Maya Rudolph Returns as Kamala Harris for SNL Season 50: 'Look Who Fell Out of That Coconut Tree'

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The 50th season of Saturday Night Live began with a cold open where stars Maya Rudolph, Jim Gaffigan, Andy Samberg, Bowen Yang and James Austin Johnson debuted as candidates and their partners for the 2024 presidential election.

“Look who fell out of that coconut tree,” began Rudolph, who plays Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. “Your funny aunt has returned.”

She added, “I'm so happy to be campaigning in every swing state I'm in, which I'll just call Wisconsin-Pennsylv-Georgia because I'll protect your Virginia-Georgia.”

Harris' campaign, she explained, was like the song “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter… “The lyrics are vague, but the mood is striking.”

“Now this election is about moving forward,” she continued. “Look, Donald Trump is stuck in the past, but it's like me saying to my husband Doug when he left his phone at the Chili's… 'We're not going back!'”

Then Gaffigan's Tim Walz jumped on stage: “I haven't been this excited since I got a 10 percent discount on a leaf blower at Menards,” he said. “Can I say I have this BDE… Big Dad Energy. Do you see what I did there?”

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“I got it. I didn't want it, but I got it,” Rudolph's Harris replied, later pointing out, “Time isn't the only white guy for Harris here today.”

She then introduced Samberg as her husband Doug Emhoff, the “second gentleman” who pushed back against Republicans who mocked him for supporting his wife: “I've heard what the right-wingers say about me… 'Oh, he is a beta, a woman type, a traditional husband, a little spoon.”

“You know what, if helping Kamala (who we call Mamala in my family) become president means being a little spoon, then you can kiss my little butt.”

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Doug von Samberg was also enthusiastic about the Christmas decorations in the White House: “The theme will be Hanukkah.”

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SNL Cast members James Austin Johnson and Bowen Yang played Donald Trump and JD Vance, respectively.

Yang recently made headlines after being asked to reveal the worst SNL Host behavior he had ever seen. “This man – this person, this presenter – had several cast members crying before the table reading on Wednesday because he hated the ideas,” he replied.

The opening episode of SNL's The 50th season was hosted by Golden Globe-winning actor Jean Smart, who was also joined by the show's musical guest, singer Jelly Roll.

“I remember watching the very first episode of SNL and thought, “One day I’ll host this show,” he said Easttown mare And Fargo Star remembered. “And this is the first Saturday that fits my schedule.”

Smart then launched into a musical skit in which she described the things she loves most about New York, even though she's not a New Yorker: “I like the sight and the sound and even the smell of it.”

She began her career “around the same time” in New York Saturday Night Live started,” she told the audience. “I didn’t really believe it was live. Seriously, I thought SNL stood for “Saturday Night Laughs,” and then I watched the show and thought…well, that can’t be right.”

Saturday Night LiveSeason 50 continues every week on NBC.