3 October 2021: After 10+ Years, SNL Attempts to Lampoon Cuomo

Gone but not forgotten, Cuomo mocked on 'SNL'

This report is what passes for news when legal developments and political events have become the pacing events for the unfolding Cuomo nursing home deaths scandals. If you read the following excerpts closely, you'll find why the last decade of Saturday Night Live has lacked any real weight in its attempts at satire:

Pete Davidson, who first appeared as the embattled governor earlier this year, returned in Saturday's season premiere as part of an opening sketch featuring new and veteran cast members as prominent Democrats.

That included James Austin Johnson making his debut as President Joseph Biden. "How was everybody's summer? Mine was bad," he said from behind the presidential podium. "Not Cuomo bad, but definitely not Afghanistan good."

"It's going to be more than OK — take it from me, Governorish Andrew Cuomo," he says. "House Democrats have had each other's backs no matter what. We're like one big Italian family. And you know what Italians love to do? Hug, and kiss, and run their fingers up each other's backs."

Referring to the Build Back Better bill that's at the center of the current Democratic schism, Cuomo says the legislation deserves "a second chance, then a third chance — then at least up to 11 chances." A report from the state attorney general's office examined allegations of sexual misconduct leveled against Cuomo by that number of women, ranging from inappropriate touching to workplace sexual harassment.

Cuomo then touts his new memoir, titled "Whoops."

Cuomo managed to escape being satirized on "SNL" for most of his tenure — unlike his predecessor, David Paterson, who criticized the show for Fred Armisen's portrayal of him during his time in office.

Note the absence of any mention or reference to Andrew M. Cuomo's COVID nursing home deaths scandals. We don't fault the performers whose talent manages to be underutilized, but rather SNL's writers and producers, who were too cowardly to take Cuomo on while he was in office and only delivered the weak sauce described above after he resigned in disgrace to avoid impeachment. What does it say about them that they are still too cowardly to take on Cuomo's more serious scandals when he's out of power?

They might as well make it official and move the show to CNN.