Skip to main content
The homepageVoxVox logo
The homepageVoxVox logo

The context you need, when you need it

When news breaks, you need to understand what actually matters — and what to do about it. At Vox, our mission to help you make sense of the world has never been more vital. But we can’t do it on our own.

We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. Will you support our work and become a Vox Member today?

Join now

‘Saturday Night Live’ returns tonight — will ‘Donald Trump’ still carry the show?

Will SNL get another Trump bump in the ratings?

by Kurt Wagner
Will Heath / NBC

“Saturday Night Live” returns for its 43rd season tonight, and expectations are huuuuuge.

SNL will broadcast live across the country starting at 11:30 pm ET / 8:30 pm PT, something it tried a few times last year. The show won multiple Emmys earlier this month, and is fresh off one of its best-performing seasons in decades, thanks in large part to a never-ending stream of ridiculous material coming out of President Donald Trump’s White House.

Now the question becomes: Will SNL get another Trump bump in the ratings this fall?

There’s no way the new season won’t focus on Trump — it’s just a matter of how much, and whether or not people still want to see parody-Trump in action. (Methinks they do.)

Alec Baldwin, who won an Emmy for his portrayal of Donald Trump last season, has said he’ll be back, though with less regularity. Sadly for viewers, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer resigned, which means no more Melissa McCarthy abusing the White House press pool with verbal (and sometimes physical) assaults. (McCarthy also won an Emmy.)

Trump was a major promoter of the show last season, even if it was unintentional. He was constantly complaining on Twitter about Baldwin’s impersonation of him, and many of the clips went viral online after the show had aired. It seems likely that Trump will be paying close attention again this season.

SNL will debut tonight with host Ryan Gosling and musical guest Jay-Z. Here are a few clips from last season to get you warmed up:

This article originally appeared on Recode.net.

See More:

Most Popular

  1. The war in Iran isn’t ending — it’s becoming something new
  2. Take a mental break with the newest Vox crossword
  3. The redistricting wars are almost over. Here’s the score.
  4. The Supreme Court will decide when the police can use your phone to track you
  5. Another Trump official exits in scandal

More in Technology

Podcasts
Anthropic just made AI scarierAnthropic just made AI scarier
Podcast
Podcasts

Why the company’s new AI model is a cybersecurity nightmare.

By Dustin DeSoto and Sean Rameswaram
Politics
The Supreme Court will decide when the police can use your phone to track youThe Supreme Court will decide when the police can use your phone to track you
Politics

Chatrie v. United States asks what limits the Constitution places on the surveillance state in an age of cellphones.

By Ian Millhiser
Future Perfect
The simple question that could change your careerThe simple question that could change your career
Future Perfect

Making a difference in the world doesn’t require changing your job.

By Bryan Walsh
Technology
The case for AI realismThe case for AI realism
Technology

AI isn’t going to be the end of the world — no matter what this documentary sometimes argues.

By Shayna Korol
Politics
OpenAI’s oddly socialist, wildly hypocritical new economic agendaOpenAI’s oddly socialist, wildly hypocritical new economic agenda
Politics

The AI company released a set of highly progressive policy ideas. There’s just one small problem.

By Eric Levitz
Future Perfect
Human bodies aren’t ready to travel to Mars. Space medicine can help.Human bodies aren’t ready to travel to Mars. Space medicine can help.
Future Perfect

Protecting astronauts in space — and maybe even Mars — will help transform health on Earth.

By Shayna Korol