February 12, 2017
All week, 'Saturday Night Live' wasn't promising anything fresh: the guest host was serving for a record 17th time, fans knew which performers would be featured and the targets for comedy were obvious. However, the episode didn't feel stale at all.
On the Feb. 11 offering, Alec Baldwin, who has impersonated President Donald Trump all season, handled the hosting duties while Melissa McCarthy returned a week after debuting her crowd-pleasing portrayal of White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer. Ed Sheeran was the musical guest.
Last week, social media went wild for McCarthy's Spicer during a combative press conference. This week, the show didn't waste any time and opened the show with another one.
Despite assuring reporters that he would remain calm, McCarthy's Spicer clearly remained agitated when asked questions.
"You're testing me, big guy!" McCarthy's Spicer screamed at the sky after New York Times reporter Glenn Thrush (Bobby Moynihan) brought up the court's ruling on Trump's executive order regarding immigration.
The press secretary helpfully demonstrated what "extreme vetting" meant. Using dolls, McCarthy's Spicer explained that TSA agents wouldn't bother Barbie when she returned from her dream vacation, "We know she's OK because she's blonde! So she gets in!" Next up was Disney's Moana, a Polynesian princess. "Uh oh!" McCarthy's Spicer worried. "We're gonna pat her down and read her emails. And if we don't like the answers - which we won't. Boom! Guantanamo Bay!"
The rest of the sketch featured a commercial for Ivanka Trump's fashion products, Attorney General Jeff Sessions (played by Kate McKinnon) mentioning the difference between "regular and black" crime, and McCarthy's Spicer attempting to run over journalists with a motorized podium.
Later in the show, Baldwin donned his Trump gear to make good on his all-caps threat to judges from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal on Twitter to "SEE YOU IN COURT."
The case was heard in an appropriate setting: The People’s Court.
"First of all, Mr. Trump. You understand this is a TV court, right?" the judge (Cecily Strong) began the proceedings.
"That's OK. I'm a TV president," Baldwin's Trump consented.
The highlight of the skit was the surprise character witness to testify on behalf of Baldwin's Trump: shirtless Russia president Vladimir Putin (Beck Bennett). “Lay off President Trump, OK? This man is a great friend. He’s my little American happy meal. He’d do anything for you. Go against his own country just to make you happy,” shirtless Putin added.
The judge ultimately rejected the faux-POTUS's arguments, "I want one day without a CNN alert that scares the hell out of me!"
