Sen.-elect James Talarico kicks off ‘SNL’ days after historic win in Texas

James Talarico, a Democrat whose U.S. Senate victory Tuesday was once thought improbable in the Republican stronghold of Texas, made a surprise appearance to help kick off the latest episode of “Saturday Night Live.” The state lawmaker and seminarian’s defeat of Attorney General Ken Paxton was one of a slew of victories for Texas Democrats, who claimed every statewide office up for grabs, including state Rep. Gina Hinojosa’s gubernatorial win, after a decades-long drought. “SNL’s” cold open featured New York’s Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (played by Kenan Thompson) and Sen. Chuck Schumer (Sarah Sherman) celebrating Tuesday’s wins, which helped to set up Jeffries as the likely House speaker in January. Sherman’s Schumer introduced the pair as “establishment Democrats” and asked, “Do we even know how to lose?” Thompson’s Jeffries answered: “Yes.” Still, he suggested a toast to victory. “We flipped the House, we flipped the Senate, and how did we do it?” he said. “Me!” said a party crasher, President Donald Trump, played by James Austin Johnson. He called the Democrats’ victory wave a “blue Toonami,” referring to Cartoon Network’s late-night block of anime shows, and he indicated he wouldn’t challenge the midterm election’s results. “I accepted the results, which is almost scarier in a way,” he said. “It’s like, ‘What the hell is he planning?’ I’ll tell you what I’m planning: Ballroom.” Trump said he hopes voters enjoy the results of the election, including the victory in Texas by the man he calls “Talafreako.” The real Talarico then moved into the spotlight in front of Trump to loud applause from the show’s New York City studio audience. “Hi, America,” he said. “I’m James Talarico, the guy who’s been texting you every day asking for $5.” Trump responded, “In this economy, who can blame you?” Talarico, who campaigned on battling wealth disparity and political corruption, suggested working with the Republican president to “make life better for everyday Americans.” “It’s clear people want something new,” the senator-elect said. “They want something different. I’m talking, of course, about ‘SNL’s’ cold opens.” He suggested voters were tired of the comedy show’s political cold-open sketches, asking, “How many of these Trump freezers are they going to do?” “Infinity,” Trump responded. Both then joined voices in uttering the show’s trademark introduction, “Live from New York ... ” “SNL” airs on NBC, a division of NBCUniversal, which is also the parent company of NBC News.