SNL cold open mocks Dems' extreme Joe Biden age defense
By Matt Moore
Saturday Night Live's cold open this week took aim at Democrats desperate to change the narrative on President Joe Biden's age. SNL turned the table, showing that some strategies do more harm than good.
President Biden's age is a real concern among voters. And in late-night TV, it's a punchline that hasn't seemed to age. Seth Meyers, Stephen Colbert, and Bill Maher have all hit on the 81-year-old president's status in recent weeks.
Saturday Night Live took its turn during the March 3 episode hosted by Sydney Sweeney. An Inside Politics cold open saw Heidi Gardner as Dana Bash cycling through a roster of Biden supporters attempting to set the record straight.
First up was Michael Longfellow debuting his version of California's Governor Gavin Newsom. SNL played up previous calls for Newsom to run for president, having Longfellow boast about an apparently tech-savvy Joe Biden.
Then, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre (Ego Nwodim) broke down Biden's daily schedule. Between SoulCycle classes and push-up contests, Biden sounds like a machine, and one with a habit of calling everyone "young blood."
Marcello Hernández got in on the action as Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. He was followed by Devon Walker as Golden State Warriors player Draymond Green.
The house of cards toppled over when Newsom finally FaceTimed Joe Biden. As the president, Mikey Day played up Biden's slow movements and frail-sounding voice before accidentally hanging up the call.
Overall, it was another forgettable cold open in Saturday Night Live season 49. It wasn't quite on the level of last week's complete misfire, but the Inside Politics parody didn't exactly get the ball rolling like other openers this season.
Longfellow's take on Gavin Newsom stood out as especially uninspired. There wasn't much there to make him the California governor as the impression ignored the democrat's distinct voice.
The good news is that Saturday Night Live gets right back to work this week. A brand-new episode hosted by Josh Brolin arrives on March 9.