While sports fans were engrossed in the World Series clash between the Dodgers and Blue Jays, Saturday Night Live turned its comedic lens to a far more localized, yet equally intense, battle: the New York City mayoral race.
The latest SNL episode, hosted by Miles Teller with musical guest Brandi Carlile, kicked off with a brilliant send-up of the mayoral debate, starring Teller alongside two past SNL greats.
Miles Teller stepped into the shoes of former New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, an independent mayoral hopeful. His character famously quipped, “I got us through Covid and then, yada yada yada, honk honk, squeeze squeeze.” He further boasted about his knowledge of the city, declaring, “I know this city like the back of a woman’s back. Mamma mia!”
Comedian and actor Ramy Youssef portrayed Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic front-runner, who humorously expressed his readiness to endure “the next hour hearing my opponents pronounce my name in ways you couldn’t begin to imagine.”
Youssef’s character also aimed to reassure voters wary of a socialist Muslim by promising to “smile after every answer in a way that physically hurts my face,” a promise he delivered with an exaggerated grin repeated throughout the sketch.
Shane Gillis, the standup comic and actor who was once a prospective SNL cast member, took on the role of Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. Sliwa’s character dramatically declared his excitement to be present 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.”
Gillis’s portrayal of Sliwa confidently asserted he was the superior candidate, comically mispronouncing his opponent’s name with an apology to “Mr. Cuomo and — I believe I’m saying this right — Zoltar Rob Zombie.”
Kenan Thompson, as moderator Errol Louis, posed a pertinent question to the candidates: why would they aspire to “the worst job in the world?”
Teller’s Cuomo character humorously replied that since “everyone in the city immediately hates you” upon election, he was “already one step ahead of the game.”
Youssef’s Mamdani character outlined ambitious plans for a better New York, including affordable housing, free healthcare, and Wi-Fi, before candidly admitting, “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 preferred bagel orders, Gillis’s Sliwa offered a bizarre and memorable response: “As you know, in 1982 I had my penis cut off and fed to me by the yakuza. So, obviously, blueberry bagel, toasted, strawberry cream cheese, eaten over a garbage can.”
Following a mock endorsement from Mayor Eric Adams (portrayed by SNL cast member Kam Patterson), Youssef’s character directly addressed the camera, offering a playful appeal to female voters grappling with “white guilt” over gentrifying their communities.
Youssef provocatively suggested, “Why don’t you vote for me? You’ll feel a little less bad about that chicken and rice shop getting turned into a Sweetgreen.”
Before the mayoral candidates could tackle the most pressing issue of their potential term, James Austin Johnson, in his uncanny recurring role as President Trump, made a dramatic entrance, exclaiming, “It’s me!”
After playfully mocking the candidates and sharing his unique bagel preference (“Big Mac with a hole in the middle”), Johnson’s Trump character asserted his enduring presence in New York, stating, “I’m always watching — lurking in the shadows, much like the late, great Phantom of the Opera.”
The segment culminated with Trump donning a “Phantom” mask and delivering a surprisingly melodic rendition of “The Music of the Night.”
This Week’s Standout Double Act
Michael B. Jordan might have competition! SNL ingeniously tasked host Miles Teller with playing both Drew and Jonathan Scott in a hilarious Property Brothers spoof. This pre-taped sketch also brought back James Austin Johnson as Trump, alongside Chloe Fineman’s Melania, as they comically struggled with renovating the White House’s East Wing. Teller’s character noted, “The Trumps have already made a few subtle changes to the house,” while Fineman’s Melania revealed, “Donald got rid of the portrait of F.D.R., and he put a painting of himself as a soldier from Halo.”
Top Jokes from Weekend Update
On Weekend Update, anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che delivered sharp commentary on a White House Halloween event and the Trump administration’s controversial move to cut SNAP benefits.
Jost kicked off by highlighting President Trump’s peculiar trick-or-treating style:
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, he famously placed candy on top of a kid’s Minion costume. Melania’s reaction was priceless: “I guess that is how it’s done.” This year, he repeated the act with a child dressed as DJ Marshmello. Just put it in the bag! Why is he so weird? Even the kid looked confused. It’s an embodiment of his entire presidency, a clear violation of norms no other president or person has ever conceived. Who thinks, “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.” Truly the perfect soundtrack to lure kids to a famous mansion.
Che followed with his characteristic sharp humor:
Due to the government shutdown, SNAP food benefits ran out of funds today. But don’t worry, the government still provides needy families with free food… through the Second Amendment. In other news, Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, announced during a press conference that she is nominating President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. I can’t believe I get to say this, but thank God nobody listens to women.
Weekend Update’s Memorable Desk Segments
After a two-week absence, Bowen Yang triumphantly returned to SNL as George Santos, the ex-congressman recently pardoned by President Trump. Introduced by Jost as “the world’s No. 1 marathoner,” Yang’s Santos character hilariously claimed victory in the not-yet-occurred New York City Marathon. He also took staged prison calls from “Ghislaine,” “Luigi,” and “Diddy,” and proudly displayed a stolen Louvre necklace, which he declared belonged to his ancestors: “the Zales.”
Finally, Ashley Padilla and Andrew Dismukes delivered a charmingly awkward performance as a post-hookup couple whose fumbling conversation perfectly mirrored the gridlock between Republicans and Democrats during the government shutdown.