Hosted by John Mulaney with musical guest Chappell Roan

Ahoy Coneheads! To fill the gap that was missing last weekend Saturday Night LiveI participated in the Zoom series Democracy '24 Town Halls: America at a Crossroads on Sunday evening at the former SNL Writer Jim Downey joined MSNBC host and Harvard Lampoon alum Lawrence O'Donnell to reminisce about his many iconic political skits on the show and reflect on the state of comedy during the current election cycle. It was a reminder of how deep the show's political influence actually runs – dating back to the 1976 election SNLPresident Gerald Ford's portrayal contributed in part to his defeat by Jimmy Carter.

Tonight, days before the 2024 presidential election, the show has one final opportunity to shape the discourse surrounding Kamala Harris (who made a last-minute pit stop in NYC today, dot dot dot) and, yes, Donald Trump. Today's episode is hosted by Five-Timers Club member John Mulaney, whose “Horse in the Hospital” segment on Trump is a definitive commentary that attempts to explain the surreal moment we find ourselves in.

Mulaney is having a great 2024. John Mulaney Presents: Everybody's in LA streaming live on Netflix in May and beyond SNL The author has been hired to host a new live variety talk show for the streamer. A few weeks ago it was announced that Mulaney would be returning to Broadway with the Simon Rich play All In: Comedy about love, alongside Fred Armisen and Chloe Fineman.

It is SNL in review: 50th Anniversary Season Recap. Buckle up – the next few hours/days/weeks could be bumpy. In the meantime, let’s enjoy today’s episode.

Check back for live updates during today's show!

Opened cold

Chloe Fineman is back in the role of CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins and cuts in between the two candidates' rallies. This format allows us to jump to James Austin Johnson's rambling, masculine Donald Trump. “Where the hell am I, this place stinks,” he complains. He is exhausted. “Nobody cares,” he hisses before inviting JD Vance (Bowen Yang) onto the stage. In an interesting edit for SNLKamala Harris (Maya Rudolph) interrupts the rally she was watching on television. She personally texted every voter in America. Her husband Doug Emhoff (Andy Samberg) plans to sue the show Doug for taking on his name and image.

Dana Carvey enters the chat as President Joe Biden. Former SNL Actor Siobhan Fallon Hogan starred in the series when the comic dominated with his iconic George Bush impression. She remembers Weekly entertainment: “Carvey is not only an absolute genius, but also a fantastic guy who has been very supportive and encouraging to me and the entire cast. He is one of a kind and his talent is insane – so specific and precise!”

Rudolph's Kamala is finally alone – and wants to chat with someone who has been in her situation. Then we got it: Duel with Kamalas! The real candidate is here! They address the candidate's laughter and some of his other tics. “Keep calm – ala/Kamala and carry on – ala!” This isn't Obama's visit to the Clinton Halloween party, but it's still fun.

“I will vote for it us!” says Rudolph proudly, before the real VPOTUS jokingly asks if she is a registered voter in Pennsylvania.

monologue

Mulaney is hosting again for the sixth time. He states that he has a five-week-old daughter and a 34-inch-tall two-year-old. Everyone in his house is small. He wonders when his parents, i.e. grandparents, will be old Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It sounds like he will need hip replacement surgery at some point. He talks about his grandfather, who grew up more than 100 years ago on a dairy farm in Wisconsin and in large Catholic families. He was too old to even fight in World War II. A very solid Mulaney monologue, decidedly apolitical – at least as far as Tuesday's commentary is concerned.

What's That Name: Election Edition

Election edition! The game show participants are Ben and Margaret Atwood (Sarah Sherman). First answers are Jack Smith and Doug Emhoff. Mulaney's Ben nails both because this is the most important election of our lives. Democracy is at stake! In another surprise appearance, Hillary Clinton's running mate appears and asks Mulaney to remember his name. In 2016, Mulaney also claimed that democracy was at stake, so he certainly knows his name. Yes? No. (It's Tim Kaine.) Michael Longfellow takes over for Bill Hader here – big deal! That's fun, I'm not sure he captures the same indifferent malevolence.

“Saturday Night Live Midnight Matinee”

NASA celebrates the completion of its first orbit of the Earth with a chimpanzee, Beppo. The champagne is popped when there is a problem in space. The ship has lost control and there is no way to bring Beppo home. Reluctantly, technician Mulaney has to break the news to the chimpanzee – he's trying to convey the concept of death in simple terms. Filmmaker Dan Bulla plays with classic mid-20th century American patriotism and lands a happy ending. In a funny reference. Ego Nwodim Channels Hidden figuresa film about African American women who worked in the early years of the American space program.

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