Just days before the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Vice President Kamala Harris made a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live (SNL).
She joined her longtime impersonator, comedian Maya Rudolph, in the cold open of the iconic sketch show, delivering a humorous and spirited message to voters.
The skit started with a CNN-style segment showing the candidates working to attract last-minute voters. Comedian James Austin Johnson portrayed former President Donald Trump, who was shown having a heated, over-the-top meltdown at a campaign rally.
Then, the scene shifted to Rudolph’s take on Kamala Harris, who was also joined by other SNL cast members: Jim Gaffigan as her running mate, Tim Walz; Andy Samberg as Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff; and Dana Carvey as President Joe Biden.
Rudolph’s Harris eventually found herself alone in front of a mirror, where she had a conversation with her reflection—only to reveal that her reflection was actually the real Kamala Harris herself, dressed in matching attire.
The real Harris reassured her character, reminding her, “You got this, because you can do something your opponent can’t: You can open doors.” The two went on to share a musical pep talk, poking fun at American voters’ wish to get back to simpler times, like watching movies, decorating for Christmas, and unwinding from the chaos of election season.
As a final touch, both the real Harris and Rudolph declared the show’s famous opening line, “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!”
The appearance was both unexpected and timely, bringing humor and light-heartedness to a tense election season. It was especially meaningful because Harris has long praised Maya Rudolph’s impression of her, even commenting on how accurately Rudolph captures her style, suit, and mannerisms.
Earlier this year, during an appearance on The View, Harris acknowledged how “good” Rudolph’s impersonation was and expressed her appreciation for the comedian’s portrayal.
SNL’s decision to include a real candidate just before the election was a rare choice. Generally, the show avoids hosting major political candidates due to strict election laws and regulations. SNL creator Lorne Michaels previously told The Hollywood Reporter that election rules make it difficult to bring real candidates on the show.
Specifically, “equal time provisions” mean that if one candidate appears, the show would also need to feature all other candidates, including minor ones who may only be running in a few states. However, Harris’s appearance seemed to be a unique exception.
Historically, many presidential candidates have appeared on SNL to boost their campaigns. In recent years, former President Barack Obama made an appearance on November 3, 2007, while Hillary Clinton appeared twice, on March 1, 2008, and October 3, 2015. John McCain also joined SNL on May 17 and November 1, 2008, after previously hosting in 2002.
Interestingly, former President Trump hosted SNL back on November 7, 2015, while he was running in the Republican primary for the 2016 election. His hosting was highly controversial and sparked protests, particularly among Latino groups, after Trump made offensive comments about Mexican immigrants.
Despite being invited back after his presidency, Trump declined further appearances. Alec Baldwin famously took on the role of Trump for SNL skits, continuing the tradition of poking fun at political figures.
The latest SNL episode was hosted by comedian and former SNL writer John Mulaney, with musical guest Chappell Roan. Roan stirred up some attention this summer when she announced she wouldn’t endorse a 2024 candidate, mentioning her dissatisfaction with both political sides.
Facing backlash from fans, Roan later clarified her stance, saying on TikTok that she would vote for Kamala Harris but still held concerns about the political landscape.
Kamala Harris’s unexpected cameo brought a fresh energy to SNL’s election season satire, blending humor with a message of encouragement to American voters as the election quickly approaches.
