Over the weekend, “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) kicked off its 51st season, garnering a notable response from the White House. The show’s season premiere aired on October 4, featuring Colin Jost as Pete Hegseth and James Austin Johnson portraying former President Donald Trump.
Sketch Highlights and White House Response
The Cold Open included Jost humorously reflecting on Hegseth’s meeting with a large assembly of top military officials. Johnson’s Trump character made a meta-commentary on SNL itself. This combination aimed to deliver both humor and political commentary following current events.
Abigail Jackson, a spokeswoman for the White House, shared her thoughts on the sketch. In an email to Entertainment Weekly, she expressed that engaging with the show would only detract from more enjoyable activities. She stated, “Reacting to this would require me to waste my time watching it. And like the millions of Americans who have tuned out from ‘SNL,’ I have more entertaining things to do — like watch paint dry.”
Season 51 Cast and Crew
The new season also introduces various cast changes. Among the returning actors are:
- Kenan Thompson
- Bowen Yang
- Chloe Fineman
- Mikey Day
- James Austin Johnson
Featured players Ashley Padilla and Jane Wickline will return after their debut last year. Additionally, Michael Che and Colin Jost continue as anchors for the “Weekend Update” segment, holding the record as the longest-running duo in this role.
As “SNL” resumes with a blend of new and familiar faces, the intersection of comedy and political satire remains a focal point, attracting both laughter and critique.
