'SNL' Pokes Fun at Trump-Putin Relationship

ByDAVID CAPLAN ABCNews logo
Monday, December 19, 2016

Alec Baldwin returned to "Saturday Night Live" this weekend to reprise his role as Donald Trump, taking jabs at the president-elect's relationship with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, his cabinet picks, his misspelled tweets, and the refusal by some musicians to perform at his inauguration.

But also notable about the episode is the return of cast member Kate McKinnon's Hillary Clinton in a sketch later in the show, inspired by the 2003 romantic comedy "Love Actually."

But instead of actor Andrew Lincoln holding cue cards that express his love for co-star Keira Knightley, McKinnon's Clinton arrives on the doorstep of an elector (Cecily Strong) and holds up a series of cue cards aimed at getting the elector to not vote for Trump.

The cue cards read, "I know you're an elector," "And on December 19th...," "You're supposed to vote for Donald Trump," "But Bish...," "He cray," "1. He's refusing security briefings," "2. He's already provoked the Chinese," followed by additional cue cards hammering home her point.

The cold open begins with Baldwin's Trump and "SNL" cast member Kate McKinnon's Kellyanne Conway at Trump Tower discussing former Texas governor Rick Perry, who is Trump's pick for energy secretary.

Asks Baldwin's Trump, "Wasn't that a great choice? I saw him on 'Dancing With the Stars.'" Then in a nod to a tweet Trump wrote Saturday morning which misspelled the "unprecedented," Baldwin's Trump adds, "This guy has so much energy. Un-president-ed."

McKinnon's Conway then hands Baldwin's Trump a tiny piece of paper with a list of singers willing to perform at the inauguration -- a jab at the reported refusal by some musicians to perform at the inauguration.

"SNL" cast member Cecily Strong played first lady-to-be Melania Trump, while fellow cast member Beck Bennett played Putin.

During the cold open, the fictitious Trumps are jolted by a sound coming from the chimney.

Ask Baldwin's Trump, "What's that sound? ... Is it a ghost? Am I being scrooged? I hate that"

The mystery is soon solved when Bennett's shirtless Putin pops out of the fireplace.

Soon after, surprise guest John Goodman enters the room, playing Trump's pick for Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, the ExxonMobil CEO and chairman who is friendly with Putin.

The cold open pokes fun at their pair's real-life relationship, with Goodman's Tillerson greeting Bennett's Putin with the nickname "Pooty," and Bennett's Putin, greeting his friend with, "oh my God, Rexy!" The pair then engage in a bro-like handshake and cheer.

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