Sunday, September 27, 2026

'SNL' returns with Trump-Mamdani cold open and Jalen Brunson after winning one Emmy Award

Saturday Night Live returned last night and began with Trump Mamdani Cold Open.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (Ramy Youssef) gets a visit from President Trump (James Austin Johnson) and Natalie Harp (Ashley Padilla) during a nor’easter.
Ashley Padilla as Ashley Harp stole the scene. Two horror movie references, Weapons and Obsession? Perfect. She made a bigger impression than James Austin Johnson's Trump crushing on Ramy Youssef's Mamdani. Donald "Pervert Hoover" Trump loves winners and Mamdani certainly is one of those.

Johnson's "Trump" mentioned President Xi of the PRC in the cold open, and Xi returned in Weekend Update: Trump Picks Up China’s President from Airport, Netanyahu Addresses U.N.

Weekend Update anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che tackle the week's biggest news, like the White House launching Trump TV.
Pervert Hoover's reaction to the flyover was literally cringe — not an auspicious beginning to the visit! On the other hand, China gifting the U.S. two pandas reminds me of what I wrote in People want pandas, so 'SNL' opens with a panda at Biden's press conference three years ago.
China taking its pandas back messed with a lot of Americans' entertainment and they want new pandas. The media are happy to cater to this desire, which draws clicks and views. Should the Chinese lend pandas back to U.S. zoos, it will make both China, if not Xi, and Biden more popular in the U.S. That's a win-win. Now to see if it actually happens.
It's too late to help Biden, but not too late to help China and Xi. I don't know if it will help Pervert Hoover. His approval ratings are at record lows.

Weekend Update continued with 20% of Gen Z Have Never Had Sex, Survey Finds.

Weekend Update anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che tackle the week's biggest news, like critics calling out Hanukkah Barbie appearing to have a larger nose.
I'm not surprised 20% of Gen Z hasn't had sex. Even by Wikipedia's definition, Gen Z's last birth year was 2012 (I'd place it later), so they're 14. Age of consent in the U.S. ranges from 16 to 18. That's probably 20% right there.

Follow over the jump for Weekend Update's interviews and more.

The first interview was Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei on A.I.’s Threat to Humanity.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei (Jane Wickline) stops by Weekend Update to discuss A.I.’s threat to humanity.
I was expecting that living in science fiction times (SciFi is now!) would be less stupid. I'm disappointed.

Speaking of stupid, Weekend Update concluded with Tucker Carlson Reviews the Summer’s Blockbuster Films, which qualifies today's post as the Sunday entertainment feature.

Tucker Carlson (Jeremy Culhane) stops by Weekend Update to review the films of summer 2026.
Yeah, that's about what I'd expect from Tucker reviewing movies.

No SNL highlights post is complete without the host monologue, so here's Jalen Brunson.

First-time host Jalen Brunson talks about the Knicks’ historic 2026 NBA Championship win before answering questions from the audience.
That was hilarious! Great work by the writers, Brunson, and his Knicks teammates for pulling it off!

Now for SNL's sole Emmy, which I previewed in It's Saturday, so here are SNL's eleven Emmy nominations and Once again, 'RuPaul's Drag Race' leads nominations for Outstanding Reality Competition Program, but 'The Traitors' will likely win for the third time.

Outstanding Makeup for a Variety, Nonfiction, or Reality Program
  • Dancing with the Stars: "Disney Night" – Julie Socash, Angela Moos, Brian Sipe, Vance Hartwell, Josh Foster, Alison Gladieux, Sarah Benjamin Hall, and Donna Bard (ABC)
  • The Oscars – Bruce Grayson, Brielle McKenna, Rochelle Uribe, Julie Hassett, Jeong-Hwa Kim Fonkalsrud, Schuron Womack, Jill Cady, and Michelle deMilt (ABC)
  • Saturday Night Live: "Host: Bad Bunny" – Louie Zakarian, Jason Milani, Amy Tagliamonti, Young Bek, Joanna Pisani, Madison Bermudez, and Waltaya Culmer (NBC)
SNL won the past two years, so it's my favorite.
I still think so, but I'm not making final calls until I cover the competition shows.
...Another day has not changed my mind, so I'm keeping all my calls.
This was a good prediction. Watch Makeup for a Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Program: 78th Emmy Awards.

The team from Saturday Night Live, hosted by Bad Bunny accepts the Emmy for Makeup for a Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Program at the 78th Emmy Awards.
Congratulations! Based on the makeup I saw in the clips I embedded, they're off to a great start for next year's Emmys.

I close by noting that today is Wester, the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Autumnal Equinox. I'm celebrating with a squirrel meme.


That's a wrap. Stay tuned for an activist post tomorrow.

Previous posts about the 2026 Primetime and Creative Arts Emmy Awards
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