Forget the World Series! This past weekend, “Saturday Night Live” turned its spotlight on an even more thrilling contest: the New York City mayoral debate. Host Miles Teller led a star-studded cast in a hilarious send-up of the leading candidates, with musical guest Brandi Carlile setting the tone for a night of sharp political humor.
Miles Teller perfectly embodied Andrew M. Cuomo, the former New York governor, now running as an independent mayoral candidate. Kicking off the debate, Teller’s Cuomo humorously brushed over his past controversies with a “yada yada yada, honk honk, squeeze squeeze” gesture. He then quipped about his intimate knowledge of New York, declaring, “I know this city like the back of a woman’s back. Mamma mia!”
Comedian and actor Ramy Youssef took on the role of Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic front-runner. Youssef’s Mamdani expressed his delight, anticipating “the next hour hearing my opponents pronounce my name in ways you couldn’t begin to imagine.” He then promised to reassure voters wary of a socialist Muslim by “smiling after every answer in a way that physically hurts my face,” a painfully exaggerated grin he maintained throughout the sketch.
Shane Gillis, the standup comic and actor (who was briefly considered for an SNL cast position), brilliantly portrayed Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate. Gillis’s Sliwa dramatically recounted his infamous past, joking he was “thrilled to be here and not getting shot in the back of a Yellow Cab five times by the Gottis and Gambinos, as I was, famously, in 1992, 1993 and ’94.” He then offered a humorous apology to “Mr. Cuomo and — I believe I’m saying this right — Zoltar Rob Zombie.”
Moderator Errol Louis, played by Kenan Thompson, challenged the hopefuls on why they’d aspire to “the worst job in the world.” Teller, as Cuomo, confidently retorted, “As soon as you are elected mayor, everyone in the city immediately hates you. And in that way, I am already one step ahead of the game.”
Youssef’s Mamdani outlined a utopian vision for New York, promising affordable housing, free healthcare, and Wi-Fi. Then, with a characteristic smile, he admitted, “Can I make that happen? I’m not sure yet. But together we’re going to find out. That the answer is no.” When asked about their favorite bagel orders, Gillis’s Sliwa delivered a bizarre tale of yakuza dismemberment before declaring, “blueberry bagel, toasted, strawberry cream cheese, eaten over a garbage can.”
After a quick dismissal of a joke endorsement from Mayor Eric Adams (played by “S.N.L.” cast member Kam Patterson), Youssef’s Mamdani made a direct, somewhat awkward, appeal to female voters. He suggested that by voting for him, they might “feel a little less bad about that chicken and rice shop getting turned into a Sweetgreen.”
Just as the candidates were about to tackle serious mayoral issues, the debate took a wild turn with the triumphant entry of James Austin Johnson’s recurring character: President Trump! Declaring “It’s me!”, Trump proceeded to roast the candidates, even sharing his peculiar “Big Mac with a hole in the middle” bagel preference. He then announced his perpetual watch over New York, “lurking in the shadows, much like the late, great Phantom of the Opera,” before captivating the audience with a surprisingly melodious rendition of “The Music of the Night” while wearing a Phantom mask.
Double Act of the Week
Move over, Michael B. Jordan, there’s a new double act in town! “S.N.L.” ingeniously had host Miles Teller play both Drew and Jonathan Scott in a “Property Brothers” parody. This segment also brought back James Austin Johnson as Trump, alongside Chloe Fineman as Melania, as they comically mismanaged the renovation of the White House’s East Wing. Teller highlighted their “subtle changes” to the residence, with Fineman’s Melania revealing, “Donald got rid of the portrait of F.D.R., and he put a painting of himself as a soldier from Halo.”
Weekend Update: Top Jokes
Colin Jost and Michael Che at the Weekend Update desk delivered sharp commentary on current events, including a peculiar White House Halloween and the government shutdown’s impact on SNAP benefits.
Jost kicked things off, noting, “President Trump and the First Lady hosted a trick or treat event at what’s left of the White House. This is one of my favorite things the president does because it’s so clear he never trick-or-treated once in his life. In his first term, here’s how he gave candy to a kid dressed as a Minion. [He played video from 2019 of President Trump and the First Lady placing candy on top of a trick-or-treater’s costume.] Melania’s just like, ‘I guess that is how it’s done.’ And then again this year he did it to a kid dressed as D.J. Marshmello. [He played video from this week of President Trump again placing candy on top of a trick-or-treater’s costume.] Just put it in the bag! Why is he so weird? Even the kid is like, ‘This is not right.’ It’s kind of an embodiment of his entire presidency, a violation of norms no other president or person has ever conceived of. Like, who’s ever thought, ‘I should put the candy on the kid’s head?’ My favorite part, though, was when Trump and Melania made a grand entrance to Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller.’ Just the perfect soundtrack to lure kids to a famous mansion.”
Che followed up, stating, “Due to the government shutdown, SNAP food benefits ran out of funds today. But the government still provides needy families with free food through the Second Amendment. Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, said during a press conference that she is nominating President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. And I can’t believe I get to say this, but thank God nobody listens to women.”
Weekend Update Desk Segments
After a brief absence, Bowen Yang made a triumphant return to “Weekend Update” as George Santos, the ex-congressman whose prison sentence was recently commuted by President Trump. Introduced by Jost as “the world’s No. 1 marathoner,” Yang’s Santos claimed victory in the not-yet-held New York City Marathon, took fictional prison calls from “Ghislaine,” “Luigi,” and “Diddy,” and hilariously presented a “stolen” jeweled necklace from the Louvre, claiming it as an ancestral heirloom from “the Zales.”
Later, Ashley Padilla and Andrew Dismukes charmed audiences with their portrayal of a post-hookup couple. Their subtly messy interactions served as a clever, if slightly awkward, metaphor for the ongoing government shutdown negotiations between Republicans and Democrats.