“Saturday Night Live” opens its 50th season

“Saturday Night Live” began its 50th season with a parade of former co-stars, including Maya Rudolph as Vice President Kamala Harris, Andy Samberg as her husband Doug Emhoff and Dana Carvey as President Joe Biden. Related video above: Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd recalls ‘SNL’ in 1985 “We have to stay focused,” Rudolph-as-Harris said at a simulated rally in the show’s cold open. “If we win together, we can end the drama-la and the trauma-la and relax in our pajama-la.” After bringing out her vice president, Tim Walz, played by comedian and actor Jim Gaffigan, she invited Samberg- as an Emhoff onto the stage and then, almost as an afterthought, Biden, played by the eldest of the group, 69-year-old Carvey. “A lot of people forget that I’m president, myself included,” Carvey most famously said on the show because she played President George HW Bush in the late 1980s. Rudolph and Carvey teamed up to deliver “Live from New York, It’s Saturday Night,” which kicked off the sketch comedy institution’s 50th season. Rudolph’s return as Harris – she won an Emmy for playing her before – had been reported, but it was not certain when it would appear. The cameos from Carvey, Samberg and Gaffigan were all surprises. “Designing Women” star Jean Smart, who had just won her sixth Emmy for her starring role in “Hacks,” hosted, a role the 73-year-old has somehow never played before in a career that has spanned four decades. “I remember watching the first episode of ‘SNL’ and thinking, ‘One day I’m going to host this show,'” Smart said in her opening monologue. “And this is the first Saturday that fits my schedule.” That first episode came on October 11, 1975, with Lorne Michaels at the helm, as he is now. George Carlin hosted, and the nation got its first dose of Not Ready for Prime Time. Players: Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Dan Akroyd, Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman and Garrett Morris. There were two musical guests – Billy Preston and Janis Ian – who played two songs each, which was the norm in the early days. Country singer and rapper Jelly Roll had the music role to himself on Saturday, singing his songs “Liar” and “Sober.” Like Smart, he was a rookie. Smart introduced Jelly Roll with her “Hacks” co-star Hannah Einbinder, the daughter of original cast member Newman. This debut show is documented and recreated in the newly released Jason Reitman film, “”. “Saturday Night” is part of a wave of reflection and celebration that sees the show on the cusp of its 50th anniversary. Despite the flashy guest stars that Saturday night, the regular cast members took over the majority of the show, which quickly settled into regular routine. James Austin Johnson played Donald Trump again at his own rally and said he wanted Biden instead of Harris as his opponent. “We miss Joe Biden, folks,” Johnson’s Trump said. “What wouldn’t we give to have him stand next to me and be old?” Colin Jost and Michael Che returned for another season of the mock news “Weekend Update.” “There were so many crazy political stories this summer, and everyone kept asking, ‘Are you so depressed that you’re not on the air right now?’ Jost told me to open the segment. “And I thought, ‘I have a feeling there’s more going to happen when we get back.'” Rudolph, Carvey, Gaffigan and Samberg joined Smart, Jelly Roll and the cast on stage for the traditional farewell. Upcoming episodes include host Nate Bargatze with musical guest Coldplay, Ariana Grande with Stevie Nicks, Michael Keaton with Billie Eilish and John Mulaney with Chappell Roan. These shows will lead to a three-hour primetime special on February 16th that will air as the official 50th season celebration. It’s sure to feature a wide variety of the many stars the series has produced, including Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy, Billy Crystal, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Robert Downey Jr., Mike Myers, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler and Will Ferrell.