The federal government is still shut down, food stamps are being cut off for millions of Americans, the LA Dodgers are still grinding it out with the Toronto Blue Jays in the World Series finale and there’s big elections in NYC, Virginia and New Jersey on November 5. So, of course, tonight Saturday Night Live opened with a fictional Big Apple Mayoral debate.
As the Kenan Thompson-portrayed New York newsman Errol Louis (“the least famous person to be impersonated on SNL”) spoke truth to aspiring power: “Why would you want the worst job in the word?”
the third, final, and fictional NYC mayoral debate pic.twitter.com/GFZ2cTM9Cc
— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) November 2, 2025
Returning host Miles Teller played ex-Empire State governor and alleged sexual harrasser Andrew Cuomo (“I know this city like the back of a women’s back”) and Ramy Youssef showing up as front runner Zohran Mamdani. Pitching himself to New Yorkers, Youssef’s much mispronounced Mamdani put in bluntly and smoothly in that TikTok kinda way that has characterized the almost certain to win Assemblyman’s long shot race: “So why don’t you hit me up on the ballot box, girl?”
SNL being SNL, even in what was ultimately one of the most topical but forgettable cold open in ages, cast member James Austin Johnson showed up as Donald Trump.
Swearing his go to bagel order is a “Big Mac with a hole in the middle,” the former New York resident cut to the chase and pronounced “this election is about housing and taxes, but we all know it’s about me, right?”
Which, almost everything in America is nowadays — sadly. Then, Austin’s Trump launched into a bit of Phantom of the Opera, with the mask — and then thankfully the seemingly shorter than usual cold open was over with the traditional “live from New York, it’s Saturday night!”
The fourth episode of the (Toronto-born) Lorne Michaels created NBC late-nighter’s 51st season, SNL tonight sees Teller back as host for the second time. The Top Gun: Maverick and Eternity star is actually the SNL rookie this week compared to musical guest Brandi Carlie. Back for the third time as a solo performer, the 11-time Grammy winner also showed up on SNL in April for a stint with Elton John.
Next week will see returning Golden Globe host Nikki Glaser make her SNL host debut. The November 15 show will have Chad Powers star Glen Powell playing frontman for the first time to the Not Ready for Primetime Players. As Deadline exclusively reported earlier this week, SNL will have a double punch of Thanksgiving and Christmas special later this year too.
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