Offering asides, recommended links, blogworthy quotations, and more, In Brief is the Northwest Progressive Institute's microblog of world, national, and local politics.
In an interview with Fauci, [CNN] anchor Alisyn Camerota noted that “SNL” would be returning to NBC’s airwaves this weekend after a hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“What do you think the chances are that somebody will portray you?” Camerota asked.
“I have no idea. I hope not,” Fauci replied with a laugh.
Camerota quickly suggested a few performers’ names, including Ben Stiller and 56-year-old Pitt.
“Oh Brad Pitt,” Fauci, 79, said with a wide grin. “Of course.”
Of course!
The (cold?) open: Dr. Anthony Fauci (Brad Pitt) addresses the public to decipher the coronavirus misinformation Donald Trump has been spreading.
Watch highlights from the sixteenth episode of Saturday Night Live’s forty-fifth season, hosted by Tom Hanks, with Chris Martin as the musical guest:
The cold open/monologue: Tom Hanks opens a special Saturday Night Live as host from his home, where he talks about recovering from COVID-19, does an “audience” Q&A and pays tribute to essential workers. Read More »
“Critics sometimes compare Fox, in its loyalty to Trump, to ‘state TV,’ but that description is off,” contends media columnist Ben Smith. “State TV implies command and control. The most-watched news channel in America has become, since the fall of its powerful founder, Roger Ailes, much more like the Trump White House: a family business where it’s not entirely clear who is in charge… Since the powerful Mr. Ailes was ousted amid a sexual harassment scandal in 2016, the network seems more and more like an asylum in the firm control of its inmates.”
Watch highlights from the fifteenth episode of SNL’s forty-fifth season, hosted by Daniel Craig, with The Weeknd as the musical guest.
A cold open for the ages: Fox News’ Laura Ingraham (Kate McKinnon) speaks with Jeanine Pirro (Cecily Strong), Donald Trump Jr. (Mikey Day) and Eric Trump (Alex Moffat), Chris Matthews (Darrell Hammond) to discuss the coronavirus panic before interviewing Elizabeth Warren.
Watch highlights from the fourteenth episode of SNL’s forty-fifth season, hosted by John Mulaney, with David Byrne as the musical guest.
The cold open: Mike Pence (Beck Bennett) holds a White House press conference to update the American public about the coronavirus and fields questions from Democratic presidential candidates Michael Bloomberg (Fred Armisen), Bernie Sanders (Larry David), Elizabeth Warren (Kate McKinnon), Joe Biden (John Mulaney), Pete Buttigieg (Colin Jost) and Amy Klobuchar (Rachel Dratch).
Watch highlights from the thirteenth episode of SNL’s forty-fifth season, hosted by RuPaul, with Justin Bieber as the musical guest.
The cold open: 2020 Democratic presidential candidates Tom Steyer (Pete Davidson), Amy Klobuchar (Rachel Dratch), Elizabeth Warren (Kate McKinnon), Joe Biden (Jason Sudeikis), Bernie Sanders (Larry David), Pete Buttigieg (Colin Jost) and Andrew Yang (Bowen Yang) face off in a debate.
Watch highlights from the eleventh episode of SNL’s forty-fifth season, hosted by Adam Driver, with Halsey as the musical guest.
The (hot) cold open: Donald Trump’s attorney Alan Dershowitz (Jon Lovitz) gives Senator Mitch McConnell (Beck Bennett) and Senator Susan Collins (Cecily Strong) a preview of his impeachment defense.
Watch highlights from the tenth episode of SNL’s forty-fifth season, hosted by alum Eddie Murphy, with Lizzo as the musical guest.
The cold open: 2020 presidential candidates Elizabeth Warren (Kate McKinnon), Andrew Yang (Bowen Yang), Pete Buttigieg (Colin Jost), Amy Klobuchar (Rachel Dratch), Bernie Sanders (Larry David), Joe Biden (Jason Sudeikis) and Michael Bloomberg (Fred Armisen) face off in a debate.
Watch highlights from the eighth episode of SNL’s forty-fifth season, hosted by Jennifer Lopez , with DaBaby as the musical guest.
The cold open: Foreign leaders (Jimmy Fallon, Paul Rudd, James Corden) that were caught making fun of Donald Trump (Alec Baldwin) at the 2019 London NATO summit continue their taunting in the cafeteria.
Watch highlights from the seventh episode of SNL’s forty-fifth season, hosted by alum Will Ferrell, with King Princess as the musical guest.
Clocking in at twelve minutes, our first highlight is one of the longest Saturday Night Live sketches in the history of the show. It features Melissa Villaseñor as Rachel Maddow, Rachel Dratch as Amy Klobuchar, Woody Harrelson as Joe Biden, Will Ferrell as Tom Steyer, Maya Rudolph as Kamala Harris, Larry David as Bernie Sanders, Chris Redd as Cory Booker, Bowen Yang as Andrew Yang, Kate McKinnon as Elizabeth Warren, Cecily Strong as Tulsi Gabbard, Fred Armisen as Michael Bloomberg, and Colin Jost as Pete Buttigieg. Yep, all in one sketch.
Watch highlights from the sixth episode of Saturday Night Live’s forty-fifth season, hosted by Kristen Stewart, with musical guest Coldplay:
The cold open, not mocking Trump or regime for a change: Senator Elizabeth Warren (Kate McKinnon) attends an Iowa town hall where she takes questions about her run for president and defends her Medicare for All plan.
Watch highlights from the fourth episode of SNL’s forty-fifth season, hosted by Chance The Rapper, who also performed as the musical guest.
The cold open: Donald Trump holds a rally in Albuquerque, New Mexico and brings some of who he thinks are his loyal supporters, political allies and friends (Darrell Hammond, Fred Armisen, Kate McKinnon, Cecily Strong, Mikey Day, Aidy Bryant, Beck Bennett, Pete Davidson, Alex Moffat) to the stage.
Watch highlights from the third episode of Saturday Night Live’s forty-fifth season, hosted by David Harbour of Stranger Things fame:
The cold open: At CNN’s Equality Town Hall 2020 candidates Cory Booker (Chris Redd), Pete Buttigieg (Colin Jost), Elizabeth Warren (Kate McKinnon), Julian Castro (Lin-Manuel Miranda), Joe Biden (Woody Harrelson) discuss LGBTQ issues.
Highlights from the second episode of Saturday Night Live’s forty-fifth season, hosted by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, with musical guest Taylor Swift:
The best sketch of the night: Senator Elizabeth Warren (Kate McKinnon) talks to Colin Jost about outfundraising Joe Biden in her 2020 bid for president and addresses a marine affair conspiracy theory.
NBC’s Emmy-award winning comedy magazine Saturday Night Live returned last night for its forty-fifth season premiere, airing live coast to coast.
Here are highlights from that first episode:
The cold open: With the threat of impeachment looming, Donald Trump (Alex Baldwin) calls those closest to him including Rudy Giuliani (Kate McKinnon), Kanye West (Chris Redd), William Barr (Aidy Bryant), Mike Pence (Beck Bennett), Kim Jong-un (Bowen Yang), Jeanine Pirro (Cecily Strong) Eric and Don Jr. (Alex Moffat, Mikey Day), and actor Liev Schreiber.
Given the fine margins Trump is dealing with in his reelection campaign, Fox News could help sink him. Fox can lose some viewers and win the ratings wars; Trump basically cannot lose any supporters and win reelection. You could even make an argument that Trump needs Fox more than Fox needs Trump.
In Brief is authored by the staff, board, and contributors of the Northwest Progressive Institute, a netroots powered strategy center working to raise America's quality of life through innovative research and imaginative advocacy.
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