Saturday Night Liveis set to reach its 50th season later this year, and it will attempt to reinvigorate that long-running comedy sketch program with some key changes. Just like those who suffer a midlife crisis,SNLwill be radically shifting into a new gear when it comes to joking about one particular convicted former president. According to the fan-favorite duo behind the popular Weekend Update sketch,the 50th anniversary of SNL will usher in a new era of Donald Trump impersonations and jokes.
In a tell-all interview withThe Hollywood Reporter,SNLduo Michael Che and Colin Jost discussed how the upcoming season will celebrate the 50-year milestone when it premieres at the end of September. They also posed for THR as the U.S. presidential candidates, withChe and Jost dressed up as Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, respectively. After Alec Baldwin, James Austin Johnson, Shane Gillis, and a host of other guest stars have made their mark as Trump onSNLover the past few decades,the cover teases major changes to his portrayal for the 50th anniversary. For Che, since Trump has evolved as a public persona,so should their version of the convicted former president:
“And Trump has morphed. James, who I think is brilliant, played Trump as the sort of diminished Trump. The guy at the back of the hardware store holding court, and that played because it felt relevant. But we are going to have to reinvent it again because, well, you saw the debate. One of the great parts of show business is that you can’t come back with the same show. So, all of these characters have to be reexamined, and if it makes sense and feels relevant, you know you’re on the right track. But if it feels like you’re talking to the audience and want to be supported because your values are the same as their values, you really shouldn’t be in comedy.”
Saturday Night Live
The longest-running sketch-comedy/satire show on television, premiering in 1975, Saturday Night Live is a weekly series that features new hosts for each episode, with a core cast of actors and comedians that rotate over time. Episodes feature several skits that are sometimes ad-libbed on the fly, with the hosts engaging in most of them, and also provide musical guest performances that cap off each night.
SNL Is Going Big for Season 50
The 50th season ofSaturday Night Liveis making moves to make it one of its biggest seasons yet. To do so, they’ve recruited an all-star lineup of celebrity and musical guests, as well as added new cast members to the comedy crew. Jean Smart, Ariana Grande, Coldplay,John Mulaney,Chappell Roan, and many morewill be featured in the upcoming season. Meanwhile,SNLis set to add membersAshley Padilla, Emil Wakim, and Jane Wickline, bootingChloe Troast after just one season. With creator Lorne Michaelspreviously eyeing retirement after the 50th season, it seems SNL is trying to make the most of what could be his final season.
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In related news, Michael Che and Colin Jost are set to hosta live comedy show for Peacock calledNew York After Dark. The streamer is capitalizing on the creative duo’s popularity while also letting them spread their wings together away fromSNL. Nothing lasts forever, and with Lorne Michaels probably retiring soon, the two comedians are ensuring audiences get to see them with or without the long-standing comedy series.For now, audiences can enjoy Che and Jost on bothSNLand the Peacock original.
The 50th season ofSaturday Night Livepremieres September 28.
