Photo credit: www.tvinsider.com
The cast of Saturday Night Live had a wealth of topical material to work with during this week’s episode, which aired shortly before Donald Trump’s inauguration and amidst the growing controversy surrounding TikTok’s ban in the United States.
Following James Austin Johnson’s portrayal of Trump in the opening segment, host Dave Chappelle—making his fourth appearance on the show—delivered a poignant message directed at the real-life former president. Here’s a recap of the episode’s significant moments.
Imaginary Trump Reflects on TikTok’s Downfall
The cold open featured cast members Sarah Sherman, Ego Nwodim, Andrew Dismukes, Chloe Fineman, and Marcello Hernández acting as MSNBC commentators responding to a barrage of outrageous headlines about Trump. Among the fictional news segments were Trump’s bizarre desire to swap Connecticut for Italy, his comments on Arnold Palmer’s “historic shots,” proposals to combat wildfires with balloons filled with water from the Up house, and even discussions about acquiring the Emerald City.
In a satirical press conference, Johnson’s brand of Trump addressed the TikTok situation, stating, “Yes, we love TikTok, don’t we? We used to disdain it, but it, in many ways, helped me get elected. Now we adore it. We also cherish The Rizzler, don’t we, folks? They’re attempting to take him from us. It’s disheartening. We do enjoy Costco Guys. And we’re doing ‘Get Ready With Me’—that’s exciting. Remember the Ice Bucket Challenge? We loved that.”
Chappelle’s Urgent Message to Trump
Chappelle’s nearly 17-minute monologue addressed various issues, including the wildfires in Los Angeles, President Jimmy Carter’s visit to Palestine, and controversies surrounding figures like Diddy. He concluded with an earnest appeal directed at Trump, stating, “The presidency is no place for petty individuals. So, Donald Trump—I know you’re watching—regardless of whether people voted for you, they are all banking on you. The entire world is counting on you. I genuinely wish you luck. Let’s aim to improve next time. We all must strive for better. Please don’t forget your humanity, and show compassion for those displaced, whether in the Palisades or Palestine.”
SNL Parodies “Pop the Balloon” with Familiar Characters
One sketch parodied a popular YouTube dating format titled “Pop the Balloon or Find Love,” featuring Nwodim as YouTuber Arlette Amuli. The premise involves women meeting potential dates, popping balloons to signify disinterest. In SNL‘s version, several male contestants were characters from Chappelle’s Show, including Chappelle himself as Silky Johnson, who has a comedic showdown with GloRilla, the episode’s musical guest, alongside Donnell Rawlings portraying Ashy Larry.
Saturday Night Live airs Saturdays at 11:30/10:30c on NBC.
Source
www.tvinsider.com