Source: Politics<\/p>\n
NEW YORK \u2014 \u201cSaturday Night Live\u201d began its 50th season with a parade of former co-stars, including Maya Rudolph as Vice President Kamala Harris, Andy Samberg as her husband Doug Emhoff and Dana Carvey as President Joe Biden.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got to stay focused,\u201d Rudolph-as-Harris said at a mock rally in the show\u2019s cold open. \u201cIf we win, together, we can end the drama-la and the trauma-la and go relax in our pajama-las.\u201d<\/p>\n
After bringing out running mate Tim Walz, played by comedian and actor Jim Gaffigan, she invited Samberg-as Emhoff to the stage and then, almost as an afterthought, Biden, played by the oldest of the group, the 69-year-old Carvey.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of people forget I\u2019m president, including me,\u201d said Carvey, best known on the show for playing President George H.W. Bush in the late 1980s.<\/p>\n
Rudolph and Carvey jointly delivered the \u201cLive from New York, it\u2019s Saturday night\u201d that launched season 50 of the sketch comedy institution.<\/p>\n
Rudolph\u2019s return to play Harris \u2014 she won an Emmy for playing her previously \u2014 had been reported, but it was not certain when she would appear. The guest spots from Carvey, Samberg and Gaffigan were all surprises.<\/p>\n
\u201cDesigning Women\u201d star Jean Smart, fresh off winning her sixth Emmy for her lead role in \u201cHacks,\u201d was host, a role the 73-year-old has somehow never played in a four-decade career.<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember watching the first episode of \u2018SNL\u2019 and thinking, \u2019someday I\u2019m going to host that show,\u201d Smart said in her opening monologue. \u201cAnd this is the first Saturday that fit my schedule.\u201d<\/p>\n
That first episode came on Oct. 11, 1975, with Lorne Michaels at the helm, just as he is now.<\/p>\n
George Carlin hosted and the nation got its first dose of the Not Ready for Prime Time Players: Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman and Garrett Morris.<\/p>\n
There were two musical guests \u2014 Billy Preston and Janis Ian \u2014 playing two songs apiece, the norm in the early days.<\/p>\n
The country singer and rapper Jelly Roll had the music role to himself Saturday, singing his songs \u201cLiar\u201d and \u201cSober.\u201d Like Smart, he was a first-timer.<\/p>\n
Smart introduced Jelly Roll with her \u201cHacks\u201d co-star Hannah Einbinder, the daughter of original cast member Newman.<\/p>\n
That debut show is documented and reenacted in the newly released Jason Reitman film \u201cSaturday Night,\u201d part of a wave of reflection and celebration the show is getting on the cusp of its 50th anniversary.<\/p>\n
Despite the showy guest stars on this Saturday night, regular cast members took on the bulk of the show, which quickly settled into its regular routine.<\/p>\n
James Austin Johnson was back playing Donald Trump at his own rally, saying he wanted Biden as an opponent instead of Harris.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe miss Joe Biden, folks,\u201d Johnson\u2019s Trump said. \u201cWhat we wouldn\u2019t give to have him stand next to me and be old.\u201d<\/p>\n
Colin Jost and Michael Che returned for another season of the mock-news \u201cWeekend Update.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were so many insane political stories this summer and everyone kept asking, \u2018Are you are you so bummed you aren\u2019t on the air right now?\u201d Jost said to open the segment. \u201cAnd I was like, \u2019I have a feeling there\u2019s going to be more that happens when we get back.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Rudolph, Carvey, Gaffigan and Samberg joined Smart, Jelly Roll and the cast on stage for the traditional sign-off.<\/p>\n
Upcoming episodes are scheduled to feature host Nate Bargatze with musical guest Coldplay, Ariana Grande with Stevie Nicks, Michael Keaton with Billie Eilish and John Mulaney with Chappell Roan.<\/p>\n
Those shows will lead up to a three-hour primetime special on Feb. 16 that will serve as the official 50th season celebration. It\u2019s sure to feature a wide range of the many stars the show has spawned, including Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy, Billy Crystal, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Robert Downey Jr., Mike Myers, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Will Ferrell.<\/p>\n