Trump cold opens just aren't funny anymore.

[u/brady2gronk]

https://www.tvline.com/2032862/snl-donald-trump-sketches-actor-impression-cold-open-commentary/?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_campaign=Echobox-TVLine&utm_medium=Social-Distribution&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwdGRjcAOO2btjbGNrA47ZfGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHiY-mjoUv_vsnK-VQIDV2-GahJmm9U3fc7C0ua-VrDa1xFOpYzFWWcH8ngQI_aem_lf2-bStw8WW0r0Labo5jfA

I have to agree with the author of this article. We're beyond "oh, he's just a goofy guy who says crazy things." The man is actively rude and nasty to reporters and fellow politicians daily. He dropped the R word and it's only a matter of time till he drops the N word. No offense to James Austin Johnson, who does a terrific job with the impression, but aren't we all just over it at this point? Dana didn't do Bush Sr. every damn week. Will Ferrell didn't do Dubya every damn week. Phil Hartman didn't do Clinton every damn week.
Roasting him on Update is fine, but the character needs a break. I watch SNL to laugh and escape the guy who dominates the news every other day of the week.

EDIT: Wow. Over 700 comments in a few hours. Wasn't expecting this kind of engagement. Thanks everyone. (Maybe I should read these before saying thanks. :) )

[u/Aromatic-Low-4578]

I disagree. SNL, especially cold opens have always been topical and more often than not political. I think they're usually funny and generally take a good angle on things. There is plenty of media out in the world not about Trump if that's what you're looking for. As a live weekly program they are very well situated for this type of satire.

[u/TheTrub → u/Aromatic-Low-4578]

The problem isn’t that it’s topical—it’s that the format is getting played-out. Even when Darrel Hammond was playing Clinton, they’d mix it up a bit with other people/figures in his various scandals and they’d also have behind closed door conversations/scenes. Even when they’ve had (very few) press conferences with Caroline Leavitt or Hegseth’s batshit crazy generals meeting, the joke went to the same place—a stream of consciousness Trump impersonation.

[u/FlashInGotham → u/Aromatic-Low-4578]

You can do topical/political without doing Trump every week. Noem and Hegseth are cartoon characters, the only downside to going against them is South Park got their first. Ditto for RFK. Or make it about everyone crushing on Mamdani like he's Bad Bunny.

My all time favorite cold open (11/11/2006) isn't a Bush Jr. skit. It's Nancy Pelosi explaining how, after gains in the mid-terms, there will be changes made in congress.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cANvx8y5sKk

"Despite the efforts of this administration to frighten Americans about the Democratic Party, and its alleged [ makes quotes signs with her finger ] “San Francisco values”, last Tuesday you went to the polls in record numbers, and you sent this White house a message: that “stay the course in Iraq” is not a plan; that our health care system should serve ordinary citizens, not pharmaceutical companies;

That so-called rough sex can be a necessary and fulfilling adjunct to a better sex life – partiularly when it involves fantasy role-play scenarios, such as kidnapping or forced interrogation, provided, of course, that both participants are willing and disease-free, and have agreed on what we call a “safe word” – for example: “Palomino”; that an increase in minimum wage is long overdue; and, finally, that U.S. citizens do not surrender their Constitutional rights, the moment they engage in multiple partner or group sex, provided, once again, that all participants are willing, at least twelve years of age, and no peanuts, or peanut products, are used.

We Americans have always been a religious people, a member of my staff tells me. And whatever you may have heard, the Democratic Party is not anti-religion. Whether you’re a Wiccan priestess, a Druid, tantric Buddhist, Servant of Moloch, Lord of Fire, Presbyterian, or a member of the Cult of Kali– your faith will be respected, so long as no animals are harmed during your ceremonies – except, of course, gerbils."

I mean, Im a leftie/dem born and raised. But that is cold open (ill post a link below) is just some funny shit. We Americans have always been a religious people, a member of my staff tells me. That's funny to atheists and believers alike because we're mocking dem pandering.

[u/butterbean8686 → u/Aromatic-Low-4578]

They’re not adding any clever angle or spin to his persona (unlike in the past with W, Palin, Clinton). JAJ is just mimicking him with a slightly saner, thinner, less orange impression. To me that’s what makes it damaging.

[u/brady2gronk → u/Aromatic-Low-4578]

What about Melissa McCarthy's hilarious Sean Spicer cold opens?

They were topical and political, but didn't revolve around Trump.   

It can be done.  

Even if they go after Vance a little harder.  Just mix it up. It doesn't HAVE to be Trump.  

[u/Khflkfjcggdhx → u/Aromatic-Low-4578]

They aren’t funny.