“Saturday Night Live” humorously depicted the Department of Defense group text scandal in its cold open, featuring host Mikey Madison as a teenage girl. The sketch referenced a military operation in Yemen and included notable figures such as U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and former congressman Matt Gaetz. Madison’s hosting role is highlighted as a rare occurrence, adding to the significance of the sketch.
“Saturday Night Live” used its cold open to parody the recent group text scandal involving the Department of Defense, featuring host Mikey Madison. Madison, an Oscar winner for “Anora,” portrayed a teenage girl engaging in gossip with her friends, played by Ego Nwodim and Sarah Sherman, despite their conversation being interrupted by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, portrayed by Andrew Dismukes.
In this comedic sketch, Hegseth shared alarming updates about a military operation in Yemen, saying, “FYI, green light on Yemen raid. Rockets went airborne 15 minutes ago.” His participation included inappropriate emojis, adding humor to the situation. This was a reference to the controversy surrounding the White House, where an editor from The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, was mistakenly included in sensitive discussions about military actions against Houthi rebels.
Further amusing interactions unfolded as the vice president, played by Bowen Yang, entered the group chat, humorously discussing his ambiguous presence in Greenland. Madison’s character then mentioned her date with Matt Gaetz, the former congressman previously embroiled in sex trafficking allegations, to which Dismukes, as Hegseth, reacted with astonishment.
The sketch continued to escalate when Marco Rubio, played by Marcello Hernandez, joined the chat. Upon discovering three teenage girls were present, he jokingly suggested a prank, leading to an absurd request for their personal information. Notably, Madison’s appearance marked her hosting debut on “Saturday Night Live,” as she participated in the cold open—an unusual yet significant start for hosts on the show.
In conclusion, “Saturday Night Live” effectively satirized the recent scandal surrounding the U.S. Department of Defense’s group text discussions. Through the lens of a teenage girl’s chat, the sketch addressed serious issues while employing humor. Mikey Madison’s debut as host added an intriguing twist, demonstrating the show’s commitment to combining current events with comedy.
Original Source: variety.com
