Elizabeth Warren makes a surprise SNL cameo, meets doppelganger Kate McKinnon

The Washington Post

Saturday Night Live brought back old favorites on Saturday: Darrell Hammond returned as Chris Matthews to send off the recently ousted MSNBC host and Rachel Dratch reprised Debbie Downer for a coronavirus-themed sketch. But they were easily overshadowed by former Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren, who appeared in SNL's The Ingraham Angle cold open. "There are surprise guest stars and then there are truly surprising guest stars," says Travis M. Andrews of Warren's cameo. "This week, right as America felt the need for a bit of a pick-me-up as coronavirus continues to spread across the country, the show managed to feature the latter by having the real Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) in the cold open alongside Kate McKinnon’s version of her. Whether that serves as a pick-me-up or not, of course, likely depends on your politics...The mere fact that she was there overshadowed much of what she actually says, though she makes a few solid quips as she describes what things have been like since she dropped out of the presidential race." Not only did McKinnon play Ingraham, but she also managed to change outfits and transform into Warren for the end of the cold open in "what might be the most impressive costume change in the show’s recent history," says Andrews. He adds: "Many critics, this reporter included, have pointed out the show’s reliance on flashy celebrity guest stars from week to week. The primary issue is that they cease to be surprising. The sixth time Robert De Niro or Alec Baldwin shows up, what once caused a jolt of excitement turns into a yawn. Warren’s appearance, however, serves as a good reminder that when done cleverly, an unexpected guest can truly elevate a sketch."

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