“Daddy’s watching”: SNL returns with biting political satire in season 51
When Saturday Night Live reopened its doors for Season 51 on October 4, 2025, it picked a familiar target: Trump-era antics, media intimidation, and right-wing culture war battles. The premiere, hosted by Bad Bunny and featuring musical guest Doja Cat, didn’t shy away from punching back — especially at Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Trump himself.
This opening episode reminded viewers that, despite cast changes and shifting political winds, SNL remains unapologetically a platform for bold satire.
A cold open with teeth: Hegseth mocked, Trump threatens
The show’s cold open set the tone from the start. Colin Jost appeared in a sharp, biting impersonation of Pete Hegseth — now portrayed as “Secretary of War” — delivering an absurdist military address. He lambasted the U.S. armed forces for being “gay as hell” and “fatter than ever,” deploying exaggerated speech about appearance, masculinity, and military standards to underline the absurdity of Hegseth’s real-world rhetoric.
Before the monologue could fully land, “Trump” (played by James Austin Johnson) burst in. He chastised the tone of the sketch, declaring his vigilance over SNL and warning that any “too mean” jokes would trigger his “attack dog at the FCC.” He mocked the show’s internal structure, derided late-night TV, and delivered a signature blow: “Daddy’s watching.”
In one moment, the show folded in its own self-awareness — Trump accused SNL of being stale and confused, yet still demanding attention. The sketch also nodded to real-world pressures on late-night media — including the recent suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! over controversial remarks — illustrating the stakes of political satire in 2025.
Bad Bunny’s monologue and the tone of the new season
As host, Bad Bunny brought more than musical stardom — he came in ready to engage. He addressed the backlash he’s faced after being announced as the 2026 Super Bowl halftime act, joking that even Fox News was now rooting for him. In Spanish and English, he celebrated Latino contributions to America and dared viewers to catch up linguistically.
Instead of performing himself, he passed the musical torch to Doja Cat, who delivered two energetic songs from her new album Vie.
The rest of the sketches offered a mix of surreal and topical humor:
- A “Jeopardy!” parody where contestants are clueless.
- A spoof “ChatGPTío” ad positioning AI as the kind of Latino uncle you can talk to.
- A K-pop fantasy world sketch inspired by KPop Demon Hunters, complete with surprise guest vocalists and Bowen Yang playing a demon.
The episode also spotlighted shifts in the cast: longtime players like Ego Nwodim and Heidi Gardner have exited, making room for five new faces. One new cast member, Kam Patterson, audaciously used his Weekend Update moment to ask, “When are y’all going to let me say the n-word?” — a bold push against limits on comedy and censorship.
What it all means: SNL’s evolving role in political satire
The return of SNL with such pointed jabs at political figures — particularly in the cold open — underscores that the show sees itself as more necessary than ever in a climate of tension between satire, media freedom, and political power.
By mocking Hegseth’s muscular posturing and Trump’s censorship threats in the same breath, SNL signaled it wouldn’t back away from controversy. The “Daddy’s watching” gag isn’t just a punchline — it’s a meta warning that the show knows it’s being watched, and it will keep fighting through humor.
As the season unfolds, viewers will closely watch whether SNL continues to lean hard into political satire or softens under pressure. If the premiere is any indication, the show still believes comedians should provoke, challenge, and keep their eyes on those in power.