Summary
Maya Rudolph is reportedly set to return toSaturday Night Livewhile the new season of her Apple TV+ comedy showLootis delayed. Rudolph is one of the most iconicfemaleSNLcast members, having appeared on the show for nine seasons. After departing the showing 2007, she has returned to host the show an additional three times, most recently in May 2024. Over the years, she has delivered many iconic characters and impressions including Beyoncé, Oprah Winfrey, Donatella Versace, and Kamala Harris.
PerDeadline,Maya Rudolph is set to return toSaturday Night Liveon season 50 to reprise her role as Kamala Harris through the end of the 2024 election, during which the real-life Harris is running against former President Donald Trump. She formerly played the role during the 2020 election when Harris was the running mate for current President Joe Biden. HerSNLreturn may be the reason for the upcomingLootseason 3, which has reportedly been put on pause during pre-production due to scheduling conflicts.
Returning To SNL Is Probably The Right Decision For Maya Rudolph
A Kamala Harris Reprisal Should Be Worth The Loot Season 3 Delay
While Rudolph’s return toSaturday Night Liveseems to have delayedLootseason 3, this scheduling issuewill likely end up helping the Apple TV+ show more than hurting itin the long run. Election years are typically good years forSaturday Night Liveand especially the guest stars portraying presidential or vice presidential candidates. In fact, Rudolph would be following in the footsteps of another formerSaturday Night Livealumna who returned to the show despite being hard at work on another comedy in the meantime.
That returning star would be Tina Fey, who split her time between starring in her acclaimed comedy30 Rockandportraying vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin in a series of sketches throughout 2008. Fey would go on to win an Emmy for her portrayal of Palin and oversee a satirical take on her physical similarities to Palin by having30 Rockcharacter Tracy Morgan (Tracy Jordan) portray a notorious politician for whom he is a doppelgänger on a later season of the show.
Alec Baldwin was also nominated for an Emmy in 2021 for his notorious performance as President Donald Trump onSaturday Night Live.
Rudolph could very well follow the same path as Fey by reprising the role of Kamala Harris on the upcomingSaturday Night Liveseason. She has already won an Emmy for the role in 2020, but a second win could help boost her visibility just in time forLootseason 3 to arrive and capitalize on the increased attention garnered by the star’s return to the iconic sketch show. If the show is scheduled properly, this could more than make up for the delay in the new season’s production.
Saturday Night Live
Cast
Saturday Night Live is a live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels, premiering in 1975. It features comedy sketches parodying contemporary culture and politics, performed by a rotating cast. Each episode is hosted by a celebrity guest and includes musical performances.
