‘SNL’ Spoofs Vice Presidential Debate With Jim Gaffigan’s Tim Walz and Bowen Yang’s J.D. Vance
Saturday Night Live took to the debate stage on Saturday with Bowen Yang’s J.D. Vance and Jim Gaffigan’s Tim Walz.
The latest episode spoofed the vice presidential debate from earlier this week, which saw an awkward Vance and goofy Walz go head-to-head in a somewhat cordial debate. And SNL‘s cold open brought that same energy.
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The sketch kicked off with Maya Rudolph’s Kamala Harris and Andy Samberg’s Douglas Emhoff sitting down to watch the debate. “I am feeling good tonight,” Rudolph says. “We have got momentum. Liz Cheney’s about to endorse me and Bruce Springsteen. ‘Cause baby I was born to run (referencing his song ‘Born To Run’).”
The debate starts with moderators Heidi Gardner’s Norah O’Donnell and Chloe Fineman’s Margaret Brennan asking for the candidates for their opening statements.
“Thank you for having me. I want to begin with something that will appeal to women voters. I understand that both the moderators tonight are mothers and I like that,” Yang’s Vance says awkwardly.
The moderators then toss to a seemingly frantic Walz, who is scribbling on a bunch of papers: “Are you preparing your answers?” Brennan asks.
“No, I gotta grade these papers,” Gaffigan’s Walz says. “Got a stack of midterms.”
The moderators proceeded to get into their questions, with the first centered on how the candidates would solve the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.
“That is such an important question,” Vance says as he avoids directly answering. “Margaret, one that deserves an answer because it’s important and it’s a question that you asked of me tonight.”
As for Walz, he also doesn’t know the answer, “So I’m gonna just say the word fundamental a bunch because debating is 30 percent fun and 70 percent demental.”
Rudolph’s Harris starts to grow concerned after hearing her running mate’s responses, but her husband eases her worries, saying, “It’s not like he’s gonna say something crazy.”
But Samberg’s Emhoff spoke too soon. “I’ve become friends with school shooters,” Gaffigan’s Walz yells, referencing a moment with the Democratic candidate misspoke during the debate.
“As a goofy white guy, this really sets my fellows back,” Samberg’s Emhoff responds. “I’m in a group chat with Josh Gad and Jason Kelce and the mood is dark.”
There was also a moment during the sketch where the two VP candidates find some surprisingly “common ground” and take a moment to stare into each other’s eyes. But the moderators quickly got them back on track with the debate, asking Vance if he would certify the results of the upcoming election, as Donald Trump refused to accept the results of the 2020 election.
“It’s rich to say that Donald Trump is a threat to democracy when he peacefully gave over power — no fact-checking — and willingly — don’t check — got on his plane without incident, right after saving Obamacare — don’t check that,” a fact-check fearing Vance says.
Dana Carvey’s Joe Biden later pays a visit to Harris’ house to stress that during the debate, Walz should be highlighting “all the great things we’ve done” the last four years in the White House.
“Gas prices down, border crossings down and Emmys for The Bear down,” he says. “Everybody get down… tonight.”
Comedian Nate Bargatze returned to Studio 8H on Saturday to host the sketch comedy show for the second time, with musical guest Coldplay.
At the end of the episode, SNL also remembered Kris Kristofferson, who died on Sept. 28, with a special tribute card. The country singer-songwriter hosted the NBC show in 1976, with musical guest Rita Coolidge.
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