Sunday, October 5, 2025

'SNL' mocks Hegseth addressing generals and government shutdown upon its return

Saturday Night Live returned last night with Pete Hegseth Cold Open.

Pete Hegseth (Colin Jost) gives an address to a room full of military officials before getting interrupted by President Trump (James Austin Johnson).
I'm glad to see Colin Jost standing up doing a character, and Pete Hegseth is quite the character, instead of sitting behind the desk as himself. Even so, Jost couldn't avoid being the butt of the joke here, as James Austin Johnson did his impression of Trump while upstaging Jost. Some things don't change.

Johnson as Trump mentioned the government shutdown, which was the top story of Weekend Update: The Government Shut down, Israel and Hamas Peace Deal.

Weekend Update anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che tackle the week's biggest news, like the FCC approving an abortion pill before the government shutdown.
Speaking of running jokes and things not changing, Jost claiming credit for Cracker Barrel changing its logo back fits right in. As for the government shutdown giving us all a break, I wish. The crazy keeps coming even as nonessential services are suspended. Oh, and it's the FDA not the FCC that approves drugs. I think the description writer had Jimmy Kimmel's suspension on their mind.

In the form of Eric Adams dropping out, the New York mayoral election was one of the last stories above. It's the first story listed in Weekend Update: Zohran Mamdani’s Campaign Ad, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban to Divorce.

Weekend Update anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che tackle the week's biggest news, like an A.I generated actress getting attention from Hollywood agents.
If the rest of the NYC electorate is like the studio audience, Mamdani should win easily. This isn't yet an awards show post — wait until after the jump — but electorates still matter.

Sean "Diddy" Combs being sentenced, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's pending divorce, and the A.I. actress all qualify this entry as the Sunday entertainment feature, but there's more over the jump, including SNL's Emmy Awards.

New cast member Kam Patterson introduced himself in the next segment.

Kam Patterson stops by Weekend Update.
I'm not sure I like what Patterson wanted to do with freedom of expression in comedy, but I'm sure I like him. Welcome aboard!

Weekend Update concluded with Bowen Yang as Dobby The House Elf on J.K. Rowling.

Dobby the House Elf (Bowen Yang) stops by Weekend Update to discuss J. K. Rowling and her views on transgender people.
Yes, Dobby, you're free, and Bowen Yang gave another great performance wearing prosthetics.

I close with Bad Bunny Monologue.

Bad Bunny talks about filming Happy Gilmore 2, his residency in Puerto Rico and performing the Halftime Show at the Super Bowl before auditioning for characters he'd like to play.
I have four months to get ready for Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show and I'm looking forward to it. I hope Bad Bunny is looking forward to an Emmy-nominated performance!


Speaking of Emmys, it's time to revisit 'Saturday Night Live' earned seven Emmy nominations for its 50th season.
Now the remaining nomination I covered in John Oliver examines 'Gang Databases' plus 'Last Week Tonight's six Emmy nominations.
Outstanding Production Design for a Variety or Reality Series
  • The Daily Show: "Jon Stewart & The News Team Live at The Chicago DNC" – Dave Edwards, Lauren Browning (Comedy Central)
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live!: "December 11, 2024", "December 12, 2024", "February 13, 2025" – David Ellis, Hillarie Brigode, and Heidi Miller (ABC)
  • Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: "Mass Deportations" – Eric Morrell, Hugh Zeigler, and Amanda Carzoli (HBO)
  • RuPaul's Drag Race: "RDR Live!" – Jen Chu, Gavin Smith (MTV)
  • Saturday Night Live: "Host: Lady Gaga" – Akira Yoshimura, Keith Ian Raywood, Joe DeTullio, Andrea Purcigliotti, Patrick Lynch, and Sara Parks (NBC)
SNL has won this award four of the past five years, including last year, while RuPaul's Drag Race won this the year before last, so I am again handicapping this category in that order.
I haven't changed my mind.

Next, a category I covered in Colbert, Lydic, and Meyers take closer looks at the EPA and Epstein and Kimmel goes down the rabbit hole on 'windmills'.
Outstanding Technical Direction and Camerawork for a Series
  • After Midnight: "Featuring Jonah Ray, Kumail Nanjiani, Emily Gordon" – Christine Salomon, Lauren Gadd, Dawn Henry, Chris Hamilton, Cory Hunter, Cary Symmons, and Jani Zandovskis (CBS)
  • The Daily Show: "Jon Stewart & The News Team Live at the Chicago DNC" – Michael Williams, John Floresca, Charlie Foerschner, Jeff Latonero, James McEvoy, Matt Muro, Tim Quigley, Phil Salanto, Michael Schmehl, and Rich York (Comedy Central)
  • Everybody's Live with John Mulaney: "How Tall Are You?" – Chris Salomon, Bert Atkinson, Ed Horton, Karin Pelloni, Cole Overholser, George Prince, John Perry, Keyan Safyari, Damien Tuffereau, Suzie Weis, and Terrance Ho (Netflix)
  • Saturday Night Live: "Host: Jack Black" – Bill DiGiovanni, John Pinto, Paul Cangialosi, Anthony Tarantino, Dave Driscoll, Brian Phraner, and Daniel Erbeck (NBC)
  • The Voice: "Live Finale (Part 1)" – Allan Wells, Manny Bonilla, Mano Bonilla, Martin J. Brown Jr., Robert Burnette, Suzanne Ebner, Guido Frenzel, Alex Hernandez, Scott Hylton, Scott Kaye, Jofre Rosero, Steve Thiel, and Danny Webb (NBC)
Saturday Night Live won last year, so I think it's the favorite this year.
Again, no change.

I wrap up the nominations with one I examined in 'RuPaul's Drag Race' leads nominations for Outstanding Reality Competition Program, but 'The Traitors' will likely win again.
Outstanding Lighting Design / Lighting Direction for a Series
  • American Idol: "Songs of Faith" – Tom Sutherland, James Coldicott, Hunter Selby, Andrew Law, Nathan Files, Chris Roseli, Matt McAdam, Luke Chantrell, and Ed Moore (ABC)
  • Dancing with the Stars: "Semi-Finals" – Noah Mitz, Madigan Stehly, Patrick Brazil, Joe Holdman, Matt Benson, Matt McAdam, Ed Moore, and Kevin Faust (ABC)
  • RuPaul's Drag Race: "The Wicked Wiz Of Oz: The Rusical!" – Gus Dominguez and Steve Moreno (MTV)
  • Saturday Night Live: "Host: Lady Gaga" – Geoffrey Amoral, Rick McGuinness, William McGuinness, Trevor Brown, Tim Stasse, Frank Grisanti, and Reginald Campbell (NBC)
  • The Voice: "Live Finale (Part 1)" – Oscar Dominguez, Ronald Wirsgalla, Erin Anderson, Vanessa Arciga, Andrew Munie, Jeff Shood, and Terrance Ho (NBC)
Both Dancing with the Stars and The Voice have won this decade, but Saturday Night Live has won more times than both combined and is the defending winner, so it's my pick to win.
Once again, no change.
SNL won all three, so I called all three. Watch Lighting Design/ Lighting Direction For A Series: 2025 Creative Arts to see one of the show's wins.

The team from Saturday Night Live accepts accepts the Emmy for Lighting Design/ Lighting Direction For A Series at the 2025 Creative Arts Emmy Awards.
Congratulations!  Also, that's Jake from State Farm and Doug from the Liberty Mutual commercials.  I'm glad to see them get recognition as presenters and nominees in Jake's case, if not as winners.  I have that post half-written.

That's a wrap for today, but I still have SNL50: The Anniversary Special's eight Emmy awards to cover. Next week instead of the winners of the 2025 Environmental Media Association (EMA) Awards for Wester. Stay tuned.

Previous posts about the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards
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