Kamala and Doug Host a Wine-Fueled VP Debate Watch Party During This Week's 'SNL' Cold Open

Live from New York, it’s the Vice Presidential Debate! Of course, given that it’s an election year, it’s no surprise that the cold opens of Saturday Night Live Season 50 have been politically minded thus far, and last night’s edition was no exception.  Episode 2 saw the return of SNL alums Maya Rudolph and Andy Samberg as POTUS hopeful Kamala Harris and her fan-boy husband Doug Emhoff. And their versions of Kamala and Doug took in the VP debate the same way we all did: with lots of wine.

With lines lifted directly from the real-life face-off (“We said no fact-checking!”), the cold open featured Heidi Gardner and Chloe Fineman acting as debate moderators Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan. The sketch also saw the return of current cast member Bowen Yang as the Republican Party vice presidential candidate JD Vance and comedian Jim Gaffigan as his Democratic rival Tim Walz, who were “vibing” together a bit too much for Harris’s liking.

Related: Meet the Cast of SNL Season 50

“Do you want to watch something less stressful, like the Menendez Brothers show?” Samberg’s Doug hilariously offered his anxious wife, though the Second Gentleman was similarly fretful that Walz’s performance was bad for “goofy white guys” like himself, Josh Gad and Jason Kelce.

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However, Kamala’s concerns were temporarily put on hold thanks to a drop-in from an ice cream-wielding President Biden, played by SNL great Dana Carvey. The POTUS tried to alleviate his VP’s worries: “Look at me. I’m serious right now. The vice president doesn’t matter…Who the hell was Obama’s VP? Nobody knows!” 

Check out the full Saturday Night Live Season 50, Episode 2 cold open below: 

Related: ‘SNL’ Reveals First Five Hosts and Musical Guests for Season 50