Movies News Talk
Renowned comedian Maya Rudolph, who formerly cast member of Saturday Night Live (SNL), is scheduled to triumphantly return to the program for its 50th season. Rudolph's look matches a slow down in production for her Apple TV+ comedy series, "Loot." Deadline, stressing Rudolph's legendary status as an SNL alumna, reports her return.
Starting in 1999, Rudolph's SNL career lasted nine seasons during which she left a lasting impression on the program with her comic skills. She has made unforgettable visits as host since then, gracing the SNL stage three times most recently in May 2024. Her unique characterizations and impressions of legendary people like Beyoncé, Oprah Winfrey, Donatella Versace, and Kamala Harris are much praised.
Rudolph's coming back to SNL for season 50 is especially noteworthy since she will be playing Kamala Harris, the current vice president of the United States. This occurs during the 2024 election season as Harris is running for the presidency against former president Donald Trump. Rudolph formerly portrayed Harris in the 2020 contest, acting as the running mate for President Joe Biden. For Rudolph as well as the show, this increased public awareness could be a calculated move.
Rudolph's SNL dedication seems to be directly linked to the production lag for season 3 of "Loot". Conflicts scheduled seem to have caused the Apple TV+ show to be postponed through pre-production. For "Loot," though, this delay might prove to be a blessing in disguise since the more attention Rudolph gets from her SNL comeback will translate into more interest in the third season of the show.
Rudolph's return to SNL is a calculated one, considering the show's historical relevance during election years. The program usually runs on satirical depictions of political leaders, and guest stars like Rudolph, who fit these roles, usually see more exposure and appreciation. Rudolph emulates Tina Fey, another former SNL alumna who struck a mix between her dedication to "30 Rock" and her performance of Sarah Palin on SNL during the 2008 campaign. Renowned for their portrayal of Donald Trump on SNL, Fey and Alec Baldwin have gotten Emmy nominations. Rudolph might follow this approach, using her position as Kamala Harris to take advantage of the exposure from SNL's huge audience and improve her profile before the "Loot" season 3 premiere.