By Sam Uebel, Staff Writer
“Saturday Night Live” returned for its 46 season on Oct. 3. Chris Rock hosted the show, it’s first in nearly six months due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Coming live from Studio 8H, in NBC’s Rockefeller Center Headquarters in Manhattan, the show followed visible guidelines due to the virus. All audience members had to undergo a series of questions regarding whether or not they had been in contact with COVID, had their temperature taken, and took a rapid COVID test. New guidelines set by New York State also mandated that audience members be “casted,” meaning if you could get your hands on tickets, you also got paid.
Sean Ludwig, a freelance writer who attended the premiere of SNL on Oct. 3, said that he and his friends each received a check for $150 when the show was over.
The main topic for the show’s first episode was the Trump-Biden first presidential debate. Alec Baldwin continued his role as President Donald Trump, and Jim Carrey made his debut as former Vice President Joe Biden. Beck Bennett played moderator Chris Wallace from Fox News.
Throughout the night SNL poked fun at President Trump’s recent corona diagnosis. Host Chris Rock, addressed the “elephant in the room.” “President Trump’s in the hospital, from Covid,” he said. “And I just want to say, my heart goes out to Covid.”
Olivia Ali, a senior education major, said she enjoyed the show. “Making politics into comedy, I loved it.”
Musical guest Meg Thee Stallion used her performance time to highlight the importance of black women. Stallion told the audience “We need to protect our Black women and love our Black women because at the end of the day, we need our Black women. We need to protect our Black men and stand up for our Black men because at the end of the day, we’re tired of seeing hashtags of our Black men.”
The show ended with Kate Mckinnon in the audience, dressed as Ruth Bader Ginsburg. With her hand to her heart, Mckinnon bowed her head and the screen displayed the words “Rest in Power.”
Saturday Night Live is expected to air at least four more live episodes throughout the month of October.
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