Politics

Bernie Sanders Just Nailed His SNL Cameo

February 7th 2016

Larry David hosted Saturday Night Live this weekend, reprising his role as Bernie Sanders and even squaring off against the presidential hopeful in an early sketch.

In a Titanic-esque scene, a ship out to sea evacuated women and children as an aristocratic David looked on in confusion.

BernieSandersSNLSaturday Night Live / NBC

“I hate to pull this,” the soaked and frustrated David said, “but my father is rich. I come from a wealthy family. Technically, my life is worth more than all of yours put together. Especially these women and midgets. If it’s all the same to you, I’m going to pop down in that life boat.”

Just then, a similarly dressed Sanders emerged from behind the set screaming for David to hold on. “I’m so sick of the 1% getting this preferential treatment,” Sanders said. “Enough is enough. We need to unite and work together if we’re all going to get through this.”

“Sounds like socialism to me,” David rebuked, with Sanders clarifying that it’s more democratic socialism.

“What’s the difference,” David asked. “Huuuge difference,” Sanders answered.

“Huge?”

“Yuuuge,” Sanders said, imitating David’s penchant for syllable elongation.

“Huge with a 'y,' ay? Who are you?”

“I am Bernie Sanderswitzky. Though we’re going to change it when we get to America so it doesn’t sound quite so Jewish,” the Senator said. 

You can see part of the sketch here:

The bit ended with the pair agreeing not to share a cab together, though they appeared shortly after to introduce the evening’s musical guest, The 1975. 

“So Bernie, how are things going up in New Hampshire?,” David asked. When Sanders answered with a meager ok, David replied, “Just ok?” And here, stealing another line from David himself, Bernie answered with, “Well, it’s pretty pretty pretty pretty good.”

Prior to the Sanders cameo, David played the senator in a pre-recorded bit, titled "bern your enthusiasm." In it, David plays Sanders on the campaign trail, refusing to shake germ-infested hands or help pop an accident victims shoulder back into place. The minor slights end up costing Sanders as he loses the Iowa caucus by a record margin.

David earned national attention for first playing Sanders in an October 17 episode of SNL, the two sharing physical and temperamental similarities. On Saturday night, their impressions of one another melded into a single form, as parody and imitation turned into something closer to reverence. 

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