Vice President Kamala Harris made an unexpected detour to New York City, joining NBC‘s Saturday Night Live for the long-running comedy sketch show’s final episode before Election Day.
The surprise appearance, which came after Harris departed Charlotte, North Carolina, on Air Force Two, deviated from her planned Detroit destination.
The vice president’s unannounced stop in New York occurred with just days remaining before the presidential election, adding an unusual entertainment interlude to an otherwise intense campaign schedule.
During the show’s cold open, Harris appeared alongside actress Maya Rudolph, who has portrayed the vice president on SNL since 2019. The scene featured a mirror sequence where Rudolph and Harris engaged in the vice president’s characteristic wordplay, incorporating variations of her name including “Dramala” and “Palmala.”
The episode, hosted by John Mulaney for his sixth time with musical guest Chappell Roan, assembled an impressive roster of talent for SNL’s Season 50.
The sketch also featured comedian Dana Carvey as President Joe Biden, continuing his legacy of presidential impressions that began with his renowned portrayal of George H.W. Bush in the early 1990s.
Andy Samberg returned to reprise his role as Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, while Jim Gaffigan appeared as Tim Walz. The show’s current cast member Bowen Yang portrayed JD Vance, and James Austin Johnson continued his recurring role as Donald Trump.
Harris’ appearance follows a storied tradition of political figures participating in the long-running sketch comedy show.
The practice dates back to 1976 when then-President Gerald Ford became the first sitting president to appear on SNL, delivering the show’s iconic opening line, “Live from New York.” Since then, numerous political figures have graced the Studio 8H stage, including Barack Obama during his 2008 presidential campaign.
The show has frequently served as a platform for political figures to demonstrate their ability to embrace satire.
Hillary Clinton appeared multiple times, including a notable 2008 appearance during the Democratic primary and again in 2016 during her presidential campaign against Donald Trump. Republican Bob Dole memorably appeared just 11 days after the 1996 presidential election, sharing the stage with Norm Macdonald, who regularly portrayed him.
The relationship between politicians and their SNL counterparts has often generated significant public interest, particularly in cases like Tina Fey’s Emmy-winning portrayal of Sarah Palin in 2008. Palin herself appeared on the show that season before the election, demonstrating the program’s unique ability to blur the lines between political reality and satirical entertainment.
Rudolph’s portrayal of Harris has garnered critical acclaim since she first took on the role in 2019. The forcast member has continued to return to the show for special appearances, maintaining continuity in the portrayal of the vice president throughout significant political moments.
The episode aired live on NBC at 11:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. PT, marking the show’s return to new episodes following a rerun on October 27. The program will be available for streaming on Peacock starting Sunday.
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