“SNL” starts its 50th season: Maya Rudolph as Harris and Dana Carvey as Biden

NEW YORK (AP) – “Saturday Night Live” began its 50th season with a parade of former co-stars including Maya Rudolph as Vice President Kamala Harris, Andy Samberg as her husband Doug Emhoff and Dana Carvey as President Joe Biden.

“We have to stay focused,” Rudolph-as-Harris said at a simulated rally in the show’s cold open. “If we win together, we can end the drama-la and the trauma-la and relax in our pajama-la.”

After bringing out her running mate, Tim Walz, played by comedian and actor Jim Gaffigan, she invited Samberg to the stage as Emhoff and then, almost as an afterthought, Biden, played by the eldest of the group, 69-year-old Carvey.

“A lot of people forget that I'm president, myself included,” said Carvey, best known for his role as President George W. Bush in the late 1980s on the series.

Rudolph and Carvey co-presented “Live from New York, It's Saturday Night,” which opened the sketch comedy institution's 50th season.

Rudolph's return as Harris – she previously won an Emmy for her role – was reported, but it was not certain when she would appear. The cameos from Carvey, Samberg and Gaffigan were all surprises.

“Designing Women” star Jean Smart just scored her sixth win Emmy for her starring role in “Hacks” was host, a role the 73-year-old has somehow never played before in her four-decade career.

“I remember watching the first episode of 'SNL' and thinking, 'One day I'm going to host this show,'” Smart said in her opening monologue. “And this is the first Saturday that fits my schedule.”

This first episode came on October 11, 1975, with Lorne Michaels at the helm, as he is now.

George Carlin hosted and the nation got its first dose of the Not Ready for Prime Time players: Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Dan Akroyd, Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman and Garrett Morris.

There were two musical guests – Billy Preston and Janis Ian – who played two songs each, which was common in the early days.

Country singer and rapper Jelly Roll had the music role to himself on Saturday, singing his song “Liar” and, like Smart, was a newbie.

This debut show is documented and recreated in the newly released Jason Reitman film “Saturday evening” As part of a wave of reflection and celebration, the show is nearing its 50th anniversary.

Upcoming episodes will feature host Nate Bargatze with musical guest Coldplay, Ariana Grande with Stevie Nicks, Michael Keaton with Billie Eilish and… John Mulaney with Chappell Roan.

These shows will lead to a three-hour primetime special on February 16th that will serve as the official celebration of the 50th season launch. It's sure to feature a wide variety of the many stars the series has produced, including Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy, Billy Crystal, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Robert Downey Jr., Mike Myers, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler and Will Ferrell.