Does Andy Samberg look anything like Doug Emhoff? Not really, no. But was he the perfect choice to play the second gentleman in the cold open for the season premiere of “Saturday Night Live” this past Saturday? Yes, absolutely.
That’s because just like Emhoff, who Samberg called “second gentlemensch” in the skit, using the Yiddish word for a very upstanding guy, Samberg has that endearing Jewish wife guy energy. Samberg, a father of two like Doug, is just as enamored with his own (non-Jewish) wife, musician Joanna Newsom, of whom he was a “superfan” and got immediate heart-eyes for when he visited her backstage for the first time and she recognized him as “Steve the c**t” from one of The Lonely Island’s first shorts “Just 2 Guyz.”
But back to Doug, or Dougie, if you will. He was introduced into the sketch by the incredible Maya Rudolph, who, unlike Kamala, is a Jewish mamaleh, and is just so delightful playing our current Vice President, perfectly channeling her voice, hand gestures and facial expressions. Samberg, on the other hand, who walked on stage while dancing the Dougie to “Teach Me How to Dougie” by Cali Swag District, wasn’t hamming it up in this role — OK, maybe a little when he affectionately touches his nose to Kamala’s. His wig is a little salt and pepper like Doug’s hair; he wears a suit like Doug; but he doesn’t change his voice or mannerisms much, aside from having that big cheesy smile that the former entertainment lawyer and current law professor often reveals.
“Tis I, Doug, the Second Gentlemensch, also known as Charile Brown if he was a grown-up,” he tells the crowd, saying that having a wife like Kamala makes him feel like he’s in “one of those movies where Seth Rogen dates Charlize Theron”(for those of you who don’t get the reference, Seth Rogen played a speechwriter for a presidential candidate played by Charlize Theron in 2018’s “Long Shot,” now streaming on Netflix).
Samberg as Doug said he knows what people say about him on the right — that he’s a “beta,” “a tradhus” (a twist on tradwife) or “a little spoon” (as opposed to a more manly big spoon) before adding that “if helping Kamala, who we call mamala in my house, not sure if I mentioned that, become president means being little spoon then cut my little butt.”
“I am proud to join the esteemed list of presidential spouses through history,” he added, “who are women and men but all women.”
Before the sketch came to an end there was time for one more Jewish joke. “I, for one, can’t wait to decorate the White House for Christmas,” Samberg said. “The theme will be Hanukkah.” He then assured the laughing and hooting crowd that it was an idea that Kamala has already cleared. Considering the first night of Hanukkah does start on Christmas this year, a White House Hanukkah/Christmas party is maybe not so far-fetched.
ANDY SAMBERG AS DOUG EMHOFF is killing me so bad lmfao #SNLPremiere pic.twitter.com/jPZU4TrVkN
— VK (@votekamala) September 29, 2024
If watching this clip has you jonesing for more Andy Samberg in your life (I think you should always be jonesing for more Andy Samberg in your life!) you can see him play photographer David E. Schermann in “Lee,” his first dramatic role, now playing in theaters.
