SNL Kicks Off Season 52 With Trump & NYC Mayor Bit, Natalie Harp Goes Full Stan Mode
The late-night show opened with an unlikely political buddy comedy sketch that had nothing to do with the actual election.
Saturday Night Live came back swinging for Season 52 with the kind of opening that only SNL can pull off—two characters who shouldn't be vibing, vibing anyway. Ramy Youssef showed up as NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and James Austin Johnson's Trump rolled through the office like they were old friends comparing notes. The sketch leaned into the absurdity of a casual convo between them about the storm hitting the East Coast and the Knicks.
Meanwhile, Natalie Harp brought the energy in her own way, taking "obsession" to another level in her segment. It's that classic SNL formula—get a celebrity guest, build some sketches around current events and cultural moments, and let the cast run with whatever lands.
Season 52's here and the show's not wasting time reminding us why people still tune in for the cold open. Whether you're here for the politics or just the comedy, SNL's got something cooking.
Read the full story at Variety → https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/snl-mamdani-trump-natalie-harp-obsession-1236876725/
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