“Saturday Night Live” kicked off a historic 50th season as beloved show veterans join today’s talent to present a satirical take on the revamped election season.

For the cold open, Maya Rudolph reprized her role as Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate for president. James Austin Johnson returned for his version of Republican foe and former President Donald Trump.

The skit was a parody of ABC News’ “World News Tonight With David Muir,” as Muir, played by Andrew Dismukes, attempted to correct his self-admitted bias during a presidential debate that was widely seen as a victory for Harris.

“Is it just me, or is it beautiful here,” he said at the opening of the sketch.

Before introducing Harris, Muir said he would spend equal time covering each candidate’s rallies live.

“The fun has started again,” said Harris of Rudolph. “Too fun, too furious.”

She repeated one of her campaign slogans: “This election is about progress. You see, Donald Trump is stuck in the past.”

Harris continued, “As I tell my husband Doug when he leaves his phone at the Chili’s, we’re not going back.”

Comedian Jim Gaffigan was introduced as Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Harris’ running mate.

After proclaiming his “big dad energy,” Walz explained why he wants to be vice president.

“I love this country, and as a former teacher, I need the money,” he said, name-checking a major generic brand. “This suit is from Costco. It’s Kirkland brand.’

Show veterans Andy Samberg (as Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff) and Dana Carvey (as President Joe Biden) shared the stage with Rudolph.

Emhoff Van Samberg, who is Jewish, said he will be proud to decorate the White House for Christmas, a tradition for spouses of presidents. “The theme will be Hanukkah,” he stated.

Bowen Yang played Trump’s running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance. He said the former president told him he reminds Trump of his own children.

“JD, you are like a son to me because I don’t like you and I’m stuck with you,” Yang’s Vance quoted Trump as saying.

Carvey’s Biden appeared senile, with vision and memory problems.

“A lot of people forget that I’m president, including myself,” he said.

Johnson’s Trump was concerned that Democrats changed their presumptive candidate from Biden to Harris midway through the race.

‘I miss Joe Biden. Oh, Joe,” he complained. “They made a switcharoo… and now everything is chaos. They’re eating the dogs,” he said, echoing an unsubstantiated claim that Haitian immigrants are eating pets in Springfield, Ohio.

Before joining Carvey’s Biden to jointly announce the opening lines “Live from New York…”, Rudolph’s Harris expressed some hope that the chaos of election season will lead to benevolent calm.

“If we win together, we can end the drama la and the trauma la and start relaxing in our pajamas,” she said.

The show’s political satire wasn’t limited to the White House.

Repertoire performer Devon Walker portrayed New York Mayor Eric Adams, who pleaded not guilty Friday to federal corruption and bribery charges stemming from accusations that he took $100,000 worth of free airline tickets and luxury hotel stays from wealthy Turkish nationals and at least one government official. to represent Turkish interests in the municipal government.

Adams has firmly denied the allegations. His attorney, Alex Spiro, criticized prosecutors for bringing what he said was a non-serious case to trial, and he vowed to file for dismissal next week.

Walker’s Adams joined parody news segment “Weekend Update” and co-host Michael Che for a conversation about the case.

“I am an innocent man,” he said. “What was once a swagless mess is now a swag tropolis – with significantly more crime than before. I took crime off the streets, onto the sidewalks and into the subways.”

Faced with accusations that he traded Turkish interests for lavish travel arrangements, Walker’s Adams said: ‘I love turkey, man. Have you ever had a Turkish delight? It’s a briefcase with $100,000 in it. It’s wonderful.”

The show was hosted by Jean Smart, who recently won a third Emmy for the Max comedy “Hacks,” with musical guest Jelly Roll.

“SNL” and NBC News are both owned by NBCUniversal.