‘Too far’: Savage Joe Biden torching on Saturday Night Live
The Saturday Night Live comedy team didn’t hold anything back as they applied the blowtorch to Joe Biden and Donald Trump.
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The scathing comedic torch of Saturday Night Live was turned on US President Joe Biden, with his supporters blasting the show for “taking it too far”.
The SNL team aired a skit in the style of game show Family Feud and no one was spared.
Facing off first was “Donald Trump” and “Kamala Harris” (James Austin and Maya Rudolph).
“Name something you keep in your glove compartment,” Kenan Thompson, in the role of host Steve Harvey, said in the sketch.
Rudolph responded by mocking Ms Harris’s answer during her September debate with Mr Trump when she went off-topic and spoke about how she was raised in a middle-class family.
She eventually responded that she has a “big old Glock” in her glove compartment, scoring points.
Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, played by Andy Samberg, also responded with the answer “Glock” and slavishly praised “Harris’s” answer.
Vice presidential candidate Governor Tim Walz, portrayed by Jim Gaffigan, gave an answer that was characterised as “White nonsense” and buzzed out.
But the most stinging joke was saved for Mr Biden (portrayed by Dana Carvey), who apparently thought he was on Wheel of Fortune.
“I’d like to buy a vowel,” he said, mocking Mr Biden’s age and mental capacity, which came under immense scrutiny after his disastrous debate against Mr Trump - and which eventually led to him withdrawing from the race.
“Come on Conan,” he continued, mistaking “Harvey” for the talk show host.
“What are you doing, it’s me. I’m still the President, I’m Joe. I may be older, I’ll beat the hell out of you. I’ll pop you. Give you an uncle sandwich. I know how to do it. I make sandwiches. And guess what? Here’s the deal. I’m not the old one now, Trump is. The only difference is I know how to walk away, about six months too late.”
Imitating Mr Trump, James Austin Johnson said, “I’ve never ridden in (the) front seat of cars, so this question is very unfair.”
“So, to answer this I’m going to do one of my signature weaves,” he said, referencing Mr Trump’s recent explanation for his long, rambling speeches at rallies.
“I say lots of different things but it all comes together so beautifully. Like an episode of Seinfeld, Seinfeld... he was always wearing jeans, just like the immigrants who are ruining this country.
“They’re eating the pets!” he continued, in reference to Mr Trump’s wild claim about Haitians migrants in Springfield Ohio.
“We are getting our a***s kicked, I mean you look at Korea, you look at Japan, America’s not even included, there’s no room. So it’s like a glove compartment, you see what I did there Steve?”
The episode drew plenty of reaction, especially from supporters of Mr Biden.
Author Kimberley Johnson wrote: “The way (SNL) is treating Biden is not funny. He’s old but not senile.
“The cold open was okay but they’re taking it too far. Biden is savvy and he’s doing an amazing job. I’m so sick of the UGLY ageism. F**k SNL for being petty instead of funny.”
Sally Forth wrote: “Joe Biden deserves better than the way SNL and Dana Carvey are treating him.”
Others praised the show.
“Hands down, the funniest skit put out by SNL since the Eddie Murphy days!” one fan wrote.
“Finally funny. Where are ya been for the last four years?” another added.
Ariana Grande hosted the show wearing a hot pink ballgown for her monologue.
She joked: “The last time I hosted was in 2016 and we were right on the verge of electing our first female president (referring to Hillary Clinton, who in fact lost to Donald Trump) so I guess, second time’s a charm.”
Originally published as ‘Too far’: Savage Joe Biden torching on Saturday Night Live
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