The SNL cast launches into a hilarious dismantling of Tim Walz’s performance in the vice presidential debate — including his bizarre pairing with JD Vance and the Democrats’ “Hail Mary.”

Saturday Night Live kicked off its second show of the season with a hilarious parody of this week’s vice presidential debate.

In it, Bowen Yang took on the role of the bumbling JD Vance, while Jim Gaffigan returned as the goofy Tim Walz.

The skit poked fun at how respectful the two were with each other during Tuesday night’s debate, while also making fun of some rules imposed by the debate’s moderators, who insisted there would be no fact-checking – it but then did it anyway.

At one point, Vance and Walz were seen gazing into each other’s eyes across the debate stage as the skit poked fun at how the pair had found “common ground” between the two.

The episode’s cold open began with Maya Rudolph’s Kamala Harris and Andy Samberg’s Douglas Emhoff sitting down on the couch at home to watch the debate.

SNL’s Heidi Gardner and Chloe Fineman played CBS News debate moderators Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan

“I feel good tonight,” said Rudolphs Harris. “We gained momentum. Liz Cheney is about to support me and Bruce Springsteen. ‘Cause baby, I was born to run,” she jokes, quoting a line from one of The Boss’s iconic songs.

They begin with the vice president debate with moderators

SNL’s Heidi Gardner and Chloe Fineman played CBS News debate moderators Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan.

“Thank you for having me.” I want to start with something that appeals to female voters. “I understand that both hosts tonight are mothers, and I like that,” Yang’s Vance begins, before the cameras shift to Gaffigan’s Walz, who can be seen doodling.

“Are you preparing your answers?” the moderators ask him.

“No, I have to grade these papers,” Gaffigan’s Walz replies. “I have a stack of midterms.”

In real life, Walz was a teacher in the late 1980s and early 90s.

As always, the impersonations were spot on with Bowen Yang as JD Vance

Jim Gaffigan took over Tim Walz’s role as the Democratic vice presidential hopeful

As questions begin in the mock debate, moderators O’Donnell of Gardner and Brennan of Fineman ask Yang’s Vance: “Senator Vance, you called Donald Trump America’s Hitler. Do you regret that?”

Just like in the real debate, Yang’s Vance tries to explain why he said that.

“Context is important.” “I meant that as a compliment,” he insists.

On Gaffigan’s Walz: “Governor Walz. You claimed you were in Hong Kong during the Tiananmen Square massacre while you were home in Minnesota. Can you explain that?’

Gaffigan’s Walz replies, “I think what happened is I went to Epcot.” You can travel all over the world, and I had a few in the Germany section and thought I was going to China. Whatever, I’m a moron.’

The moderators quickly move on to asking the vice presidential candidates how they might resolve the current crisis in the Middle East.

“That’s such an important question,” Yang’s Vance replies without answering the question. “Margaret, a question that deserves an answer because it is important and it is a question you asked me this evening.”

Gaffigan’s waltz doesn’t fare any better because he doesn’t seem to know the answer either.

In the skit, Vance and Walz appeared to find common ground about their respective politics

Maya Rudolph portrayed Kamala Harris (left), Dana Carvey impersonated a confused Joe Biden (center), while Andy Samberg portrayed Harris’ husband Doug Emhoff (right).

“So I’m just going to say the word ‘basic’ more often, because debating is 30 percent fun and 70 percent insane,” he jokes.

Back at the Harris residence, Rudolph’s Harris begins to worry about her vice president.

“Okay, okay, he’s out there doing his thing, whatever that may be,” says Andy Samberg’s Doug Emhoff. “Would you like to watch something less stressful like the Menendez Brothers show?” he asks.

Rudolph’s Harris suggests rewatching her presidential debate against Donald Trump. “Remember when I said his crowd was tiny and I broke his brain?”

Samberg’s Emhoff tries to calm the fears of Rudolph’s Harris.

“It’s not like he’s going to say anything crazy,” he says.

But Samberg’s Emhoff jinxes Gaffigan’s waltz, which falsifies a sentence: “I made friends with school shooters,” he shouts, imitating a sentence during the debate in which he got it wrong.

The real Walz actually said he had “become comfortable with school shootings,” but later clarified his comment by telling reporters he was speaking about people affected by school shootings, not the shooters themselves.

Rudolph’s Harris portrayed and Samberg’s Emhoff appeared to be watching the VP debate at home

In perhaps the skit’s most memorable moments, the two vice presidential candidates find “common ground” and are seen on screen staring into each other’s eyes.

The skit made clever use of the split screen and saw Yang’s Vance and Gaffigan’s Walz appear to put their hands together.

“This guy is good – he has an answer for everything,” says Gaffigan’s Walz, turning to Yang’s Vance.

The couple’s sensitive moment shows them reaching out and touching their palms from their split-screen podiums.

During the skit, the two are seen saying the same thing at the exact same time while turning to each other.

“Why are they friends? Why are they vibrating?” shouts Rudolph’s Harris.

During Tuesday’s debate, both candidates repeatedly said they agreed on a variety of issues.

The couple agreed to speed up the asylum process, bring jobs back to the U.S., do more to combat gun violence and not blame immigrants for rising real estate prices.

Back in the alternate reality of the SNL sketch, the moderators return to the topics at hand and show Vance’s worst moment of the debate.

Yang’s Vance asked whether he would certify the results of the upcoming election, pointing out that Donald Trump refused to accept the 2020 results.

“Would you have certified the results?” Gardner’s O’Donnell asks.

Yang’s Vance replies while making fun of it The “no fact checking” rule that CBS News had previously imposed on itself then failed to adhere to it.

“It is accurate to say that Donald Trump posed a threat to democracy when he peacefully relinquished power – without fact checking – and willingly – don’t check – boarded his plane without incident right after he saved Obamacare – check “Not that.” “Yangs Vance said.

In real life, Vance complained that the host was fact-checking some of his false claims.

Gaffigan’s Walz is then allowed to speak for a few more seconds and attempts a “Hail Mary” – a reference to a football term – to score a few points before the game runs out.

“I need to get some points on the board here, so I’m going to throw in a Hail Mary.” Senator, would you admit that Donald Trump lost the election? he asks.

“Tim, I’m focused on the future,” Yang’s Vance replies, cleverly deflecting the question.

“Bump, it’s good!” praises Gaffigan’s waltz.

Back at the Harris household, Rudolph’s Harris expresses relief that Walz made it through the debate.

“This is a big victory.” “It made no difference,” she said.

The skit ended with Carvey’s Joe Biden (center) hovering between Rudolph’s Harris and Samberg’s Emhoff on an entire ice cream cone

Later in the skit, Dana Carvey’s Joe Biden arrives at Harris’ location to give her some advice.

“Hey kid, let me cheer you up a little,” says Carvey’s Biden. “Here’s the deal.” I’m serious now. Look at me. I’m serious now. The vice president doesn’t matter.’

Carvey’s Biden points out that Walz should “highlight all the great things we’ve done in the White House over the last four years.”

“Gasoline prices are down, border crossings are down, and the Emmys for The Bear are down,” Carvey’s Biden says. “Everyone come down…tonight.”

Biden is portrayed as awkward as he appears with his signature ice cream cone and general confusion.

“Who the hell was Obama’s vice president?” “Nobody knows,” says Carvey’s Biden.

Of course, the real Joe Biden was Obama’s vice president from 2009 to 2017.

It was Carvey’s Biden who had the last laugh as he shoved his ice cream in Rudolph’s Harris’ face.

“You will be a great president, and when you’re done, it’ll be my turn. ‘Biden 2028!’