The question of who would play Tim Walz and Doug Emhoff on “Saturday Night Live” was immediately answered Saturday night as the sketch comedy series kicked off its 50th season.

Jim Gaffigan joined Maya Rudolph in the season premiere cold open as the affable governor of Minnesota and Harris’ running mate, while Andy Samberg appeared as the Second Gentleman. Dana Carvey also debuted his Joe Biden impression on “SNL.”

“SNL” cast member James Austin Johnson returned as Donald Trump, and Bowen Yang appeared as his running mate, JD Vance. Andrew Dismukes played journalist David Muir and joked about the ABC News debate being “biased against the Democrats, which… duh.”

In the sketch, Rudolph brought back America’s “nice aunt,” also known as the “Funt.” “The Funt has restarted,” Rudolph said. “2 fun, 2 furious.” As Walz, Gaffigan quipped, “We have a saying in Minnesota: ‘Mind your damn business.’ We also have another saying in Minnesota: “My nuts froze to the park bench.”

As Emhoff, Samberg considered himself the “Second Gentlemensch” and joked about decorating the White House for Christmas: “The theme is Hanukkah.”

Playing a stuttering, confused Biden, Carvey joked, “A lot of people forget I’m president. Even me!” After Rudolph thanked “J’Biden” for “putting the country first and handing over the reins,” Carvey said, “I didn’t want that!” They made me.”

Shortly after Harris announced Walz as her running mate, people started dreaming about the role on “SNL.” While Gaffigan and Steve Martin were two of the most repeated names, Martin said in an interview that “SNL” boss Lorne Michaels called him with an offer to play Walz on the show. Martin turned it down: ‘I said, ‘Lorne, I’m not an impressionist. You need someone who can really get the guy.” I was chosen because I have gray hair and glasses.”

Emhoff was previously played by Martin Short in a 2021 Passover-themed sketch. In August 2024 with Esquire, Emhoff said that “SNL” needs a “good Doug character” ahead of the election. “I think of Hugh Jackman, Ryan Reynolds and Chris Hemsworth. You know, people who look just like me,” he joked.

Samberg was a cast member of “SNL” from 2005 to 2012, but has not appeared on the show since 2018. (He hosted only once after his term, in 2014.)

Rudolph’s return to “Saturday Night Live” as Vice President Harris was announced in July, just a week after she announced her bid for the presidency following Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race. Rudolph first played Harris on “SNL” in December 2019 and won the Emmy for guest actress in a comedy series despite having only a few lines in a presidential debate sketch. She returned during the 2020 election cycle to play Harris alongside Jim Carrey’s Biden.

Rudolph was a mainstay on SNL from 2000 to 2007 and played Harris again when she hosted the series in March 2021, which earned her another Emmy for guest actress in a comedy series. (She was nominated again for her final hosting stint on May 11, 2024.)

Rudolph explained how she created her version of Harris within her Variety cover story in September. “I said, ‘When I see her, I see her having fun,’” she said. “And so the fictional Kamala we created took advantage of her pleasure. And then (“SNL” producer) Steve Higgins said to me that his wife called her a “nice aunt,” and we laughed because that sounded so “nice.” We just went from there. That was the moment when you realize, ‘Oh, now I know how to do this.’

“Saturday Night Live” began its 50th season on September 28 with host Jean Smart and musical guest Jelly Roll. The iconic sketch comedy series is celebrating its big anniversary with a live primetime special on February 16. The series airs on NBC at 11:30 PM ET and streams on Peacock.