Bill Burr’s opening set on Saturday Night Live predictably focused on Donald Trump’s historic return to the White House, with one fan calling his monologue one of SNL’s ‘funniest ever’.
Burr started off talking about other topics before pivoting to ‘what you all want to talk about.’
His first joke targeted Kamala Harris and Hillary Clinton – both of whom lost to Trump – and perhaps the women who didn’t show up to put Harris over the top in 2024.
‘All right ladies, you’re 0-2 against this guy. 0-2! But you learn more from your losses than your wins. So, let’s get into the game tape,’ Burr said.
Burr’s next point was that women running for high political office don’t win by ‘having respect’ for themselves and wearing pantsuits.
Bill Burr hosted Saturday Night Live this weekend. During his opening monologue, he touched on Donald Trump’s historic return to the presidency
‘You don’t win the office on policy, you know? You gotta wh**e it up a little!’ he yelled to the audience. ‘I’m not saying go full Hooters, but find the happy medium between Applebee’s and your dad didn’t stick around.’
Burr continued on roasting feminists whom he equated with ‘ugly women.’
He insisted that female candidates should ‘tease’ male voters, particularly those in rural areas where Harris performed the worst.
‘Make a farmer feel like he’s got a shot,’ Burr joked.
For many viewers, Burr won them over with his opening monologue.
‘This is the funniest performance ever from him. Normally can’t stand 1 second,’ one person commented on the clip.
‘Woke is dead!! Bill is hilarious!!’ another wrote.
One other put it simply: ‘He’s the best.’
Burr torched both Trump and Kamala Harris during his routine. He mocked Harris for being the second woman to lose to Trump, then joked that Trump’s ‘herky jerky movements’ probably saved him from getting fatally shot at his July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania
Burr eventually moved on to his frustrations with how long US campaign seasons last, saying he was ‘so psyched that this stupid election is finally over.’
He also appeared mystified at how anyone could be an undecided voter when Trump and Harris were ‘polar opposite people.’
‘Let’s see, what does the orange bigot have to say? How about the real estate agent that speaks through her nose? This is so difficult! The overlap, I just can’t make up my mind!’
His next topic was the assassination attempt on Trump at his July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Burr said he couldn’t believe the momentum didn’t completely swing in Trump’s favor after the attempt on his life, before joking that his ‘herky jerky movements’ probably saved him from getting fatally shot.
There has been much discussion about how Trump slightly moved his head right as the bullet from the would-be assassin’s gun flew at him. Many believe that’s why he was only grazed in the ear.
‘The guy is a lunatic. He literally got shot and immediately jumped back up and started yelling in the direction the bullets were coming from unarmed. That’s not a sane human being,’ he said.
Trump pumped his fist in the air and screamed ‘fight!’ after getting shot by a would-be assassin during the rally
Burr also mocked Trump’s dance he’s been doing at rallies since 2020 where he pumps his arms – most often to the tune of Y.M.C.A. by Village People.
The dance has spurred endless memes, but so has Trump’s many political stunts, including his brief stint working at a McDonald’s in the Philadelphia suburbs.
Seeing Trump suit up in an apron and hand people fries at the drive through was Burr’s favorite part of the campaign.
‘Wasn’t that amazing? That was the only time I’ve ever seen that guy truly happy,’ Burr said. ‘He was glowing. When he got behind the counter, it was like he was back stage at Springsteen or something.’
‘He’s like, “Oh my god, this is where they make the french fries!” And he was sticking a couple extras in one and he goes “Hey, whoever gets this one is gonna be excited.” Oh my God, was that empathy? Other people, Donald?
‘It’s like when the Grinch came down the hill bringing the toys back and his heart got a little bigger.’
Burr joked about Trump’s political stunt at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s, something he did to troll Harris since she claimed to have worked at the fast food restaurant but couldn’t produce proof
Trump waved to crowds through the service window during his shift at the eatery
There were others online who panned Burr’s performance, with some saying it was underwhelming and others calling him out for his supposed Trump hate.
‘Nah missed the mark. Just another Trump hater Hollyweirdo,’ one wrote.
‘It started OK, then lost all steam quickly,’ another said.
‘As someone who grew up watching SNL and enjoys comedy, it was eh,’ a third wrote.
SNL’s cold open received a noticeably chillier response than Burr’s act.
The sketch began on an unusually serious note – with cast members solemnly reflecting on the election outcome.
‘To many people, including many people watching this show right now, the results were shocking and even horrifying,’ Ego Nwodim said.
But as the script progressed, the sketch finally took a humorous turn – and divided some viewers.
‘Hot jacked Trump,’ played by James Austin Johnson, was debuted on Saturday as SNL’s new ‘flattering’ portrayal of the soon-to-be president
Dana Carvey’s Elon Musk jumped across the stage and shouted ‘I run the country now’
After rattling off several reason people may be concerned about Trump’s presidency, Kenan Thompson said: ‘We at SNL would like to say to Donald Trump, we have been with you all along.’
The cast members spent the rest of the nearly five-minute segment sarcastically praising Trump, which did not sit well with some MAGA-supporting SNL watchers.
‘What a bunch of c**p that they do. They try to make it funny while they mock us,’ someone reacted on X.
Another user wrote: ‘I hope Elon Musk buys SNL and makes it funny again.’
This was likely in response to Dana Carvey’s comical portrayal of the Tesla CEO toward the end of the post-election message.
After Thompson referred to Musk as ‘the other man we love and trust,’ Carvey jumped across the stage, pumping his fists in the air and dancing as he shouted ‘all right!’
The comedy show’s portrayal of Trump himself was also debuted, with James Austin Johnson playing ‘Hot jacked Trump.’
More critically, several commenters also discussed the phrase ‘hail Trump’ being said twice throughout the sketch, with one saying the cast is ‘continuing its nonstop fear-mongering and Nazi-rhetoric over a Trump Presidency.’
