there have also been instances where politics was just one among many topics the show humorously addressed. Some episodes might include a political sketch, while others did not. Politics was simply one of the subjects they occasionally delved into.
Throughout Donald Trump’s first term as president, “Saturday Night Live” centered heavily on political satire. Alec Baldwin’s portrayal of Trump was frequently featured in the cold open or significant skits for several years. Now, Lorne Michaels and his team must weigh whether they wish to continue down this path. It’s a challenging decision to make. While political sketches tend to spark more dialogue, they can also overshadow the rest of the show, creating a delicate balance.
At present, our only course of action is to stay tuned as Saturday Night Live (SNL) carries on with this season. We can anticipate that more distinguished guest stars will drop by to commemorate the 50th season, along with the significant event slated for February. However, it’s a gradual process to determine the direction they’ll take and the extent of political content we might encounter. SNL is set to come back on air next week with a fresh episode featuring Charlie XCX as the host.
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2024-11-10 18:39