How ‘Saturday Night Live’ Responded to the 2020 Election Results
NBC’s hit late-night sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live added an extra episode to their 46th season to cover the 2020 Presidential election results, and here’s what you missed.
On November 7, 2020, comedian Dave Chappelle hosted SNL alongside musical guest the Foo Fighters. The comedian happened to host the election special four years ago, just after Donald Trump was elected President. This year, he delivered a witty monologue that accurately sums up the rollercoaster that has been 2020.
Chappelle. pic.twitter.com/c5GQHKbrKr
— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) November 8, 2020
In addition to this biting monologue, the show opened with a cold-open featuring Jim Carrey as President-elect Joe Biden and Maya Rudolph as Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. The two re-enacted their victory speeches that had taken place just 85 minutes before and were decked out in their exact outfits. SNL writer and creator Lorne Michaels also had Alec Baldwin (portraying President Donald Trump) give a concession speech and sing a slow version of the Village People’s “Macho Man.”
Let’s check in on the president’s concession speech. pic.twitter.com/3If4UzQeXw
— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) November 8, 2020
In the fiery and jubilant cold-open, Rudolph, as Harris emphasized the importance of her being the first female biracial Vice President of the United States. She addressed all of the little Black girls in the audience and said, “Your mom is going to switch from laughing to crying to dancing pretty much all night.”
As Biden, Carrey also emphasized the message that Biden will “be a president for all Americans — whether you’re from a liberal state like California or a conservative state like Oklahoma or a cracked out mess like Florida.” The two humbly accepted the honor of being elected leaders of the country and commenced the show’s opening with Baldwin by saying, “and live from New York, it’s Saturday night!”
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ victory speeches. pic.twitter.com/DRnMCeoqlh
— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) November 8, 2020
SNL writers also made it a point to make fun of President Trump’s refusal to concede and is planning to take legal action in contesting the election results. SNL cast member comedian Kate McKinnon portrayed President Trump’s attorney Rudy Giuliani on Weekend Update and detailed the President’s plans going forward.
Fans voiced their appreciation for the episode on Twitter. The election-themed episode received rave reviews from celebrities and fans alike.
Hats off to the team at SNL for crafting the rare, but possible, perfect hour and a half. Every sketch killed. Monologue gold. Foo Fighters FTW. Got your work cut out for ya trying to follow that one. 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/PH5SfOorRQ
— Jane-O Brunet (@FoxyLuckyCuss) November 9, 2020
We loved Saturday Night Live’s episode and can’t wait to see what the SNL writers and cast members come up with next.
