All articles tagged with #cold open
SNL U.K.'s season premiere opens with a cold open lampooning Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s return to Britain, with King Charles and Queen Camilla reacting to their Netflix-funded comeback as the show riffs on Meghan’s brands and Harry’s finances, plus a cameo about the new PM, highlighting sharp royal-family satire.
Colin Jost revealed on The Tonight Show that SNL writers once pitched a cold open about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth quoting an Ezekiel verse in a nod to Pulp Fiction, but the gag was scrapped as too ridiculous; two weeks later, Hegseth did something very similar in real life by delivering a Pentagon prayer that echoed Samuel L. Jackson's Pulp Fiction monologue.
Saturday Night Live mocked Tiger Woods’ DUI arrest in a cold open and Weekend Update, including a Trump impersonation calling Woods from rehab and a later gag about painkillers, while noting Woods was arrested March 27 after a Range Rover crash and faced DUI-related charges.
Colin Jost reprised his Pete Hegseth persona in SNL's chaotic cold open, lampooning Iran-attacks coverage and the Trump administration's messaging while foreshadowing Kristi Noem's looming reassignment; viewers praised Jost's unhinged, frat-boy take as one of the show's standout moments.
Saturday Night Live's cold open featured a satirical depiction of New York City politics, including a parody of Zohran Mamdani's campaign, with appearances by Miles Teller as Andrew Cuomo, Shane Gillis as Curtis Sliwa, and James Austin Johnson as Donald Trump, highlighting topical political humor and upcoming episodes.
The White House criticized 'Saturday Night Live' for its season 51 cold open targeting Donald Trump and FCC Chair Brendan Carr, with a spokeswoman dismissing the show as unentertaining and not worth their time.
"Saturday Night Live" parodied GOP senators endorsing Trump despite his past insults in a post-South Carolina primary cold open, with characters of Sens. Scott, Graham, Rubio, and Risch discussing their support for Trump despite personal conflicts and policy disagreements. The skit highlighted Trump's attacks against the senators and their unwavering support, while also referencing Trump's recent controversial remarks about Black voters. Trump's victory in the South Carolina primary was also mentioned, with Nikki Haley committed to staying in the race despite long odds at the nomination.
"Saturday Night Live" fumbled its NFL-themed cold open with a sketch featuring Tony Romo and Jim Nantz poking fun at the end of football season, drawing criticism from viewers for its lackluster writing and missed opportunities for humor. The segment also included jabs at Taylor Swift and a parody song about the absence of football, leaving some social media users unimpressed with the overall performance.
Saturday Night Live fumbled its cold open with a pre-game skit ahead of the AFC and NFC Championship games, featuring a lackluster attempt to capture the essence of football culture and the impending end of the NFL season. The skit name-dropped various pop culture references and delved into existential angst, but failed to deliver meaningful humor. The upcoming SNL episodes will feature Dakota Johnson as host and Justin Timberlake as musical guest, followed by Ayo Edebiri and Jennifer Lopez.
Former Saturday Night Live cast member Cecily Strong made a surprise appearance at Studio 8H, playing Rep. Elise Stefanik in run-throughs of the show's cold open. However, she was ultimately swapped out for cast member Chloe Troast in the aired version of the sketch, leaving fans and viewers wondering about the reasons behind the change. The sketch aimed to satirize university presidents testifying before Congress about antisemitic incidents on college campuses, but received a tepid response. Representatives for Strong and SNL have not commented on her guest appearance plans or the decision to replace her in the sketch.
Adam Driver hosted SNL for the fourth time, delivering a mix of hilarious sketches and a controversial cold open. The highlight of the show was a surprise cameo by Julia Stiles, who performed the iconic dance from the 2001 film "Save the Last Dance." The cold open, which parodied college presidents testifying about anti-Semitism, received negative reactions from viewers. Driver's monologue and other skits showcased his comedic talent, earning him praise as one of the best SNL hosts. Former cast member Kate McKinnon will host the next episode.
Saturday Night Live's cold open parodied the recent congressional hearing on antisemitism on college campuses, featuring the presidents of Harvard, MIT, and the University of Pennsylvania. The sketch struggled to effectively satirize the incident, with the most attention going to "MAGA superstar" Elise Stefanik and her performative outrage. Kenan Thompson's brief appearance as the president of the online University of Phoenix was the highlight of the sketch.
Viewers criticized "Saturday Night Live" for its cold open sketch that mocked congressional hearings on antisemitism on college campuses, which aired just hours after University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill resigned following backlash over her testimony. The sketch received little laughter from the audience and was seen by some as undermining the seriousness of recent incidents of antisemitism. The portrayal of Rep. Elise Stefanik as the butt of the sketch's jokes also drew criticism. The sketch was partially saved by an appearance from Kenan Thompson, but overall, it was widely panned as one of the worst cold opens in SNL history.