“Saturday Night Live” is likely to set a new tone as it turns to a second term of Donald Trump in his first episode since his electoral victory.

Stand-up comic and actor Bill Burr will host for the second time with Mk.gee as musical guest.

But most eyes will be on the cold open of NBC’s sketch institution, and the signal it gives about what four more years will mean for the generally liberal-leaning series, other than steady employment for actor James Austin Johnson, who gives the impression of Trump that has become definitive.

In the first five episodes of its 50th season, which saw a audience peakthe show’s openings were made by Vice President Kamala Harris – played by a returning actor Maya Rudolph – the central star, culminating last week with an appearance by Harris herself, with giddy pre-election energy in the air.

This Saturday evening could be a little less lively.

After Trump’s first election victory in 2016, Kate McKinnonwho played Hillary Clinton on the show, appeared as the losing candidate seated at the piano and sang an almost entirely somber and serious version of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” changing only one verse from the song’s better-known versions. song.

“And even though it all went wrong, I’ll stand before the lord of song with nothing on my tongue but ‘Hallelujah,'” McKinnon sang in what became a national moment of catharsis for those on the side of losers.

After he finished, McKinnon said in a shaky voice, “I’m not giving up and neither should you” before uttering the obligatory “live from New York, it’s Saturday night!”

Stand-up comic Dave Chappelle hosted this episode. One sketch featured him and another black comic actor, Chris Rock, watching the election results with white liberals, shocked by the results, unlike their black guests.

“This is the most shameful thing America has ever done,” white actor Beck Bennett says at the end. Rock and Chapel then look at yourself and burst out laughing.

Chappelle also hosted the post-election “SNL” in 2020, but this time that honor goes to another comic, Burr, who is currently on a major stand-up tour and is set to join Kieran Culkin and Bob Odenkirk on Broadway this spring. cover of “Glengarry Glen Ross”,

Burr’s politics, at least as expressed through his comedy and frequent appearances on podcasts and talk shows, can best be described as being an angry centrist. But aside from the fake news on “Weekend Update,” the show tends to shy away from politics after the opening.