Entertainment
By Isabel Keane
Published Oct. 22, 2023, 9:02 a.m. ET
SNL Mocks Jim Jordan and House Republicans in Cold Open
The latest episode of “Saturday Night Live” took aim at the chaos in the House, satirizing the inability of lawmakers to elect a new House speaker. The show’s cold open featured a spoof of failed GOP speaker nominee Rep. Jim Jordan, his fringe allies Reps. George Santos and Lauren Boebert, and former president Donald Trump, who is seen as the de facto leader of the Republican Party.
Actor Bowen Yang played the role of George Santos, who pays a visit to offer his condolences to Jim Jordan, portrayed by Bowen Yang. Mikey Day, playing Jordan, laments his loss in the secret ballot vote to remain the GOP nominee for the speakership. However, he sarcastically expresses his desire to shut down Congress again, stating, “All I want to do is get Congress back to work so I can shut it down again.”
As an assistant, played by Heidi Gardner, enters Jordan’s office to bring him a new phone, she introduces Santos, who inexplicably arrives with a baby. When Jordan questions Santos about the baby, he admits that no one knows why he has a baby and instructs Gardner to put the baby in an Uber. Santos then proceeds to offer his support and reveals that he voted for Jordan, along with a fictional character named Shoshanna Loggins.
When Jordan wonders if he should try running for speaker again, Santos jokingly responds, “Well, look, I would be lying if I said yes. So, yes.” He then takes a call from Tupac, amusingly exclaiming, “Girl, I know. Jada is crazy.”
The sketch then shifts to Lauren Boebert, played by Chloe Fineman, calling into Jordan’s office while being groped in a theater. After their conversation, former President Donald Trump, played by James Austin Johnson, visits Jordan’s office and mocks him as a loser. Jordan confronts Trump about disappearing after endorsing him, to which Trump responds with a reference to Michael Jordan and Jordin Sparks. He boasts about potential legal troubles and claims to be too busy campaigning but doing great things for the courts.
Jordan vents his frustration, citing the intimidation and threats he used, but Trump dismisses him, saying, “Well, because, frankly, you’re not me, OK? You’re no fun, I’m hilarious.”
The episode was hosted by rapper and singer Bad Bunny, who also served as the musical guest. The upcoming episode will feature stand-up comedian Nate Bargatze as the host, with the Foo Fighters as the musical guest.
