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Saturday Night Live’s landmark 50th season will kick off nearly over a month ahead of the 2024 presidential election with plenty of material for its cold opens and other political skits.
With Maya Rudolph returning to portray Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris, its likely that James Austin Johnson will portray Donald Trump and or Joe Biden in parodies of the candidates. Doug Emhoff (who has been portrayed in the past by Martin Short) and Vice President Tim Walz will also likely receive parodies, though Short’s Only Murders in the Building costar Steve Martin has declined the ask to portray Walz.
The first five consecutive SNL shows’ hosts and musical guests have been announced, and given the volume and talent of cast members over the years, a look back at political parodies by hosts, guests and members of the comedy ensemble can be found below.
Will Ferrell as Dubya
The comedian portrayed President George W. Bush in Season 26 to shed more light on the decision to bomb Iraq, even roping in a Bill Clinton scandal. The new take on bipartisanship got laughs from the 2001 audience.
Chevy Chase as President Ford
The roots of SNL’s political parody go all the way back to its debut season in 1975 and its first — and one of its most famous — presidential portrayals. On the show’s fourth episode, Chevy Chase inagurated his version of a bumbling President Gerald Ford. Chase was playing off of a much-publicized incident wherein Ford fell down a series of steps while exiting a plane.
Tina and Amy as Sarah and Hillary
Long gone are the days of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler starring together in skits, but one from 2013 sill rings true over a decade later. Their portrayal of Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton, respectively, echoes the environment around VP Harris’ bid for the White House, closer than even Fey’s Palin.
Amy Poehler plays Katie Couric and interviews Tina as Sarah Palin
Fey also played Palin alongside Amy Poehler’s Katie Couric in a multiple-part interview between the Alaska governor and the journalist.
Dan Aykroyd as Jimmy Carter
In Season 2, Dan Aykroyd played a near-perfect Jimmy Carter, lampooning the then-president’s penchant for minutiae on his “Ask President Carter” radio call-in show, which was hosted from the Oval Office by Walter Cronkite.
Alec and Kate as Donald and Hillary
Alec Baldwin portrayed Donald J. Trump and Kate McKinnon played Hillary Clinton in a debate moderated by Tom Hanks.
The Brett Kavanaugh hearing with Matt Damon
Matt Damon elicited gasps when he appeared as Judge Brett Kavanaugh in Season 44 as the Supreme Court Justice was under scrutiny after Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony. Alex Moffat played Senator Chuck Grassley; Cecily Strong played Diane Feinstein, Rachel Dratch played Amy Klobuchar, Mikey Day played Thom Tillis; Chris Rwedd played Cory Booker; Kyle Mooney played John Kennedy; Pete Davidson played Sheldon Whitehouse; Kate McKinnon played Lindsey Graham and Aidy Bryant played prosecutor Rachel Mitchell. Leslie Jones appeared as Fox News anchor Harris Faulkner, as well.
Larry David as Bernie Sanders
Fulfilling many fans’ wishes, Larry David appeared on the show’s 2015 Democratic presidential debate parody as Bernie Sanders, a portrayal that Deadline called “dead-on hilarious.”
Kate McKinnon as Laura Ingraham
Kate McKinnon went on to portray Laura Ingraham in a sketch based on The Ingraham Angle where she talked to Cecily Strong’s Jeanine Pirro.
Melissa McCarthy playing Sean Spicer
Melissa McCarthy portrayed White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer — replete with gum-chewing and mobile lectern — multiple times, in the company of journalists played by Bobby Moynihan, Kristen Stewart, Cecily Strong, Vanessa Bayer, Alex Moffat, Mike Day and more.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
There have been so many great political parodies over the years that it’s hard to keep a list to just 10, so here are some other worthy contenders.
Kate McKinnon as Jeff Sessions
Season 50 Premiere Episode Cold Open – Feat. Andy Samberg as Doug Emhoff
Maya Rudolph as Kamala Harris
Scarlett Johansson as Ivanka Trump and Katie Britt
Mikey Day as President Joe Biden (feat. Heidi Gardner as Marjorie Taylor Greene)
Cecily Strong as Melania Trump
Eric Trump and Donald Jr. played by Alex Moffat and Mikey Day
James Austin Johnson as Donald Trump
