Texas Democrat James Talarico made an unexpected cameo on Saturday Night Live this weekend, appearing just days after turning a long-held Republican Senate seat blue and joining the show’s latest satirical send-up of Donald Trump.
The 37-year-old state representative and former middle school teacher surprised viewers when he interrupted comedian James Austin Johnson’s portrayal of the “president” during the program’s first episode since Tuesday’s historic midterm elections.
Talarico secured 55.09 percent of the vote in Texas, defeating Republican Ken Paxton and ending a 38-year period without a Democrat representing the state in the U.S. Senate.
During the sketch, Johnson’s Trump rattled off the names of Democrats elected in the so-called “blue tsunami,” including Talarico, whose name he deliberately mangled as “Talafreako.”
Moments later, the senator-elect stepped into view, prompting loud cheers from the studio audience.
“I’m James Talarico, the guy who’s been texting you every day asking for five dollars,” he said by way of introduction.
Wearing his trademark suit and tousled wig, Johnson’s Trump turned to the camera and replied: “In this economy, who can blame you?”
Although the sketch mocked Trump over soaring gas prices and an economy hit by his unpopular war in Iran, Talarico briefly changed the mood by suggesting that Democrats could still find common ground with Republicans.
Texas Democrat James Talarico made an unexpected Saturday Night Live appearance days after flipping the Texas Senate seat for Democrats
Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton with 55.09 percent of the vote, ending a 38-year absence of a Democratic senator from Texas
“But I think, Mr President, if we can work together, we can make life better for everyday Americans. It’s clear people want something new. They want something different,” the Democrat said.
“I’m talking, of course, about SNL’s cold opens,” he added. “How many of these Trump freezers are they gonna do?”
Johnson’s Trump spread both arms and answered with a single word: “Infinity!”
The reference to “freezers” highlighted the show’s recurring cold-open gag, in which cast members remain motionless behind Johnson’s Trump while he speaks directly to viewers.
This week’s sketch also featured Kenan Thompson as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Sarah Sherman portraying Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
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Following Tuesday’s sweeping Democratic victories, the two lawmakers emerged as potential leaders of their party’s new House and Senate majorities. At the same time, both have faced internal pressure to make room for younger members of the party.
Jeffries, who is expected to become House speaker, held a favorable rating of just 18 percent, while Schumer, who is set to become Senate majority leader, stood at 13 percent.
The Saturday Night Live sketch depicted the pair celebrating the “blue tsunami” while humorously avoiding the question of whether it was time for older Democratic leaders to pass the torch.
SNL’s Trump listed the newly elected Democrats who swept into office during the “blue tsunami,” including Talarico, whom he jokingly called “Talafreako”
Talarico’s 12-point win in deeply Republican Texas became one of the most striking results of Tuesday’s nationwide Democratic surge
Talarico told SNL’s Trump that working together could improve life for ordinary Americans and that voters were ready for change
The camera then cut to the show’s versions of Jeffries and Schumer celebrating the Democratic wave, while jokingly refusing to acknowledge that energized younger voters might be demanding a new generation of leadership.
Johnson’s Trump impression returned once more to comment on the election results. “The other day we lost, and I didn’t even say it was rigged. I accepted the results, which is almost scarier in a way. It’s like, ‘What the hell is he planning?’”
“I’ll tell you what I’m planning: ballroom. That’s it. That’s all I care about,” Johnson’s Trump said.
“Look at that beam, big beam over there. Look at that, and marble. The likes of which you’ve never seen,” he continued.
“Oh my God! I hate my life. The next two years are going to be awful. I don’t want to work with these people. It’s not that they’re Democrats—it’s that they’re millennials.”
Talarico’s decisive 12-point victory in deep-red Texas stood out as one of the defining moments of Tuesday’s Democratic wave, which delivered major gains for the party nationwide.
While President Trump reportedly sulked in the White House residence as the results came in, according to the Daily Mail, Paxton gave an unusually gracious concession speech soon after the race was called.
Paxton said he would “pray” for Talarico, then remained at the event for hours, shaking hands with supporters and posing for photographs.
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