US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris (R) and US actress Maya Rudolph participate in "Saturday Night Live" (SNL) live late-night sketch comedy show at NBC studios in New York City on November 2, 2024. (Photo by CHARLY …
null - Vice President Kamala Harris appeared on "Saturday Night Live" in the show’s cold open, joining Maya Rudolph’s Harris character and telling the audience to "Keep Kamala and carry-on-ala."
Harris’ appearance came in the final days before the presidential election. Earlier in the day, Harris was campaigning in Charlotte, North Carolina, and was scheduled to head to Detroit. But once the aircraft was in the air, aides said it was actually heading to New York.
The first lines the candidate spoke as she sat across from Rudolph, their outfits identical, were drowned out by cheers from the audience.
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"It is nice to see you Kamala," Harris told Rudolph with a broad grin she kept throughout the sketch. "And I’m just here to remind you, you got this."
In sync, the two said supporters need to "Keep Kamala and carry-on-ala," declared that they share each other’s "belief in the promise of America," and delivered the signature "Live from New York it’s Saturday night!"
Harris departed immediately after the opening segment. She told reporters, "It was fun!" as she boarded the plane to leave New York. A campaign adviser for former President Donald Trump said the GOP presidential nominee had "probably not" been invited to appear on SNL. The last time Trump appeared on the show was 2015.
Host John Mulaney and musical guest Chappell Roan shifted the show away from politics after the cold open. Neither addressed the election.
Some expected Roan, the 26-year-old singer who has become a major star in recent months, to make a political statement in her first appearance on the show. She has previously been harshly critical of the Democratic party and declined to endorse Harris, though Roan has said several times she plans to vote for her.
But she played it straight, or as straight as the wildly theatrical performer gets. She sang her hit "Pink Pony Club," on an all-pink set bathed in pink light.
Senator Tim Kaine also made a surprise appearance, in a game-show sketch where the gag was that no one remembered him despite his being Hillary Clinton's running mate in 2016.
"It’s been less than eight years. What’s my name?," he said, as the contestants stood silent and flummoxed.
Rudolph first played Harris on the show in 2019 and has reprised her role this season, doing a spot-on impression of the vice president, including calling herself "Momala" — a reference to the affectionate nickname her stepchildren gave her.
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Her fellow former cast member Andy Samberg appeared again Saturday night as Harris’ husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, standup comic Jim Gaffigan played running mate Tim Walz, and longtime alum Dana Carvey again played President Joe Biden.
Rudolph’s performance has won critical and comedic acclaim — including from Harris herself.
"Maya Rudolph — I mean, she’s so good," Harris said last month on ABC’s "The View." "She had the whole thing, the suit, the jewelry, everything!"
On Sunday, Harris will make another national TV appearance with a two-minute spot during NFL games on CBS and FOX, including the Green Bay Packers against the Detroit Lions, two swing state teams.