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Dave Chappelle Hosts ‘S.N.L.’ and Addresses the Protests Against Trump Dave Chappelle Hosts ‘S.N.L.’ and Addresses the Protests Against Trump
(about 2 hours later)
In its first new episode since Donald J. Trump won the 2016 presidential election, “Saturday Night Live” embraced the tension that many of its viewers surely feel, satirizing Mr. Trump, his controversial campaign and the uncertainty that surrounds him as president-elect, but also mocking the bewilderment of liberals who did not consider the possibility that Hillary Clinton could lose — or the conditions that gave rise to his victory. In its first episode since Donald J. Trump won the 2016 presidential election, “Saturday Night Live” embraced the tension that many of its viewers surely feel, satirizing Mr. Trump, his controversial campaign and the uncertainty that surrounds him as president-elect, but also mocking the bewilderment of liberals who did not consider the possibility that Hillary Clinton could lose — or the conditions that gave rise to his victory.
As the guest host Dave Chappelle joked in his opening monologue, “I didn’t know that Donald Trump was going to win the election. I did suspect it. Seemed like Hillary was doing well in the polls and yet, I know the whites. You guys aren’t as full of surprises as you used to be.” As the guest host Dave Chappelle joked in his opening monologue, “I didn’t know that Donald Trump was going to win the election. I did suspect it. Seemed like Hillary was doing well in the polls and yet … I know the whites. You guys aren’t as full of surprises as you used to be.”
He added, “America has done it. We’ve actually elected an internet troll as our president.”He added, “America has done it. We’ve actually elected an internet troll as our president.”
There could hardly have been a more pointed moment for this appearance by Mr. Chappelle, an outspoken stand-up comedian who does not shy away from bold statements, and who walked away from his own celebrated Comedy Central sketch series, “Chappelle’s Show,” more than a decade ago.There could hardly have been a more pointed moment for this appearance by Mr. Chappelle, an outspoken stand-up comedian who does not shy away from bold statements, and who walked away from his own celebrated Comedy Central sketch series, “Chappelle’s Show,” more than a decade ago.
Even as Mr. Chappelle spoke, Mr. Trump has been planning his transition and protests against his presidency are occurring across the country. Even as Mr. Chappelle spoke, Mr. Trump has been planning his transition, while protests against his presidency continue across the country.
The episode, which also featured the hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest, followed the efforts of other late-night comedy shows, some of which have struggled to find their footing since Mr. Trump’s election.The episode, which also featured the hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest, followed the efforts of other late-night comedy shows, some of which have struggled to find their footing since Mr. Trump’s election.
The cold opening of “Saturday Night Live” featured the cast member Kate McKinnon in the guise of Mrs. Clinton, whom she has impersonated on the show for several seasons. Seated at a piano, she sang “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen, the singer-songwriter who died on Monday.The cold opening of “Saturday Night Live” featured the cast member Kate McKinnon in the guise of Mrs. Clinton, whom she has impersonated on the show for several seasons. Seated at a piano, she sang “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen, the singer-songwriter who died on Monday.
In particular, Ms. McKinnon’s performance emphasized these lyrics:In particular, Ms. McKinnon’s performance emphasized these lyrics:
I did my best, it wasn’t muchI did my best, it wasn’t much
I couldn’t feel, so I tried to touchI couldn’t feel, so I tried to touch
I’ve told the truth, I didn’t come to fool youI’ve told the truth, I didn’t come to fool you
And even though it all went wrongAnd even though it all went wrong
I’ll stand before the Lord of SongI’ll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but hallelujahWith nothing on my tongue but hallelujah
After the song, Ms. McKinnon said, “I’m not giving up and neither should you.”After the song, Ms. McKinnon said, “I’m not giving up and neither should you.”
There was no appearance this week from Alec Baldwin, who has played a hectoring version of Mr. Trump on this season of “S.N.L.,” and whom Mr. Trump criticized on Twitter last month.There was no appearance this week from Alec Baldwin, who has played a hectoring version of Mr. Trump on this season of “S.N.L.,” and whom Mr. Trump criticized on Twitter last month.
Mr. Chappelle’s opening monologue addressed the protests that have occurred since the election, but also how these demonstrations have been viewed differently by white and black Americans.Mr. Chappelle’s opening monologue addressed the protests that have occurred since the election, but also how these demonstrations have been viewed differently by white and black Americans.
“I watched a white riot in Portland, Oregon, on television the other night,” he said. “The news said they did $1 million worth of damage. Every black person was watching it like, ‘Amateurs.’ ”“I watched a white riot in Portland, Oregon, on television the other night,” he said. “The news said they did $1 million worth of damage. Every black person was watching it like, ‘Amateurs.’ ”
Referencing Colin Kaepernick, the San Francisco 49ers quarterback who has refused to stand for the national anthem, and who said he did not vote in the election, Mr. Chappelle said, “So I’m staying out of it. I’m just going to take a knee like Kaepernick and let the whites figure this out amongst themselves.” Referring to Colin Kaepernick, the San Francisco 49ers quarterback who has refused to stand for the national anthem, and who said he did not vote this election, Mr. Chappelle said, “So I’m staying out of it. I’m just going to take a knee like Kaepernick and let the whites figure this out amongst themselves.”
Mr. Chappelle concluded his monologue with an anecdote about how he recently visited the White House for a party that was attended mostly by black guests (and Bradley Cooper), and how it prompted him to reflect on the historical outcries that resulted when Abraham Lincoln invited Frederick Douglass there, or when Theodore Roosevelt hosted Booker T. Washington. Mr. Chappelle concluded his monologue with an anecdote about how he recently visited the White House for a party that was attended by black guests (and Bradley Cooper), and how it prompted him to reflect on the historical outcries that resulted when Abraham Lincoln invited Frederick Douglass there, or when Theodore Roosevelt hosted Booker T. Washington.
Looking at the party he attended, Mr. Chappelle said, “I saw how happy everybody was, these people who had been historically disenfranchised. And it made me feel hopeful. And it made me feel proud to be an American. And it made me very happy about the prospects of our country.” Looking at the party he attended, Mr. Chappelle recalled, “I saw how happy everybody was, these people who had been historically disenfranchised. And it made me feel hopeful. And it made me feel proud to be an American. And it made me very happy about the prospects of our country.”
He continued, “So, in that spirit, I’m wishing Donald Trump luck. And I’m going to give him a chance. And we, the historically disenfranchised, demand that he give us one, too.”He continued, “So, in that spirit, I’m wishing Donald Trump luck. And I’m going to give him a chance. And we, the historically disenfranchised, demand that he give us one, too.”
Later, in a comedy sketch, Mr. Chappelle and Chris Rock played the black guests at an election-night party of white Hillary Clinton supporters, who become increasingly unnerved as they watch her lose the vote. Later, in a comedy sketch, Mr. Chappelle and Chris Rock played the black guests at an election-night party of white Hillary Clinton supporters, who become increasingly unnerved as they watch her lose.
“Oh my God, I think America is racist,” said a guest played by Cecily Strong.“Oh my God, I think America is racist,” said a guest played by Cecily Strong.
Mr. Chappelle’s character answered sarcastically, “I remember my great-grandfather told me something like that. But you know, he was, like, a slave or something.”Mr. Chappelle’s character answered sarcastically, “I remember my great-grandfather told me something like that. But you know, he was, like, a slave or something.”
The “Weekend Update” segment, anchored by Colin Jost and Michael Che, also included several jokes about the election.The “Weekend Update” segment, anchored by Colin Jost and Michael Che, also included several jokes about the election.
“How did this happen?” Mr. Che asked. “Either Donald Trump is actually a genius, or Hillary Clinton hit a voodoo priest with her car.”“How did this happen?” Mr. Che asked. “Either Donald Trump is actually a genius, or Hillary Clinton hit a voodoo priest with her car.”
Mr. Jost said that Mr. Trump’s win was not necessarily a step backward for America. “We have to remember that progress isn’t just a straight line upwards, O.K.?” he said. “It’s a weird roller coaster where sometimes you’re screaming for joy, and other times you’re barfing in your own face.”Mr. Jost said that Mr. Trump’s win was not necessarily a step backward for America. “We have to remember that progress isn’t just a straight line upwards, O.K.?” he said. “It’s a weird roller coaster where sometimes you’re screaming for joy, and other times you’re barfing in your own face.”