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NEW YORK — “Saturday Night Live” kicked off its 50th season with a parade of former co-stars, including Maya Rudolph as Vice President Kamala Harris, Andy Samberg as her husband Doug Emhoff and Dana Carvey as President Joe Biden.
“We have to stay focused,” Rudolph-as-Harris said during a mock protest on the show. “When we win together, we can end the drama and trauma-la and relax in our pajamas.”
After bringing out running mate Tim Walz, played by comedian and actor Jim Gaffigan, he invited Samberg as Emhoff onstage, and almost as an afterthought, Biden, played by the team’s oldest member, 69-year-old Carvey. .
“A lot of people forget that I’m president, myself included,” said Carvey, best known for playing President George HW Bush on the show in the late 1980s.
Rudolph and Carvey co-hosted “Live from New York, Saturday Night,” kicking off the sketch comedy institution’s 50th season.
It was reported that Rudolph would return for his portrayal of Harris – he previously won an Emmy for the role – but it was not certain when he would appear. Guest appearances by Carvey, Samberg and Gaffigan were all surprises.
“Designing Women” star Jean Smart, fresh off winning her sixth Emmy for her starring role in “Hacks,” hosted the show, a role the 73-year-old actor has never played in his four-decade career.
“I remember watching the first episode of ‘SNL,’ and thinking, ‘I’m going to be the host one day,'” Smart said in his opening monologue. “And this is the first Saturday that fits my schedule.”
The first episode aired on October 11, 1975 with Lorne Michaels in the lead, as he does now.
George Carlin hosted and the nation got its first dose of Not Ready for Prime Time Players: Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman and Garrett Morris.
Two musical guests – Billy Preston and Janis Ian – played two songs each, as was customary in the early days.
Country singer and rapper Jelly Roll took on the musical role on Saturday, singing his songs Liar and Sober. Like Smart, he was a first-timer.
Smart introduced Jelly Roll with her “Hacks” co-star Hannah Einbinder, daughter of original cast member Newman.
This debut show will be documented and reenacted in the newly released Jason Reitman film, “Saturday Night,” as part of a wave of reflection and celebration approaching the show’s 50th anniversary.
Despite the flashy guest stars, this Saturday night the regular cast took on the bulk of the show, which quickly settled into a regular routine.
James Austin Johnson once again played Donald Trump at his own rally, saying he wanted Biden as his opponent instead of Harris.
“We miss Joe Biden, folks,” Johnson’s Trump said. “What we wouldn’t give to stand by my side and grow old.”
Colin Jost and Michael Che are back for another season of the “Weekend Update” spoof.
“There were so many crazy political stories this summer, and everyone kept asking, ‘Are you mad that you’re not on the air right now?’ Jost said to open the part. “And I was like, ‘I have a feeling there’s going to be more when we come back.’
Rudolph, Carvey, Gaffigan, and Samberg joined Smart, Jelly Roll, and the cast for the traditional sign.
Next episodes will feature host Nate Bargatze with musical guest Coldplay, Ariana Grande with Stevie Nicks, Michael Keaton with Billie Eilish and John Mulaney with Roan Chappell.
These shows lead up to a three-hour prime-time special on February 16, which will serve as an official celebration of the 50th season. It certainly features a wide array of stars spawned by the series, including Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy, Billy Crystal, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Robert Downey Jr., Mike Myers, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Will Ferrell.