The first Saturday Night Live 2021 Cold Open introduced Cecily Strong as Marjorie Taylor Greene, the QAnon adherent who became a congressman whose conspiracy theorizing became a source of fascination in the endless media.
The scenario was Greene participating in a talk show, What still works, with the presenter (Kate McKinnon) asking her: “What are some of the theories you believe in and have been promoted?”
“Okay, first of all, I think the shooting in Parkland was a scam,” says Greene. “The teachers were actors and the children were dolls. I believe that 9/11 was a scam. Has anyone really seen this happen? I also told my supporters that they should physically murder Nancy Pelosi. This lady I work with. And this is a new one that just came out: I think California forest fires were caused by Jewish space lasers. “
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“So, are there lasers in space that cause forest fires and are lasers identified as Jews?”
“Correct,” Greene says, confidently.
It turns out that the jokes are not far from reality, as reports on Greene’s previous social media posts and other statements emerge. On Saturday, mayor Nancy Pelosi’s office released a press release criticizing minority republican leader in the House, Kevin McCarthy, for not taking action against Greene and “rewarding” her with a seat on the Education Committee and House Budget.
Strong portrayed her with a kind of out of shape arrogance that was seen in some of Greene’s real-life clips, including one in which she rebuked the Parkland shooting survivor David Hogg.
What still works continued to introduce guests Pete Davidson, as the new majority shareholder of GameStop, who saw his stock price soar this week amid a Reddit-inspired revolt against hedge funds; and then bearded Jack Dorsey (Kyle Mooney) and Mark Zuckerberg (Mikey Day), defending the way their platforms dealt with disinformation.
At one point, Dorsey asks the host if his beard, which he used during Congressional hearings, “is working.”
“It’s working in terms of keeping me a lesbian,” says the host.
The next was Kenan Thompson as OJ Simpson, wearing an anklet, to talk about how he managed to get a vaccine against Covid-19, although it is still a challenge for older Americans to get it.
“Guilty for the prosecution … for the vaccine,” says Simpson.
The skit ended with John Krasinski as Tom Brady, who the host says “may be the only thing in America that still works”.
“So, I think everyone is rooting for you, right?” she says.
“Almost anyone,” says Brady.
“Well, I will be rooting for you, Tom Brady, because you are the only thing this country can still count on. And it’s not like you’re a strange Trump guy or something, right? “
Then, Brady timidly says, “Thanks for having me.”
The host then ends. “I’ve been Kate McKinnon like myself slowly losing my mind along with all of you.”
See clips of the open cold below.
And now, it’s time for “What still works?” pic.twitter.com/4yxkD2Tma8
– Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) January 31, 2021
Derrick Boner stopped by “What still works?” to speak stonks. Oh, and Jack Dorsey and Mark Zuckerberg also came by. pic.twitter.com/eTY1vVd4IB
– Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) January 31, 2021