Saturday Night Live has never shied away from controversial topics and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. Every week, the writers have material handed to them by whatever headline President-elect Donald Trump creates with his zany behavior, and it is turning into a tradition, with millions of viewers tuning in every week to see what surprises are in store.
In last week’s cold-open, SNL poked fun at some of Trump’s choices in appointing cabinet members, as they seemed like prime candidates for a Bizarro Administration. For anyone flipping through the channels, you might’ve thought that this scene was real because let’s face it: anything can happen these days.
In the sketch, Jake Tapper (Beck Bennett) was in an interview with Kellyanne Conway (Kate McKinnon) and questioned the appointment of Andy Puzder, Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s CEO, as Secretary of Labor, citing that the candidate does not support a minimum wage. Also highlighted was Scott Pruitt, Oklahoma attorney general, who was appointed as the head of the EPA, even though he has adamantly made it known that he does not believe in climate change.
“Are these bad picks?” asks Tapper.
Conway replies, “No, Jake. They are not bad picks. They are alt-good.”
How about the fight against the drug epidemic in America? What better choice for the head of the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency than a high school science teacher from New Mexico?
Enter, Walter White
For those not privy to the character, Walter White was the protagonist on the award-winning television series Breaking Bad. It was a brilliant reprisal for actor Bryan Cranston. Back on the grid, his famed character’s cool demeanor and cocky chortles while answering Tapper’s questions made for an entertaining skit.
At one point during the exchange, White sings his praises of Trump’s proposed wall:
“I also like that wall he wants to build. Nothing coming in from Mexico, meaning … a lot less competition for the rest of us.”
An exasperated Tapper asks, “You mean jobs?”
White retorts, chuckling, “Yeah.”
Walter White ends the sketch with the proclamation, “It’s time to make America cook again. We want to fill this nation with red, white, and a whole lotta blue.”
The skit was an enjoyable lampoon of the questionable decisions and events happening in our world, with plenty of references for Breaking Bad fans, to boot. Saturday Night Live has always managed to come through with some of the best commentary when it comes to current political events, making reality easier to swallow.
From the look of things to come, there will be plenty of entertainment coming from this NBC staple program.