Harris to appear on ‘Saturday Night Live’ | News, Sports, Vacancies

Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris (R) appears on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” with Maya Rudolph on Saturday, November 2, 2024, in New York City. Harris made an unannounced trip to New York to briefly step away from battleground states just three days before the election. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Martin)

NEW YORK (AP) — Kamala Harris made a surprise appearance on “Saturday Night Live” in the final days before the presidential election, playing herself as the mirror double of the Maya Rudolph version in the show’s cold open.

The first lines uttered by the candidate, when she sat opposite Rudolf in identical clothes, were drowned out by the applause of the audience.

“It’s good to see you, Kamala.” Harris told Rudolph with a big smile, which she maintained throughout the sketch. “And I’m just here to remind you: You got this.”

Synchronously, the two mentioned supporters should “Keep Kamala and carry on” stated that they share each other “faith in America’s promise” and signed “Live from New York, Saturday night!”

Harris made a surprise trip to New York ahead of Tuesday’s election, taking a short break from states where she is campaigning.

By appearing on the NBC sketch comedy show, the Democratic candidate hoped to generate excitement and reach a national audience.

Harris left Charlotte, North Carolina, and was supposed to go to Detroit, but once she was airborne, aides said she would land elsewhere. The appearance was confirmed by Harris’ team only moments before the live broadcast began.

The Vice President arrived at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in Manhattan, where “SNL” taping shortly after 8:00 p.m., plenty of time for a quick rehearsal before the show goes live at 11:30 p.m. This was the final. “SNL” The episode before Election Day.

She left immediately after the opening speech and told reporters: “It was fun!” as she boarded a plane bound for Michigan.

Host John Mulaney and musical guest Chappell Roane steered the show away from politics. None of them addressed the election.

Some expected Rohan, a 26-year-old singer who has become a major star in recent months, to make a political statement during her first appearance on the show.

She has previously been a sharp critic of the Democratic Party and refused to support Harris in her campaign against Republican Donald Trump, although Roan has said several times that she plans to vote for her.

Roan sang her hit “Pink Pony Club” on a completely pink platform, bathed in pink light, and made no comments.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., also made a surprise appearance in a game show sketch where the gag was that no one remembered him, even though he was Hillary Clinton’s running mate in 2016.

“Less than eight years have passed. What’s my name? He said as the participants stood silent and confused.

Rudolph first played Harris on the series in 2019 and reprized her role this season, doing an exact impression of the Vice President, including naming herself “Momala” – a reference to the affectionate nickname Harris’s adopted children gave her.

His former castmate Andy Samberg reappeared as Harris’ husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff. Stand-up comedian Jim Gaffigan played Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Dana Carvey, best known on the show for playing President George H. W. Bush in the late 1980s, filled in for President Joe Biden.

Rudolph’s performance received acclaim from critics and comedians, including Harris herself.

“Maya Rudolph – I mean, she’s so good” Harris said last month on ABC: “Sight”. “She had everything: a suit, jewelry, everything!”

Jason Miller, Trump’s senior adviser, expressed surprise at Harris’ appearance at the “SNL” given what Miller characterized as her unflattering portrayal on the show. Asked if Trump had been invited to speak, Miller responded: “I don’t know. Probably not.”

However, politicians have a long history “SNL” including Trump, who hosted the show in 2015. But showing up so close to Election Day is unusual.

Clinton was running in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary when she appeared alongside Amy Poehler, who played her on the series and was known for her signature exaggerated cackle. The real Clinton asked during her appearance: “Am I really laughing like that?”

Harris repeated the line in response to Rudolph’s portrayal of her laugh in Saturday’s episode.

Clinton returned in 2016 when she ran against Trump, who won that election.

First sitting president to appear on “SNL” was Republican Gerald Ford, who did so less than a year after the show debuted. Ford appeared in an April 1976 episode hosted by his press secretary, Ron Nessen, and stated: “Live from New York, it’s Saturday night.”

Then-Illinois Sen. Barack Obama appeared alongside Poehler while impersonating Clinton in 2007. Republican Bob Dole was on the show in November 1996 – just 11 days after losing that year’s election to Bill Clinton. Dole consoled Norm MacDonald, who played the Kansas senator.

Then there was Tina Fey’s impression of vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin in 2008—and, in particular, her joke that “I can see Russia from my home.” It was so good that Fey won an Emmy and Palin herself appeared on the show in October of that year, a few weeks before the election.