Insights

On October 19, 2024, in New York, Alec Baldwin made a notable return to ‘Saturday Night Live’ after a significant hiatus, during which he didn’t appear due to various personal circumstances. Baldwin, previously acclaimed for his portrayal of former President Donald Trump on the show, took on the character of Bret Baier, a prominent Fox News anchor. This skit was designed to spoof a recent interview conducted by Baier with Vice President Kamala Harris, highlighted by Baldwin's rapid-fire comedic interruptions. The skit featured Ego Nwodim portraying Harris, who demonstrated a mix of nervousness and humorous retorts in response to Baldwin's character. The comedic exchanges were crafted to emulate the frustrations many viewers feel during interrupted interviews, a tactic featured in Baier's real-life interviewing style. Audience reactions indicated that Baldwin’s inhabiting of the character resonated well, with several punchlines receiving loud laughter. The sketch managed to cleverly weave in references to Baier's interview mistakes, including mistakenly playing the wrong clip, integrating additional mini-skits featuring Dana Carvey as President Biden. This approach tied into the show’s broader comedic fabric, playing off current events while delivering sharp satire. Baldwin’s appearance serves as a reminder of his longstanding affiliation with ‘SNL’; he holds the record for hosting the show 17 times. His recent return is particularly poignant following the legal challenges he faced from an incident on the set of the film ‘Rust’ which made headlines earlier this year, culminating in a mistrial in July.