Saturday Night Livebrought Halloween to the cold openwithMikey Dayas PresidentJoe Bidenhanging Halloween decorations because what could be scarier than that? As he says, that’s an “80-year-old man” hanging decorations and that’s exactly what he did. Day as Biden stood on a ladder and hung up some decor in the Oval Office while singing “Whatta Man” bySalt-N-Pepa.The sketch follows Day’s Biden making jokes about his age and severed arms as he prepares the White House for Halloween.
We also get a jumpscare from the new Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (Michael Longfellow) and his “adult Black son” also named Michael (Devon Walker) comes to visit him, comparing their relationship toThe Blindside. When he needs someone to come and help him explain the true meaning of Halloween,Christopher Walkenappears to help him. “Maybe, I can help,” he says. “I’m the Spirit of Halloween.” It’s a perfectly spooky Halloween version ofAChristmas Carolbecause what’s a better version of the Ghost of Christmas Past than having Walken take you on a spooky journey with President Biden?
He recitesa poem to Biden, which is of course “trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat,” and he continues to call himself “Papa Pumpkin” as he is convincing Joe Biden what the true meaning of Halloween is. Overall, it was a simple Halloween sketch that was trying to bring light energy to the darkness of the world. Something that Day’s Biden continues to bring up throughout the sketch before Walken says"Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night."
Christopher Walken Is Papa Pumpkin
Recently,Saturday Night Livehas beenembracing the idea of bringing guests in more and more with the new season outside of the hosts. Whether this is due to theongoing SAG-AFTRA strikeand having hosts that are not promoting projects or just having actors and creatives more willing to jump on the show, is unknown but Walken being in the cold open is a delightful choice. Now we’ll always have Papa Pumpkin to embrace every Halloween along with his otherSaturday Night Livestaples like “More Cowbell” because he is aSaturday Night Livegreat! Watch this week’s cold open below.
The full episode ofSaturday Night Liveis available to stream on Peacock in the U.S.
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A famous guest host stars in parodies and sketches created by the cast of this witty show.
