The line on SNL was actually, “You coulda had a bad bitch” during one of Maya Rudolph’s appearances as Vice President Kamala Harris. And now we’re getting a bad bitch, if not officially in the Oval Office then on Saturday nights this fall as Deadline is reporting that Maya will indeed return to play the Democratic presidential nominee when Saturday Night Live returns for its landmark 50th season in September.
Apparently they’re so serious about it that they’re pushing back production on season three of Loot for scheduling reasons. And while there could be other scheduling reasons, one of those reasons is that Vice President Harris will likely be in New York City a lot since the show’s ratings often go up during election years. Given Maya’s popularity, and particularly her popularity playing Kamala Harris, Lorne Michaels obviously wants to use her as much as possible. And Maya, considering she’s the star and a producer on Loot, clearly would like to be used. “Let Mamala go to work!”
So… will the real Vice President and presidential hopeful show up?
In the season 41 cold open, Hillary Clinton appeared as a bartender called Val playing opposite Kate McKinnon playing her. It will be interesting to see what the Harris campaign decides about whether or not to have her on the show opposite Maya. SNL’s producers will no doubt extend the invitation, if they haven’t already.
But while it remains to be seen whether or not Madame Vice President can win the election, Maya is on a big win streak. She’s the f-cking best, right? Maya Rudolph is mother, as the kids say. She’s a pop culture favourite, she’s heading into the fall television season already an Emmy nominee for Best Actress in a Comedy for Loot. The Emmys are happening a week before SNL’s season premiere. All this buzz about her playing Kamala Harris again on SNL just might work for her own campaign for the award and it’s a tough category (Jean Smart, Ayo Edebiri, Kristen Wiig, Quinta Brunson, Selena Gomez), any edge in the race is appreciated. But even if the Emmy isn’t Maya’s, she’ll be front and center for weeks in the fall as America gets closer to election day. So my next question is… who plays Doug?
Martin Short has played Doug Emhoff on SNL, so are they bringing him back too? He too has a great relationship with Lorne, but he and Maya are also close. They made a variety show together! Maya & Marty. And they probably never could have imagined that almost a decade later they’d be bringing back their chemistry in such a huge spotlight in the race for the White House.
