The premiere of the 50th season is finally here! In Jean Smart's first appearance as host after nearly 40 years on television, we talk about repurposing and sustainability in the parody commercial, Spirit Halloween, Black on Black humor in Devon Walker's Eric Adams, and the privacy of public figures in Bowen Yang's Moo Deng. We also fan over Maya Rudolph's Kamala Harris, Jim Gaffigan's Tim Walz, Andy Samberg's Doug Emoff, and Dana Carvey's Joe Biden in the Cold Open. Readings cover the art of architectural grafting by Jeanne Gang, the phenomenon of parasocial interactions and fandom, and disrupting token characters in comedy.
