November 3rd 2024.
In a surprise turn of events, Kamala Harris appeared on the popular TV show "Saturday Night Live" just days before the presidential election. She was playing herself, while comedian Maya Rudolph portrayed her in the show's cold open. As the two sat across from each other, dressed in identical outfits, the audience erupted into cheers.
With a broad grin on her face, Harris greeted Rudolph and reminded her that she's got this. The two women were in sync as they urged supporters to "Keep Kamala and carry-on-ala," and shared their belief in the promise of America. And of course, they ended with the iconic line, "Live from New York, it's Saturday night!"
Harris, who had been campaigning in battleground states, took a brief break from her busy schedule to make a surprise trip to New York. Her appearance on the show was a deliberate move to generate buzz and appeal to a nationwide audience. She arrived at 30 Rockefeller Plaza shortly after 8 p.m. and left immediately after her segment ended, telling reporters, "It was fun!" as she boarded her plane to Michigan.
The show's host, John Mulaney, and musical guest, Chappell Roan, steered clear of any political topics. Despite expectations that Roan, a rising star in the music industry, would make a statement about the election, she chose to sing her hit "Pink Pony Club" and made no remarks.
In a surprise twist, Senator Tim Kaine also made an appearance on the show. In a game-show sketch, the joke was that no one remembered him, even though he was Hillary Clinton's running mate in the 2016 election. Kaine jokingly asked, "It's been less than eight years, what's my name?" as the contestants stood silent and confused.
This was not the first time Rudolph has portrayed Harris on the show, having first done so in 2019. She has since become known for her spot-on impression of the vice president, even referring to herself as "Momala" in a nod to Harris' stepchildren's affectionate nickname for her. Harris' husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, was once again played by former cast member Andy Samberg. Comedian Jim Gaffigan took on the role of Harris' running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, while Dana Carvey, known for his portrayal of President George H.W. Bush, stood in as President Joe Biden.
While some were surprised by Harris' appearance on the show, given her previous unflattering portrayal, politicians have a long history of appearing on "SNL." This includes President Trump, who hosted the show in 2015. In a 2008 episode, when Clinton was running against Obama in the Democratic primary, she appeared alongside Amy Poehler, who was known for her exaggerated imitation of Clinton's laugh. Clinton even joked, "Do I really laugh like that?" when she joined Poehler on stage. Later, as the Democratic candidate in the 2016 election, Clinton returned to the show, but this time as a guest, as Trump went on to win the election.
Other notable political figures who have appeared on the show include Republican Gerald Ford, who appeared less than a year after the show's debut, and Senator Barack Obama, who joined Poehler's Clinton in a sketch during his presidential campaign in 2007. Even Republican Bob Dole made an appearance just 11 days after losing the 1996 election to Bill Clinton.
And of course, who could forget Tina Fey's iconic impression of vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin? Fey's joke about being able to see Russia from her house became a cultural phenomenon and even earned her an Emmy. Palin herself even appeared on the show in 2008, just weeks before the election.
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