As analysis of special counsel Robert Muellers report hangs over the political landscape, Saturday Night Live may be saying goodbye to one of its favorite gags. Saturdays cold open pulled out all the stops to lampoon Muellers findings (or rather attorney general William Barrs brief summary of them), returning Robert De Niros no-nonsense impression of the Special Counsel and Alec Baldwin as a giddy Trump.
The opening sketch of the shows first post-Mueller hour framed its satire with De Niros Mueller reading grave conclusions, immediately undercut by Aidy Bryants William Barr cheerfully cherry-picking analysis, and concluding with Baldwins Trump expressing glee and vindication over Twitter.
“As for conspiracy or collusion, there were several questionable incidences involving the Presidents team,” De Niros Mueller read. “But we cannot prove a criminal connection.”
“No collusion, no diggity, no bad,” Barr would summarize, followed by Trumps Twitter equivalent of celebratory air horns. The sketch went on to feature Kate McKinnons Nosferatu-esque Rudy Giuliani taking a victory lap: “I guess I was a legal genius the whole time!,” a swipe at Trumps dismissive attitude toward Puerto Rico and—what else—Smashmouth lyrics. It may not be the last we see of De Niros Robert Mueller, however, as the character hinted, “P.S., cant wait to see what the Southern District of New York has in store for Trump.”
Of course, It wasnt the last we heard of Muellers report during the Sandra Oh-hosted hour. The Weekend Update team tackled the findings in more straightforward manner—Colin Jost labeling Trump the “White O.J.” and Michael Che lamenting his diminished hope of bringing Trump to justice. “I think its because Im around white people all the time,” he joked. “White people have this thing I call toxic optimism. Its the kind of optimism that makes you believe you can get into college because your mothers Aunt Becky.”
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Vanity Fair
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