The 50th season premiere of “Saturday Night Live” kicked off with a riotous cold open that pitted former President Donald Trump against Vice President Kamala Harris in a mock “Family Feud” game show, delivering a fresh dose of political satire just weeks before the upcoming elections.
The sketch opened with James Austin Johnson’s Donald Trump characteristically dodging a presidential debate with Kamala Harris, played by the ever-brilliant Maya Rudolph. Instead, Trump proposes a face-off on “Family Feud,” setting the stage for a comedic clash of political titans.
Maya Rudolph as Kamala Harris on SNL's Family Feud sketch
Rudolph’s Harris was joined by a Democratic team featuring Andy Samberg as Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, Jim Gaffigan as Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and Dana Carvey reprising his role as President Joe Biden. On the Republican side, Mikey Day played Donald Trump Jr. and Bowen Yang took on the role of Senator JD Vance, creating a tableau of political figures ripe for comedic skewering.
Kenan Thompson flawlessly embodied “Family Feud” host Steve Harvey, setting the tone for the sketch’s humor. Rudolph’s Harris, in her introduction, quipped about Harvey’s lucrative career, stating, “I love to see a man getting paid millions of dollars at his Black job.” The sketch cleverly weaved in current political narratives, with Harris boasting about her campaign’s billion-dollar fundraising haul, only to be met with Harvey’s pointed question about her polling numbers. Harris’s nervous laughter and admission of screaming the same question into her pillow provided a relatable and humorous glimpse into the pressures of political campaigning. The sketch also poked fun at Harris’s increased media appearances, with Emhoff (Samberg) lamenting being excluded from interviews.
The Republican team, represented by Yang’s JD Vance, delivered their share of satirical punches. Vance’s character ironically praised “Family Feud” for celebrating families, contrasting it with Democrats who, in his comedic view, had transformed “our hero, the Joker,” into a gay character with a Lady Gaga obsession – a humorous jab at culture war debates.
Maya Rudolph as Kamala Harris on SNL's Family Feud sketch
A highlight of the “Family Feud” game was the question about items kept in a glove compartment. Rudolph’s Harris delivered a signature long-winded, politician-like answer before finally stating, “A glock, Steve. A big old glock,” referencing recent discussions about her firearm ownership. The comedic timing was further amplified when Samberg’s Emhoff, mimicking Harris’s impressive (and unexpected) answer, gave the same response – which, hilariously, turned out to be on the “Family Feud” board, twice!
Carvey’s Biden added another layer of comedy, portraying the president as bewildered and out of touch, mistaking Harvey for Regis Philbin and asking to buy a vowel, playing on age-related stereotypes often used in political humor. Biden’s line, “I’m not the old one now, Trump is,” followed by “The only difference, I know when to walk away: about six months too late!” landed as a sharp, self-deprecating joke. Johnson’s Trump concluded the sketch with a rambling, incoherent answer, prompting Harvey to exclaim, “Show me dementia!” in a darkly comedic finale.
Beyond Politics: Ariana Grande and Stevie Nicks Take the SNL Stage
The episode wasn’t solely focused on political satire. Host Ariana Grande showcased her impressive range of celebrity impersonations. In her opening monologue, Grande cleverly declared she wouldn’t be singing, only to launch into a song punctuated by spot-on impressions of Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, and Gwen Stefani. Later in the show, Grande’s Jennifer Coolidge and Celine Dion impressions in various sketches drew significant laughs from the audience, further cementing her versatility as a performer.
Maya Rudolph as Kamala Harris on SNL's Family Feud sketch
Musical guest Stevie Nicks provided a different kind of star power, delivering captivating performances of her new song, the feminist anthem “The Lighthouse,” and her timeless classic, “Edge of Seventeen.” Nicks’s performance of “The Lighthouse,” inspired by the overturning of Roe v. Wade, added a layer of contemporary relevance and gravitas to the comedic episode.
With its blend of sharp political satire in the “Snl Family Feud” cold open, Ariana Grande’s comedic turns, and Stevie Nicks’s musical artistry, the 50th season premiere of “Saturday Night Live” proved that the show remains a vital and entertaining force in American pop culture. The episode successfully navigated the complexities of political humor while delivering broad comedic appeal, setting a high bar for the season ahead.
