Rarely is behind-the-scenes promotional video worth the time or effort, but even more rarely does a character like Melissa McCarthy’s beloved Spicey appear on network television. Her dramatic portrait of White House press secretary Sean Spicer’s quest to find President Trump was a highlight of SNL’s latest episode — and the outtakes from the Manhattan shoot may be even funnier than what was aired.
When Sarah Huckabee Sanders shows up unexpectedly on the White House press podium, the Saturday Night Live press corps feels a sudden twinge of hope. But Sean Spicer (Melissa McCarthy) is lurking in the bushes outside, and swiftly barges in, wielding a fire extinguisher to reassert control.
“That’s right, Spicey’s back, Sarah’s out. Boo-ya! :Let’s do this!”
Yes, let’s.
Amid the Nixonian turmoil of Trump’s America, the restive majority has awaited Spicey’s return to SNL, and McCarthy doesn’t disappoint. Her character’s manic style perfectly expresses the administration’s dogmatic, logic-free approach, as “he” humiliates New York Times correspondent Glenn Thrush (Bobby Moynihan) and then dismisses the Comey firing and the scandal swirling around his boss.
“OK, let me just put this whole Russia thing to bed once and for all,” he trumpets. “Trump in innocent. How do we know? Because he told us so. Period! Then he hired lawyers to agree with him. And they’re gonna prove it with a certified letter which you know is the truth because it costs an extra two dollars to have it certified.” The press secretary whips out a Matryoshka doll set to explain why Comey had to go.
The unruly reporters won’t let go of Spicey’s rumored dismissal, provoking him to abruptly cut off the press briefing and zoom off to Manhattan on his motorized podium to confront a touchy-feely Trump.
But you don’t want to read this — you want to watch. So just click. (And don’t miss the cold open that features Baldwin in a parody of Trump’s interview with NBC anchor Lester Holt.)
Saturday Night Live finally returned to air on April 15 after weeks of hiatus as the Trumpian apocalypse rumbled on.
In the Oval Office, Trump chats about his “long list of accomplishments” with Mike Pence (Beck Bennett) and complains about the dictator of North Korea. “He’s a war monger, he’s quick to anger, he’s a huge narcissist, he’s got a stupid little haircut, why would they let a man like that run an entire country?” Then he gets down to real business, the simmering feud between the spectral, demonic Bannon (Mikey Day) and Jared Kushner, played with aplomb by guest host Jimmy Fallon in a blazer and flak jacket.
“Jared, you’re such an inspiration,” the president gushes. “You showed everybody that if you were born rich and marry my daughter, you can do whatever you want.”
But “tonight is elimination night,” he announces. It’s a contest, with the winner getting to continue at Trump’s side plus $100,000 “courtesy of L’Oreal and the loser banished to the White House basement “with Kellyanne Conway.”
And Melissa McCarthy returns with a holiday treat as Sean Spicer, “sweating his Easter eggs off” in a lovely bunny suit and trying to apologize for his moronic remarks about Hitler and the poison gas attack in Syria. “You all got your wish this week,” he barks. “Spicy finally made a mistake!” It would be nice if the press “didn’t focus on every little slur and lie I utter,” complains the press secretary, before going on to utter several new whoppers as he proceeds to explain the meaning of Passover to “the goys.”
But poor Spicy seems as nervous as everyone else over Trump’s handling of North Korea. “Happy Easter!” he exclaims, driving off in an egg-shaped golf cart. “Eat as much candy as you want, because this is probably our last Easter on earth.” Maybe that’s how Trump plans to end his torment by the Saturday Night Live writers and cast — but meanwhile, enjoy.
“I would just like to announce that I am calm now,” proclaims Sean Spicer — a.k.a. Melissa McCarthy, reprising her genius turn as the White House press secretary. Of course, he was anything but calm, and once again the Saturday Night Live cold open lampooning the Trump administration was hysterical.
This is what Trump’s presidential ambitions have brought to America: on the down side, an immeasurable national disaster; on the up side, a new golden age of television satire on SNL (and elsewhere).
The February 12 edition marked Alec Baldwin’s record-breaking 17th appearance as SNL guest host. The actor showed up for the monologue as himself, although his Emmy-worthy portrayal of Trump does grace a later sketch, as the president attempts to defend his travel ban on The People’s Court (with a cameo by Beck Bennett as his “character witness” Putin).
It is frankly hard to get enough of McCarthy’s “Spicy,” who performs a manic review of week three’s unfolding troubles, from the travel ban imposed on seven Muslim majority countries to Nordstrom’s rejection of the Ivanka fashion line. He illustrates the travel ban with a simple demonstration involving dolls. Barbie gets in because she’s blonde, but Moana…she’s headed to Gitmo. As for Nordstrom, the department store’s “light terrorism” against the president’s daughter provides the opportunity for Spicer to advertise her costume jewelry.
Plus Kate McKinnon as both Kellyanne Conway and Jeff Sessions…
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