Posted in: NBC, Peacock, TV | Tagged: Heated Rivalry, saturday night live, snl

SNL Cold Open Takes on Donald Trump, Pete Hegseth, Iran War & More

Tonight's SNL Cold Open saw Donald Trump (James Austin Johnson) and Pete Hegseth (Colin Jost) trying to make the case for the war in Iran.

After taking the last couple of weeks off for NBC's 2026 Winter Olympics coverage, NBC's Saturday Night Live returned tonight in a big way, with host Connor Storrie (Heated Rivalry) and musical guest Mumford & Sons. With a lot going on in the country and around the world since SNL has been gon – like what's currently happening in Iran -we were wondering what the SNL Cold Open would bring. Yup, we have Donald Trump (James Austin Johnson), wishing everyone a "Happy World War II" before noting that his "Board of Peace" was bored of peace and decided to confront a problem that's been around for 15 years. He noted that he went from no new wars to one world war (and maybe a civil war), reminding MAGA followers who are angry with him that this was what they voted for: a POTUS who just makes stuff as he goes along. Also, he needed another distraction from the Epstein Files.

After a great in-joke about how he's been making life hell for SNL's writers, Trump introduced Colin Jost's Pete Hegseth. Hegseth loves Prince of Persia on the GameCube, and he wants us to know that he's been playing into it to prepare for this war (a game system that Trump also loves), while going "total bro" on those challenging the call. In the end, Hegseth said it was about overthrowing a ruler who was working against the will of the people, though Trump ended the opener by letting the folks in the U.S. know that they should get any ideas.

NBC's Saturday Night Live is the most Emmy-winning show in history and holds 113 Emmy wins (including awards for its specials and short-form series). SNL has been honored four times with the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award and was inducted into the Broadcasting Hall of Fame. The show continues to garner the highest ratings and largest audience of any late-night television program, entertaining millions each week on linear and digital platforms.

Since its inception in 1975, SNL has launched the careers of many of the brightest comedy performers of their generation. SNL makes headlines with topical humor reflecting politics and current events, features an array of characters with a perspective on pop culture that remains unparalleled, and offers sharp political commentary through its signature "Weekend Update" segment. A variety show that is truly one of a kind, SNL also attracts the biggest stars of music to its stage for innovative viral performances.

The SNL Season 51 cast includes Michael Che, Mikey Day, Andrew Dismukes, Chloe Fineman, Marcello Hernandez, James Austin Johnson, Colin Jost, Sarah Sherman, Kenan Thompson, and Bowen Yang, along with current featured players Ashley Padilla and Jane Wickline. Joining them are newcomers Ben Marshall, Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson, and Veronika Slowikowska.

New writers for this season include actor-writer Jack Bensinger (Rap World), stand-up comedian Jo Sunday (Just for Laughs), comic Maddie Wiener (The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon), actor and writer Rachel Pegram (Harley Quinn), writer-comedian Claire McFadden (Second City), Maxwell Gay (The Harvard Lampoon), and Tucker Flodman (The Harvard Lampoon). NBC's Saturday Night Live premiered on Oct. 11, 1975, and broadcasts live from NBC's famed Studio 8H in New York City's Rockefeller Center. The program is a production of Broadway Video in association with SNL Studios. Lorne Michaels is the executive producer.

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