Jim Gaffigan and Bowen Yang reveal their 'SNL' VP impressions

We're heading into the premiere of the 50th season of Saturday Night Live, There has been a lot of fan speculation about who would run against the two biggest new names in the 2024 presidential election: Tim Walz and JD Vance. The cold open began with a rally for Kamala Harris (played by a returning Maya Rudolph) introducing her followers to Walz, played by none other than Jim Gaffigan.

“Guys, I haven't been this excited since I got a 10 percent discount on a leaf blower from Menards,” said Gaffigan's Walz. “What can I say? I have this BDE, Big Dad Energy.”

Walz continued, “When Kamala Harris called me and asked me to be her vice president, I said, 'Uh, yeah!' This is personal to me: I love this country and as a former teacher I need the money.”

Gaffigan was a popular fan casting choice for Walz, but SNLJD Vance's choice fell on someone no one expected: Bowen Yang.

Yang's Vance was awkward and sullen and began his speech by saying, “Donald Trump, just this afternoon you told me, 'JD, you're like a son to me because I don't like you and I'm staying with you.' You.'”

Vance told the crowd: “I'm sure you've all heard what the liberal media has said about me: I'm an idiot, I'm a weirdo, what the hell am I doing here?” I'll tell you what I'm doing here : to get this audience hyped!” As he said this, a bored Trump supporter left the room behind him.

The casting surprises during this cold opening weren't just limited to the politicians. Former cast member Andy Samberg dropped by to play Harris' husband, Doug Emhoff. Samberg wore an absurdly eye-catching wig and played the second gentleman with a similar goofy cadence to many of his predecessors SNL Characters.

“I've heard what the right says about me just because I don't apologize for being a man who supports his wife,” said Emhoff of Samberg. “'Oh, he's a beta, a wife type, a trad-huz, a little spoon.' But you know what? If it’s a small spoon to help Kamala – who we call Mamala in my family, I’m not sure I mentioned that – become president, then you can hug my little ass!”

The final surprise of the cold open was the new portrayal of Joe Biden. Instead of having cast member Mikey Day reprise the role, the current president was played by former cast member Dana Carvey.

Famous for his countless impressions as president over the decades, Carvey played Biden as a confused, incoherent, repetitive man, someone who needed help getting off the stage and who accidentally stumbled back onto the stage.

“I just want to say thank you, J-Biden,” Harris told him. “Thank you for putting the country first and handing over the reins.”

An angry Biden replied: “I didn’t mean to!”