Maya Rudolph is set to make a highly anticipated return to “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) for the show’s 50th season, reprising her acclaimed role as Vice President Kamala Harris. This announcement, confirmed by Deadline, comes as SNL gears up for a milestone season starting September 28.
Rudolph, who originally left SNL in 2007, first brought her portrayal of Harris to the sketch comedy show in 2019. Her performance was met with widespread acclaim and earned her an Emmy, sparking excitement among fans about her return. With Harris now running for president against Donald Trump, Rudolph’s comeback is set to bring a fresh and familiar touch to the political satire.
SNL has a tradition of bringing back former cast members or prominent celebrities to portray political figures. Notable examples include Tina Fey’s return in 2008 to play Governor Sarah Palin and Alec Baldwin’s portrayal of Donald Trump starting in 2016. Additionally, Larry David, a former SNL writer, began his memorable impersonation of Bernie Sanders in 2016.
In a 2019 interview with Seth Meyers, Harris expressed her admiration for SNL and the impact of Rudolph’s portrayal. “The thought that anyone would be in any way depicting me on ‘Saturday Night Live’ was just — I was a bit overwhelmed,” Harris said. “But I will tell you that I fully intend to make sure [Rudolph] has a good eight years of work.”
As SNL prepares for its landmark season, fans and critics alike are eager to see how Rudolph will capture Harris’s evolving political narrative and the show’s continued commitment to sharp, comedic commentary on current events.
