Saturday Night Live's latest episode shocked Americans as it took shots at Vice President Kamala Harris in a skit set during the vice-presidential debate.
The Daily Mail reported that the show opened with a humorous scene at home with Kamala Harris, played by Maya Rudolph, and her husband Douglas Emhoff, portrayed by Andy Samberg. They were depicted relaxing on their couch, ready to watch the vice-presidential debate.
As the debate progressed on their TV screen, Rudolph’s portrayal of Harris showed her increasingly agitated and turning to wine for solace.
The wine, amusingly branded “Josh,” seemed to be a coping mechanism as she watched the unfolding political discourse, which she critiqued heavily.
The sketch humorously illustrated Harris's frustration, culminating in her breaking a wine glass. This act of frustration was met with laughter and could be seen as a metaphor for breaking tensions in political debates.
This portrayal of Harris has no doubt ignited outrage within the Harris campaign as SNL's satirical skit has touched on the Vice President's alleged drinking problem and her collapsing public image.
Responses on social media were immediate and varied. Many users praised SNL for its brutal honesty and humor in handling political figures, suggesting a shift towards a more non-partisan approach in their comedy. Quotes from users highlighted a perceived shift, with one stating, "Finally, SNL is going back to non-partisan comedy love this."
A critical aspect of the sketch was its portrayal of other political figures besides Harris and Emhoff. Bowen Yang played JD Vance, who alongside Jim Gaffigan’s Tim Walz, was mocked for their reverential tone during the debate. This included Walz confusing Hong Kong with Epcot in Germany, adding a comedic twist to his portrayal.
Dana Carvey joined the comedic fray portraying a bumbling and confused Joe Biden. Appearing in the Harris household supposedly to offer advice, his performance sparked additional comedic highlights.
This portrayal contributed to the ongoing narrative of the sketch, injecting humor into the portrayal of political leadership.
Moreover, Rudolph’s Harris reminisced about her own debate experiences, particularly against Donald Trump, commenting on his "tiny crowds," which reportedly "broke his brain."
This line added a personal touch to her character, suggesting a blend of competitive spirit mixed with a dismissive attitude towards her political opponents.
The sketch also included Heidi Gardner and Chloe Fineman as debate moderators Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan. Their portrayals brought additional believability and depth to the sketch, framing the chaos of the political debate with stern journalistic poise.
As emotions ran high during the debate’s broadcast, Emhoff’s character suggested switching to a less stressful program, humorously mentioning the Menendez Brothers' show as an alternative.
This line, while dark, punctuated the stressful nature of political viewing, adding a layer of dark humor to the sketch.
Closing the sketch, Harris and Emhoff concluded that despite the debate's tension, it was a "huge victory" that "made no difference," echoing a sense of political fatigue. This sentiment summed up the night's satirical commentary on the effectiveness and impact of political debates.
From mistaken debate identities to satirical portrayals of political figures, the episode was a mirror to the absurdity and stress of political campaigns, capturing the attention and laughter of viewers while providing sharp commentary on the current political discourse.