‘SNL’: Al Franken, Roy Moore On Santa’s Naughty List In Cold Open

UPDATE, with video No political impressions or surprise guests to kick off tonight’s Saturday Night Live cold open – instead, the NBC comedy went with a Christmas bit that had a bunch of wised-up kids asking Kenan Thompson’s shopping mall Santa questions like, “Can you tell me, what did Al Franken do?”

Asked the little boy in a reindeer sweater, “And what kinda list is Roy Moore on?”

“It’s more of a registry,” replied Kate McKinnon’s helpful elf, asking Santa to refrain from calling her Sugar Plum “in this climate.” (Take a look at a couple brief clips below.)

Asked another little boy, why do all those football players kneel – do they hate the troops or are they just tired from all the brain injuries? Then a little girl complained about feminazis taking away her Barbie, and another stumbling over the words “embassy” and “Tel Aviv.” (Another little girl missed her set-up entirely, leaving Thompson – who may or may not have been to blame – to land a Chuck Schumer punchline as a non sequitur. NOTE: As a Deadline commenter noticed, the clip above must be of the dress rehearsal. It’s mistake-free).

And there was the inevitable inside-NBC joke when Santa asked a boy what kind of toy he wanted for Christmas. “You mean like the one Matt Lauer gave to his co-worker?” the kid asked.

Finally, a little girl named Jenny said all she wanted for Christmas was for everything to be okay. Consoled not-Sugar Plum the elf, all will be fine – in “three years, 42 days and 24 minutes.”

Tonight’s episode is hosted by James Franco, with musical guest SZA.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8HLnDP6uRM&w=605&h=340]

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