SNL Unveils Its Tim Walz and J.D. Vance in Cameo-Filled Cold Open

By Jennifer M. Wood
September 29, 2024 12:45 AM ET
Maya Rudolph and Jim Gaffigan
Screenshot: NBC

Saturday Night Live is back—and is not playing around. For months, we’ve heard that the show’s monumental 50th season would likely be packed with cameos. And the season premiere’s cold open did not disappoint on that front. 

In late July, the show announced that Maya Rudolph would be returning to play SNL’s Kamala Harris, at least through the election. Lorne Michaels and co. did not waste any time bringing the six-time Emmy winner’s talents front and center, in a cold open that had ABC World News Tonight anchor David Muir (Andrew Dismukes) jumping back and forth between a Harris rally and a Donald Trump event (with James Austin Johnson returning as the former president, a role he’s played since 2021).

Just over a week ago, Michaels made some cryptic remarks to The Hollywood Reporter that seemed to suggest That Johnson might not be donning The Donald’s wig again this year. Which made his return a welcome turn of events. But that was hardly the biggest surprise the first sketch of the year had waiting for viewers.

Ever since Harris first named Tim Walz as her running mate, audiences have been dream-casting who might play the Minnesota Governor on SNL. Initially, all eyes were on Steve Martin, who was offered the role but declined. “I’m not an impressionist,” Martin told Michaels. “You need someone who can really nail the guy. I was picked because I have gray hair and glasses.”

Nick Offerman and Jim Gaffigan were two of the more popular names thrown around to stunt cast the part, and it was the latter who showed up on Saturday to stand next to Harris and tout his BDE (Big Dad Energy). 

Next up was Doug Emhoff: As Martin Short had played Harris’ husband alongside Rudolph before, to many he seemed like a natural choice. Instead, it was another SNL alum who filled the part: Andy Samberg, who introduced himself as “The Second Gentlemensch.”

Back on the Republican side, Bowen Yang debuted his J.D. Vance impression to a less than enthused Trump. “Just this afternoon, [Trump] told me, ‘J.D. you’re like a son to me, because I don’t like you and I’m stuck with you,’” said Yang’s Vance.

The biggest surprise, however, came when Harris brought out an utterly befuddled current president, Joe Biden, in the form of Dana Carvey. “A lot of people forget I’m president,” admitted Carvey’s Biden. “Including me.”

Carvey, of course, is no stranger to playing presidents and/or presidential candidates on SNL. His George W. Bush and Ross Perot impressions are two of the show’s most iconic. 

The cold open bodes well for what indeed promises to be a season packed with surprises—and familiar faces.

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2024 Presidential Election Andy Samberg Bowen Yang cameo Dana Carvey James Austin Johnson Jim Gaffigan Maya Rudolph Saturday Night Live SNL SNL Cold Open SNL50

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