‘SNL’ season premiere debuts its 2024 presidential election cast of characters

Saturday Night Live is back for its 50th season and the premiere brought out some heavy hitters to tackle the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

Maya Rudolph and James Austin Johnson have returned to their roles as Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. But the biggest reveal of the cold open was who would capture vice presidential nominee Tim Walz as America’s Dad. No, it wasn’t Steve Martin, as some hoped due to the uncanny resemblance, but comedian Jim Gaffigan who perfectly encapsulated Walz’s energy as the “aw shucks” everyman who buys his suits at Costco.

Andy Samberg returned as Doug Emhoff with unapologetic support for his wife and plans to decorate the White House for Christmas (“the theme will be Hanukkah.) But the rally wasn’t complete until SNL legend Dana Carvey as President Joe Biden shuffled onstage looking a little lost but bearing his signature tough guy scowl.

Over at the Trump rally, the former president reluctantly introduced his running mate JD Vance, played by none other than Bowen Yang. Did SNL get its casting right? Watch the cold open and see for yourself.