Maya Rudolph accompanied by numerous guests at the cold open of the 50th season of “SNL”.

While it was far from official that Maya Rudolph would play Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris on Season 50 of “Saturday Night Live” once President Joe Biden dropped out and endorsed his running mate, there has since been much speculation online about who would play her husband Doug Emhoff and future Vice President Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota. Steve Martin was initially considered a possible replacement for Walz, and series creator and executive producer Lorne Michaels even made an offer to one of his favorite hosts and guest stars, but the Only Murders in the Building star had to turn it down. Instead, as we found out last night, your favorite Big Dad Energy comedian has taken the reins of your favorite Big Dad Energy politician, with Jim Gaffigan waltzing in all his Midwestern glory. Gaffigan and Rudolph were joined by two other “SNL” mainstays, Andy Samberg as Harris’ husband and potential first first gentleman, and Dana Carvey as the incoherent Biden.

The cold opening began with Andrew Dismukes playing ABC World News Tonight anchor and “hot” debate moderator David Muir, who handed over Harris (Rudolph) at one of her party-like rallies.

“Well, well, well, look who fell out of that coconut tree,” Rudolph said, her impression of Harris only sharpening and broadening since her last appearance. “Well, your funny aunt has returned. The “fun” has restarted. Too “funny”, too angry. I’m so happy to be campaigning in the swing state I’m in, which I’ll just call Wisconsin-Pennsyl-Va-Georgia. Because I will protect your Va-Georgia.”

As the skit continued, Rudolph found humor in a series of Harris’ campaign slogans and then introduced her vice president, “Coach” Walz, played by Gaffigan with exuberant joy, folksy charm and Walz’s trademark hand gestures.

“Coo! Guys, I haven’t been this excited since I got a 10% discount on a leaf blower from Menards,” Gaffigan said, referring to the major Midwest hardware store that Walz calls his home away from home “What can I say? I have that “BDE” – “Big Dad” energy.

Like Rudolph in the role of Harris, Gaffigan had fun satirizing many of Walz’s now-famous slogans, from calling Republicans “weird” to passing on the wisdom of the phrase “Mind your own damn business.” Finally Gaffigan left the stage, allowing Rudolph’s Harris to introduce her husband Doug, played by Andy Samberg. Samberg danced onstage to Cali Swag District’s “Teach Me How to Dougie,” perfectly capturing the Second Gentleman’s non-threatening swagger.

“It’s me, Doug,” Samberg said as he took the podium as Emhoff. “The Second Gentleman. Also known as Charlie Brown as an adult.”

Samberg continued his parody by emphasizing Emhoff’s infatuation with Harris and his disbelief in his ability to attract her, while also addressing Republican criticism that called him a “trad-hus” and a “little spoon.” And as for the Republicans, “SNL” had to at least make an attempt to be nonpartisan by moving on to a Trump rally where James Austin Johnson continued to expand his repertoire, shouting that Harris wasn’t black and that he was talking about the Democrats Frustrated I pull a switcheroo from behind bulletproof glass. He then introduced his vice president, JD Vance, played by Bowen Yang, who absolutely nails Vance’s accent and his inferiority.

“How much do we love Donald Trump?” Yang said as Vance tried to cheer on the crowd of fans around him. “Just this afternoon he said to me, ‘JD, you’re like a son to me… because I don’t like you and I’m stuck with you.'”

After a short dance break, the vice president introduced the man responsible for her rapid rise, played convincingly by “SNL” legend Dana Carvey, who previously portrayed President George HW Bush in the 90s. Carvey’s emphasis on Biden’s increasing senility and his increasingly uncomfortable speaking habits, which included slipping “and you know what” and “by the way” into his speeches whenever possible, was a clear signal that marked the first cold open of the 50th season brought to a promising conclusion. Lots of hilarious political shenanigans ahead.

Watch the full cold one below.