Pam Bondi vs. Senate: Round Two. That was the scenario envisioned by “Saturday Night Live” on Saturday, with alum Amy Poehler playing the attorney general in a continuation of her combative hearing with Democrats this week.
When asked how President Donald Trump could justify deploying National Guard troops against Americans, Poehler’s Bondi was confrontational.
“Before I don’t respond, I’d like to insult you personally,” Poehler’s Bondi responded.
Fellow former cast member Tina Fey made a surprise appearance as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, carrying an assault rifle and issuing a call to applicants to become Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents that included questions like, “Do you need a job now?” and “Do you take supplements you bought at a gas station?”
“So buckle up and put on some Oakleys, big guy: welcome to ICE,” Noem said of Fey.
Poehler, a member of the “SNL” cast for seven years who left in 2008 for “Parks and Recreation” fame, hosted for the third time Saturday.
His appearance occurred on the 50th anniversary of “Saturday Night Live,” which premiered on October 11, 1975.
“It’s always a dream come true to be here. I remember watching the show in the ’70s, sitting at home in Burlington, Massachusetts, thinking, ‘I want to be an actress someday, at least until they invent an artificially intelligent actress who’s funnier and willing to act up front,'” Poehler said in her monologue.
He also had a message of hope for those who may be feeling overwhelmed. “If there’s a place where you feel at home, where you can come back and laugh with your friends, consider yourself lucky, and I do,” he said.
And she had the last laugh at her imagined AI doppelgänger.
“And to that little AI robot that’s watching TV right now and wants to be on this stage someday, I say: beep, boop, beep, boop, beep, beep,” Poehler said. “Which translates to: You’ll never be able to write a joke, you stupid robot! And I’m willing to do it straight, but no one has asked me, okay?”
Another sketch featured a cameo by Aubrey Plaza, a former “SNL” intern and guest host who also starred on “Parks and Recreation.”
In a parody of Netflix’s “The Hunting Wives,” billed as “the straight but horny lesbian Republican murder drama,” Plaza played “a new girl” who joined the group.
After a sexually charged lesson on how to make a mimosa, Plaza revealed that she had a girlfriend, causing the other women to shout “lesbians!” and they immediately point their weapons at him.
The reunion did not end there. A trio of “Weekend Update” hosts Seth Meyers, Fey and Poehler, who have all been behind the desk, joined current hosts Colin Jost and Michael Che for a quiz show-style battle.
Role Model was Saturday’s musical guest. Their performance of “Sally, When The Wine Runs Out” featured an appearance by Charli XCX.
At the end of the episode, “SNL” paid tribute to Oscar-winning actress Diane Keaton, showing a portrait. Keaton died at the age of 79, his daughter said early Saturday.
Sabrina Carpenter, who recently released the album “Man’s Best Friend,” is the host and musical guest on next week’s episode.
“SNL” airs on NBC, a division of NBCUniversal, which is also the parent company of NBC News.
