‘SNL’ Reveals Jim Gaffigan as Tim Walz, Andy Samberg as Doug Emhoff in Cold Open With Maya Rudolph’s Kamala Harris

As a seasoned movie critic with over three decades of experience under my belt, I must say that Saturday Night Live’s 50th season opener was a triumphant return to form. The casting choices were spot-on, particularly Jim Gaffigan as Tim Walz and Andy Samberg as Doug Emhoff.


On Saturday, during the premiere of “Saturday Night Live”‘s 50th season, it was quickly revealed who would portray Tim Walz and Doug Emhoff in the show.

In the season opener, Jim Gaffigan teamed up with Maya Rudolph, playing a friendly Minnesota Governor and vice-presidential nominee, while Andy Samberg made an appearance as the Vice President’s spouse.

Furthermore, “Saturday Night Live” actor James Austin Johnson reappeared as Donald Trump, while Bowen Yang took on the role of his running mate, JD Vance.

In the illustration, Rudolph revitalized our beloved fun-loving relative, affectionately known as “The Funt.” “The Funt is back with a modern twist,” Rudolph declared. “Twice the fun, twice the fury!

In a jovial manner, Samberg referred to himself as “the Second Gentleman” and humorously hinted at adorning the White House for Christmas with a Hanukkah theme.

Following Harris’ announcement of Walz as her running mate, discussions about who would play him on “SNL” started to circulate. Names like Gaffigan and Steve Martin frequently came up, but in an interview, Martin revealed that “SNL” producer Lorne Michaels had extended an offer for him to portray Walz. However, Martin declined the role, stating, “Lorne, I’m not an impressionist. You need someone who can truly capture the man.” He was chosen because he has gray hair and wears glasses.

In 2021, Martin Short played the role of Emhoff in a comedic Passover sketch. Later, in an interview with Esquire in August 2024, Emhoff expressed his desire for Saturday Night Live to introduce a “Doug character” prior to the election, humorously suggesting actors like Hugh Jackman, Ryan Reynolds, or Chris Hemsworth who resemble him closely.

From 2005 to 2012, Samberg was a regular cast member on “SNL,” but he hasn’t been back for an episode since 2018, and the one time he returned as a host was in 2014. (In other words, he hasn’t hosted or appeared as a cast member after his tenure ended.)

In July, it was revealed that Rudolph would be back on “Saturday Night Live,” this time portraying Vice President Kamala Harris. This announcement came a week after Harris declared her candidacy for presidency, following Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the race. Previously, in December 2019, Rudolph had first played Harris on SNL and was awarded an Emmy for best guest actress in a comedy series, even though her role was minimal, mainly in a presidential debate sketch. Throughout the 2020 election period, Rudolph continued to portray Harris alongside Jim Carrey’s depiction of Biden.

From 2000 to 2007, Rudolph frequently appeared on “SNL”. She reprised her role as Harris when she hosted the show in March 2021, which brought her another Emmy for best guest actress in a comedy series. (She was once more nominated for her most recent hosting appearance on May 11, 2024.)

Rudolph explained the process she used to portray Kamala Harris in her September EbMaster cover story, stating, “When I envisioned her, I saw her enjoying herself.” Consequently, the fictional Kamala we developed reflected that joy. Later, Steve Higgins, a producer from ‘SNL’, mentioned that his wife referred to Harris as a ‘fun aunt.’ This sparked laughter about the term sounding like ‘funt,’ and we ran with it. That moment was when I knew exactly how to approach this character.

On September 28, the 50th season of “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) began, featuring Jean Smart as host and Jelly Roll as musical guest. To mark its significant milestone, SNL will broadcast a live primetime special on February 16. You can catch it every week at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC, or stream it on Peacock.

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2024-09-29 06:46