Saturday Night Live is back doing what it does best: making us laugh at the wild world of politics and pop culture. This week's episode featured a cold open that had everyone talking thanks to the return of a familiar face and some seriously sharp satire aimed at Donald Trump Marco Rubio and Elon Musk. Weekend Update also jumped into the fray delivering their signature punchlines. Let's dive into the hilarious highlights!
Mike Myers' Elon Musk Returns to SNL as Trump Tries to Play Peacemaker with Marco Rubio
The cold open kicked off in the Oval Office where James Austin Johnson reprised his role as Donald Trump. But the real scene-stealer? Mike Myers made a surprise comeback as Elon Musk! Yes Austin Powers' Dr. Evil himself was back as the tech mogul. The sketch centered around Trump trying to mediate some supposed tension between Secretary of State Marco Rubio played by Marcello Hernandez and Myers' Musk.
Apparently in the SNL universe Rubio and Musk have been butting heads. The joke references reports that Cabinet members like Rubio are not thrilled with Musk's influence and actions particularly within his role related to government efficiency. Johnson's Trump steps in to play peacemaker in his own unique and often insulting way. He tells Rubio "You’re the GOAT you’re the scapegoat but it is still a goat." Classic Trump right?
Inner Monologues Hilarious Insults and Dr. Evil Vibes: Decoding the SNL Sketch's Best Moments
The sketch gets extra funny by letting us hear the inner thoughts of Trump and Musk "Curb Your Enthusiasm"-style. As Rubio drones on about a potential deal regarding the Panama Canal Trump's inner voice chimes in "Ah so boring. This guy can’t stop talking." He even marvels at the idea of inner monologues realizing "This can save me a lot of trouble. I should do this more often. I won’t but I should."
Musk's inner monologue is equally golden. He wonders "was taking this job a bad idea? A lot of people seem to really hate me. My Tesla stock is crashing and my personal net worth just dropped by $100 billion dollars." And then Myers nails the Dr. Evil persona by bringing his pinky finger to his mouth a move that sent the audience into hysterics.
Trump's attempts at peacemaking predictably involve more insults than actual mediation. He suggests insults Rubio and Musk could use on each other even offering gems like “Elon how do you have 20 kids but I’ve never seen you with a chick? Just dudes named donkey dong and boner king.” Charming! He even calls Rubio "Little Marco" a throwback nickname from the 2016 presidential race. The whole thing is a masterclass in SNL's brand of political humor.
Weekend Update Joins the Fun: Musk Jokes and More Political Punchlines
Weekend Update with Colin Jost and Michael Che also jumped on the Trump-Musk-Rubio train. They delivered their usual rapid-fire jokes hitting on the same themes and more. While the source articles don't detail specific Weekend Update jokes about this sketch it is safe to assume they kept the laughs coming. Weekend Update is known for dissecting the week's political news with a comedic edge and this SNL episode provided them with plenty of material to work with.
SNL's 50th Season Keeps the Political Satire Strong: Tapping into Trump Era Cynicism
This SNL episode is another example of the show finding its groove in its 50th season especially when it comes to political satire. The show seems to be effectively tapping into the cynicism and chaos that often surrounds the political landscape particularly during Trump's time in office. Bringing back Mike Myers as Elon Musk was a stroke of genius and James Austin Johnson's Trump continues to be a standout impression. The cold open and Weekend Update segments demonstrate that SNL still has the comedic chops to tackle current events and make us laugh even when things feel a bit absurd.
Key Highlights from the SNL Trump Rubio Musk Cold Open:
- Mike Myers' Return as Elon Musk: A surprise cameo that brought back his Dr. Evil-esque portrayal of the tech CEO.
- James Austin Johnson's Trump Impression: Spot-on and hilarious as always mediating the conflict.
- Marcello Hernandez as Marco Rubio: Effectively playing the Secretary of State caught in the middle.
- Inner Monologues: The "Curb Your Enthusiasm"-style inner thoughts of Trump and Musk revealing their true feelings and motivations.
- Trump's Insults: Predictably over-the-top and directed at both Rubio and Musk in the name of "peacekeeping".
- Dr. Evil Reference: Musk's pinky-to-mouth gesture a clear nod to Myers' iconic villain character adding another layer of comedy.
More Mike Myers as Musk? Fingers Crossed for Future SNL Appearances!
The success of Mike Myers' return as Elon Musk in this cold open leaves many wondering if we will see more of it. The articles suggest that the more Myers on SNL the better especially during this politically charged time. With Musk's continued presence in the news and his unique persona it seems like a character ripe for ongoing satire on SNL. Fingers crossed we haven't seen the last of Mike Myers' hilarious take on Elon Musk on Saturday Night Live.