For fifty years Saturday Night Live has been at the forefront of political satire and presidential comedy.
Politicians have a long history on SNL and the show hasn’t shied away from making it clear which commander-in-chiefs it likes and those it doesn’t.
While its talented cast members seek to mimic presidents and the candidates seeking office, occasionally the real politicians will turn up in an attempt to show potential voters a softer side and hopefully prove they hold a sense of humor.
On Saturday evening, Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris flew unexpectedly to New York to appear on SNL just three days before her election showdown with Donald Trump.
Her appearance added a surprise jolt ahead of Tuesday’s election.
Donald Trump, center, hosted SNL in November 2015 during his presidential campaign
Clinton returned to SNL for a second time in 2016, while running against Trump in a race she ultimately lost, this time portrayed by cast member Kate McKinnon, seen left
The long-running show separately hosted both Democratic candidate Barack Obama and Republican candidate John McCain in 2008 while also featuring Trump, who hosted the show in 2015.
Trump’s hosting gig marked a rare instance of a presidential candidate hosting the show during an active campaign, reflecting both the influence on political culture and the unique nature of Trump’s media presence.
Some critics felt it gave Trump an undeserved platform given his divisive comments on the campaign trail.
Hillary Clinton was running for president in the 2008 Democratic primary when she appeared next to Amy Poehler, who played her on the show and offered a trademark, exaggerated cackle.
The real Clinton wondered during her appearance, ‘Do I really laugh like that?’
Clinton returned to SNL in 2016, while running against Trump in a race she ultimately lost, this time portrayed by cast member Kate McKinnon.
McKinnon’s impersonation of Clinton was a recurring feature on SNL, and the sketch highlighted Clinton’s policies, public image, and personality.
Clinton’s character playfully complained about how long it had taken for marriage equality to become a reality.
Republican President Gerald Ford, right, became the first sitting president to appear on SNL, who did so less than a year after the show debuted. Chevy Chase portrayed him, left
Donald Trump appeared on SNL long before he had presidential ambitions. He is pictured, right, in 2004 alongside cast member Darrell Hammond, left
But today’s politicians have Republican President Gerald Ford to thank after he became the first sitting president to appear on SNL. His appearance came less than a year after the show debuted.
Ford appeared on April 17, 1976, and declared the show’s famous opening, ‘Live from New York, it’s Saturday night!’
Ford’s SNL appearance was arranged by his press secretary, Ron Nessen, who hosted the episode.
Ford, who had a reputation for being a bit clumsy, was frequently parodied on the show by Chevy Chase, who exaggerated Ford’s stumbles and falls.
Chase’s impression became iconic and contributed to the popular image of Ford as accident-prone, even though Ford himself was a former college athlete and quite coordinated in real life.
Though Ford’s participation in SNL was brief, it set a precedent for future presidents and candidates to engage with popular culture in new ways.
For the most part it showcased his willingness to take a lighthearted approach to humor, even when it came at his own expense.
Bill Clinton, left, made several appearances on Saturday Night Live, though he never hosted or performed a full sketch. Clinton first appeared on SNL in December 1992, shortly after winning
Bill Clinton made several appearances on Saturday Night Live, though he never hosted or performed a full sketch.
He was frequently parodied on the show, with cast member Phil Hartman famously portraying him during Clinton’s presidency.
Barack Obama was still just a Democratic presidential candidate when he appeared in on SNL in 2007 during his first campaign.
He appeared in a Halloween-themed sketch, playing himself, where several Democratic candidates attended a costume party hosted by Amy Poehler’s version of Hillary Clinton.
Obama wore a mask of himself, joking that his ‘costume’ was ‘a guy named Barack Obama.’
The appearance played to his sense of humor and willingness to engage with pop culture, helping him connect with younger audiences.
Barack Obama was still just a Democratic presidential candidate when he appeared in on SNL in 2007 during his first campaign as he took part in a halloween party sketch
Losers have also appeared on the sketch show including Democratic candidate Al Gore who appeared both before and after his presidential campaigns.
Republican Bob Dole made an appearance in November 1996 – a mere 11 days after losing that year’s election to Democrat Bill Clinton.
Dole consoled Norm Macdonald who played the Kansas senator on the show.
Dole’s self-deprecating humor and his lighthearted attitude toward the SNL parodies helped soften his public image and showed that politicians could connect with audiences through humor, even after a tough election loss.
His most memorable appearance was in 2002, after he narrowly lost the 2000 election to George W. Bush.
In that episode, Gore participated in several sketches, including a humorous monologue where he poked fun at himself and the 2000 election’s infamous Florida recount.
He jokingly imagined an alternate reality where he had won, addressing what his presidency might have looked like.
Losers have also appeared on the sketch show including Democratic candidate Al Gore, center who appeared both before and after his presidential campaigns
Larry David and Bernie Sanders appeared together on Saturday Night Live in February 2016, during the Democratic primaries for the presidential election
Larry David and Bernie Sanders appeared together on Saturday Night Live in February 2016, during the Democratic primaries for that year’s presidential election.
David had already gained popularity for his uncanny impression of Sanders, which had quickly become a hit on the show.
Sanders and David appeared together on stage in a sketch set on the Titanic.
Sanders played a character named ‘Bernie Sanderswitzky,’ a man who was upset about the disparity in lifeboat access between first-class and steerage passengers, mirroring Sanders’ political views on economic inequality.
During his 2008 campaign against Barack Obama, Republican John McCain returned to SNL in another memorable SNL episode alongside Tina Fey who was playing Sarah Palin
Years earlier there was Tina Fey’s 2008 impression of vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin – and in particular her joke that ‘I can see Russia from my house.’
It was so good that Fey won an Emmy award. Palin herself also appeared on the show that season, in the weeks before the election.
Her appearance came after Fey’s parodies of her became wildly popular as she mimicked Palin’s Alaskan accent, style, and catchphrases.
Her appearance was one of the highest-rated episodes of the season showing the power of political satire in shaping public perceptions of candidates.
Tina Fey’s, pictured above, 2008 impression of vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin – and in particular her joke ‘I can see Russia from my house’ lives long in the SNL collective memory
During his 2008 campaign against Barack Obama, Republican John McCain returned to SNL twice – both times playing on his underdog status and his sense of humor.
In May of that year, McCain made a guest appearance on Weekend Update with Seth Meyers and Amy Poehler delivering a mock campaign ad that poked fun at himself and his age, joking about his physical endurance and the importance of seniors in the election.
Then in November 2008, just days before the election, McCain appeared in another memorable SNL episode alongside Tina Fey.
In the sketch, he and Fey’s Palin appeared on QVC selling ‘McCain Fine Gold’ and ‘Palin in 2012’ memorabilia, poking fun at the McCain’s campaign’s financial limitations compared to Obama’s.
His appearance coming just before the election became one of the most iconic political moments on the show that year.