In 2016, four days after the presidential election, when Dave Chappelle hosted “Saturday Night Live,” he ended his monologue with his thoughts on President-elect Donald J. Trump. “I wish Donald Trump the best of luck,” Chappelle said at the time. “And I'm going to give him a chance, and I demand that those of us who have been historically disenfranchised give him a chance, too.”
Chappelle returned to host “SNL” the weekend after the 2020 presidential election and 2022 midterm elections, but was invited to take the same slot in 2024, but declined. In a long, lively monologue on air this weekend, he explained why.
“I was like, 'No, I'm cool,'” Chappelle said, recalling a conversation he had with “SNL” creator and executive producer Lorne Michaels. “Things were going smoothly. There is,” he added. I have terminated my Netflix contract. I got all this money and stuff. ''But Mr. Michaels persisted, so to hang up, “I said, 'Save the date closest to January 6th,'” Mr. Chappelle said.
Wearing a suit and tie and occasionally smoking a cigarette, Mr. Chappelle commented on a wide range of news events, including the Los Angeles wildfires. “It's too early to joke about such a disaster,” he said with a mischievous grin.
He spoke about how the fire affected his friends and colleagues, including actors Cary Elwes and Dennis Quaid and rapper Madlib. He said he was angry to read insensitive online comments from people who wanted famous people's homes to burn down. “Can you see it?” said Chappelle. “Huh? That's why I hate poor people, because they can't get over their own pain.”
He called the wildfires “the costliest natural disaster in American history,” perhaps because “the people of Los Angeles have some good stuff.”
“You can burn 40,000 acres in Mississippi for about $600 or $700,” he added.
Mr. Chappelle said that Luigi Mangione, the man charged with murder in the shooting death of the United Healthcare CEO in Manhattan, “planned it almost like a perfect crime” and that his only mistake was ” He said that he had forgotten to shave his eyebrows.
The comedian pointed out that other countries are helping the US fight the Southern California fires. “Canada sent planes to help us,” Chappelle said. “Mexico sent in firefighters, and Trump was like, 'When you're done, make sure you go home.'”
Chappelle reviewed false claims made by the president-elect during the campaign that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating their neighbors' pets. Chappelle, who lives in Ohio, explained that Springfield's Haitian immigrants came to this country legally and “saved a lot of businesses because they did the jobs that white people weren't doing.”
“They were busy with other things,” he added. “Heroin, the stuff you sleep on the streets, you know what it is.”
After Sean Combs and Chappelle exchanged opinions about how he'd never been invited to his “Freak Off” party (“I said, 'Oh my god, I'm ugly. Dude. He returned to the topic of U.S. presidents, particularly Trump and Jimmy Carter, who died in December.
Chappelle traveled to the Middle East after leaving the Comedy Central series “Chappelle's Show” at the same time that Carter was there to promote his book, “Palestine: Peace, Not Apartheid.” I told the story.
When told that the Israeli government could not protect Carter if he visited the Palestinian Territories, Chappelle said: “Former American president walks with little security as thousands of Palestinians cheer him on.'' He said he was moved by the photo.
He added, “I don't know if he's a good president, but he's definitely a great person.'' That made me feel very proud. ”
Chappelle ended his monologue with the following thought:
The presidency is no place for small people. Donald Trump, I know you watch this show. Remember, whether people voted for you or not, they are all counting on you. They're all counting on you, whether they like you or not. The whole world is counting on you. When I say this, I mean this: Good luck. Please try harder next time. Everyone, please try harder next time. Remember your humanity and empathize with displaced people, whether in the Palisades or Palestine.
This week's cold open
Yes, there was a sketch on “SNL” this week as well. It started with a parody of an MSNBC roundtable featuring Rachel Maddow's Sarah Sherman, interrupted multiple times by breaking news about the incoming Trump administration. (Some satirical headlines say President Trump wants to “trade Connecticut for Italy” and sends Donald Trump Jr. to “explore potential purchase of Emerald City”) There is something.)
James Austin Johnson reprises his role as Trump, explaining that the inauguration will be held indoors because there are “too many people outside to fit,” and stars Bowen Yang (disgraced former He introduced the role of Congressman George Santos. Checking in progress. (Young paid tribute to Jimmy Carter by saying, “He was a huge influence on me because he was my father.'')
This Weekend Update Jokes
At the Weekend Update desk, anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che continued to rant about Trump's return to office and Joe Biden's impending departure.
Jost began.
Well, everyone, it's the beginning of a new era. Donald Trump has released his official inaugural portrait, and it's probably brighter now that hell has broken loose. President Trump is trying to look really hardcore in this photo, but I'm surprised he didn't put up any parental advice stickers or towels. (His screen displayed a mockup of what the photo would look like.) And Trump also unveiled an official portrait of J.D. Vance. (His screen displayed a generic image of a blank profile.)
Choi continued:
President Donald Trump's inauguration ceremony has been moved to the Capitol. Hey, just like last time! (His screen showed footage of rioters breaching the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.) President Biden triumphantly mounted his horse after giving a farewell address to the nation on Wednesday. and ran off to the sidewalk. (His screen displayed a video of Biden falling off his bike.)
This Weekend Update Desk Guest
Michael Longfellow appeared as himself on Weekend Update and released a particularly timely lament on TikTok, which went dark hours before the broadcast. Longfellow said his support for TikTok was “the first political opinion I ever had.”
“So they're just banning it because it's made in China?” Longfellow asked incredulously. “Well, you know who else was from China? Yes, Jesus Christ.” When Mr. Choi told him that Jesus wasn't from China, Mr. Longfellow said, “I thought he was Middle Eastern. , I saw it on TikTok.''
