Just when you thought NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice one of the few aspects of 2017 putting Donald Trump behind it, it seems the former boss and Tweeter-Elect will still make his presence felt. Reports confirm Trump will maintain an executive producer credit on Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Celebrity Apprentice, raising further conflict-of-interest questions.
Complicit or otherwise, SNL knew that the first post-election show needed a note of relief, moreso than reminders of Trump’s victory. Presidential portrayer Alec Baldwin even expressed uncertainty he’d ever don the wig for SNL again, but sources confirm the sketch series’ take on Trump will return Baldwin to the limelight with Kristen Wiig this weekend.
Dave Chappelle practically quit show-business over the endless association with his viral Chappelle’s Show characters, to the point few presumed we’d ever see them again. Well, it seems we owe The Walking Dead’s frustrating cliffhanger a debt of gratitude, as Chappelle took his SNL hosting as a chance to revive a number of Chappelle’s Show favorites … at least to kill one off.
For good or ill, perhaps no comedy series has benefit so much from Donald Trump as SNL. Following weeks of debate sketches, most everyone wondered how the late-night staple would react to Trump actually succeeding to the presidency, for which this weekend’s cold open brought Kate McKinnon’s Hillary out; both in tribute to Leonard Cohen, and to offer a moving “Hallelujah” going forward.
We’re still not entirely certain how SNL will fare with controversial (if revered) comedian Dave Chappelle hosting the first post-election episode, but at least the end of November looks a bit more familiar. Kristen Wiig will make her second return to SNL, hosting the final installment of this long, gloomy month.