Saturday Night Live Opens Post-Election Season
Four days after the historic midterm elections, Saturday Night Live opened at Democrats’ headquarters, where party leaders Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer celebrated, The Guardian reported.
Their toast was interrupted by Donald Trump, who accepted the results even as he lamented having to work with millennial Democrats. The president’s appearance was followed by short walk-ons from JD Vance and Pete Hegseth, before Texas senator-elect James Talarico interrupted the cold open to mock the recurring Trump freezes.
Druski Hosts Post-Election Episode
Comedian and streamer Druski hosted the night’s episode, marking his debut on the late-night sketch series. He claimed to be the first social media influencer to host the program, though previous hosts Issa Rae and Quinta Brunson also built digital followings before moving to traditional television.
Emma Stone joined Druski on stage for brief banter during the broadcast. Reviewing the host’s performance, The Guardian reported that Druski certainly has the energy and comedic chops to host, but whether his style of viral comedy (which includes network no-nos such as cursing and white face) is a good fit for the – some would say hopelessly out of touch – trappings of Saturday Night Live remains to be seen.
Sketches Recreate Documentaries and Tech Scandals
The episode featured a parody of the documentary You Can See Everything titled Dru Can See Everything. In the sketch, Druski moved in with convicted tech fraudster Elizabeth Holmes, played by Jane Wickline, and her husband Billy Evans, played by Ben Marshall.
Additional sketches included an all-Black roundtable on BET program Washington in Focus where a white writer from the Atlantic was joined by panelists who confused Sherrod Brown and Jerome Powell with Black public figures. Druski and Marcello Hernández also appeared as customers in a Dominican phone store sketch featuring slapstick humor and tight pants.
Weekend Update Features Elon Musk
Colin Jost anchored Weekend Update, covering the midterm results and the White House chief of staff transition from Susie Wiles to Stephen Miller. Jost described the staff shift as like trying to get through a dinner party by switching from wine to meth.
Elon Musk appeared following heavy financial losses in backing Republican campaigns and plunging Tesla stock prices. Jeremy Culhane portrayed Musk, delivering what The Guardian described as an impersonation that captured the subject’s flailing attempts to be funny and cool.
The Strokes Perform and Final Sketches Conclude the Night
Musical guests The Strokes performed twice during the evening, with actor Walton Goggins joining the band on bongos and backing vocals during their second set. The final sketch of the night reviewed the fictional 1980s hip-hop group Lenny & the Street Smart Crew.
During the curtain call, Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle appeared on stage to embrace Druski. The episode concluded without addressing whether the show will adjust its political satire following the recent shift in Washington power.
Common Questions About the Broadcast
Who hosted the post-election episode of Saturday Night Live?
Comedian and internet personality Druski hosted the episode following the midterm elections, becoming the latest digital creator to transition to traditional late-night television.
DRUSKI’s Saturday Night Live Ending with EMMA STONE, Democrat Texan James Talarico, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Michael B. Jordan, and the Strokes. #SNL ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ https://t.co/FOWTRnoJHH
Which political figures appeared during the cold open?
The cold open featured fictional portrayals of Hakeem Jeffries, Chuck Schumer, Donald Trump, JD Vance, Pete Hegseth, and Texas senator-elect James Talarico.
Who were the musical guests for the episode?
The rock band The Strokes served as the musical guests, performing two songs with actor Walton Goggins joining them on stage for their second appearance.
druski really went from instagram skits to hosting snl last night he had the strokes as musical guest plus appearances from emma stone, walton goggins and texas senator-elect james talarico who's the next internet comedian getting that callhttps://t.co/uhXZxPJ9jX
More on James Talarico
As Druski made his 'SNL' hosting debut, he was joined for goodnights by Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Walton Goggins, Emma Stone and James Talarico. Read more here: https://t.co/FTZqAWQFMH pic.twitter.com/7lg4ukQJ0K
Thank you, Druski, The Strokes, James Talarico, Emma Stone, Walton Goggins! Goodnight! pic.twitter.com/dDpmlYe0wu
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