'SNL' cold open – Trump admires Tom Hanks' butt, frets over midterms - USA Today
"Saturday Night Live" returned just in time for a political fright night.
With the hotly contested midterm elections set for Tuesday, Nov. 3, just three days away, the NBC sketch comedy show had plenty of political material for its Halloween night cold open on Oct. 31.
But first it was Tom Hanks, who made a surprise return as his beloved "SNL" character David S. Pumpkins during a Halloween tomb tour. "I'm going to freak you out," Pumpkins said, kicking into a strange dance for the character's third live-action appearance. "I'm David Pumpkins, man. A Halloween guy."
James Austin Johnson's President Donald Trump interrupted with a bizarre, rambling midterm election message, noting the many things in common he has with Pumpkins. "We both appeared in 2016, we're both loud, very orange and very annoying."
Trump couldn't resist admiring Hanks' backside.
"Great ass on Hanks," Johnson's Trump said. "I've been doing that lately, admiring men's asses. Not that there's anything wrong with that, except I might be gay. They're calling it gay dementia. Dementia is short for 'de men show me their butts.'"
Trump also lamented the latest midterm polls. "They say we're doing very badly. They're saying Texas is turning purple, just like my hand," he said, displaying his discolored hand. "And if Texas goes blue, just like my hand, I'll leave it for dead."
Johnson as Trump also took notice of Texas U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico, a Democrat, calling him better looking than Republican Ken Paxton and admiring his "dynamite ass."
New cast member Saidah Belo-Osagie entered as rapper Nicki Minaj, joking about her support for Trump and the possibility of becoming his next White House press secretary.
The president gave fired White House press secretary Katie Zacharia (played by Veronika Slowikowska) the chance to "redeem herself" and deliver the show's famous opening line. Zacharia, who earned a law degree but is not a licensed lawyer, promptly botched the honor, nervously saying, "Live from New York, and from so many cities!"
Hanks was handed the honor of yelling, "Liiiiivvve from New York, it's Saturday Night!"
Episode 4 of Season 52 marked the return of "SNL" after a two-week hiatus, putting the show back on the air for the final weekend before voters headed to the polls. By the time "SNL" returned, Zacharia had already been hired and fired as Trump's White House press secretary, lasting just five days on the job.
"Obsession" standout Inde Navarrette hosted the Halloween episode, with Gracie Abrams as musical guest.
