Saturday Night Live’s cold open took aim at Joe Biden and his alleged inability to keep a respectful distance from women’s personal space ...
Saturday Night Live’s cold open took aim at Joe Biden and his alleged inability to keep a respectful distance from women’s personal space in the wake of accusations of inappropriate touching against the former vice president this week.
Jason Sudeikis, an SNL alum, returned to NBC’s comedy variety show to reprise his impersonation of Biden.
Sudeikis was a regular player on SNL between 2005 and 2013.
The sketch stars Sudeikis, Cecily Strong, Kenan Thompson, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones, and Aidy Bryant.
It begins with Strong and Thompson wondering whether Biden's behavior can be reined in so that he would have a chance at winning the Democratic nomination for president.
Joe Biden gets some tips and tricks on how to properly greet a woman. #SNL
404 people are talking about this
'You know, Joe's a good guy, and he means well,' Strong says.
'He's just - he's a little behind the times.'
Thompson replies: 'Yeah, I'm sure this whole ordeal is just tearing him up inside.'
Sudeikis' Biden then barges in, full of energy, and exuberant - which appears to mirror Biden's demeanor in real life.
The vice president joked at an event on Friday about 'being given permission' to embrace young children - which prompted criticism from those who say he is not taking the issue of inappropriate touching seriously enough.
In the SNL sketch, Biden walks in and hugs 'Jackie,' the adviser played by Strong.
Jackie is visibly uncomfortable with Biden's embrace. The vice president then moves on to 'brother man' Thompson.
Biden embraces Thompson and touches his head a few times.
When the aides tell Biden that they need to speak about a serious matter, the former vice president jokes: 'Oh, I know, it's about my March Madness bracket, right?
'Look, I know I had Delaware winning the whole thing even though they didn't make the tournament.
'Okay, but hey, it's better than last year I picked Amtrak. Right?'
Delaware is the state which Biden represented in the United States Senate before he became vice president under Barack Obama.
Amtrak is the rail service which Biden frequently used to commute between Delaware and Washington, D.C.
But the aides let Biden know that his behavior with women was the issue that needed to be discussed.
'It’s about all the touchy-feely stuff,' Thompson said.
'If you're really going to run in 2020, you have to change the way you interact with women,' Jackie says.
Biden says in response: 'You guys know that I'm a tactile politician, right?
'I’m a hugger; I’m a kisser, and I’m a little bit of a sniffer.
'The last thing I ever want to do is offend anyone.'
Biden's aides then let him know that he will be working with 'Gwen,' who will provide sensitivity training.
Gwen, played by McKinnon, then quickly finds out that she has her hands full with Biden, who moves in for a handshake and then presses his forehead against hers.
'Really great to meet you, Gwen,' Biden says. 'I appreciate you coming here.'
When the other aides try to alert Biden that he is behaving inappropriately, he says: 'One second, I'm connecting.'
Gwen says: 'So this is exactly the kind of thing I'm here to prevent.'
Biden then says that he thinks 'nose to nose will be OK' because he got his DNA checked 'like Lizzie, what's her name, Warren, right?
'I'm 1 per cent Eskimo, so I'm allowed to do the kissing. It's okay.'
Elizabeth Warren, the senator from Massachusetts who has announced her candidacy for president, generated controversy when she claimed she was part Native American - only to take a DNA test that revealed she was really a tiny fraction Native American.
'Ideally when you meet a female stranger for the first time there would be no kisses or hugs of any kind,' Gwen tells Biden.
But the former vice president says: 'That's a human connection. That's my whole thing.
'That's like telling Mario Batali to take his Crocs off.'
Batali is the famous chef who was accused by several women of abusive behavior.
'I wouldn't bring him into this,' Gwen tells Biden.
Biden then invites Gwen to sit down and asks Alexa to play Lou Rawls' You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine.
As the song plays, Biden brags to his aides that he can 'think and shimmy at the same time.'
When Thompson tells Alexa to shut off the song, Biden remarks: 'Of all the people...', a reference to Thompson's race.
Gwen then tries to teach Biden how to properly greet a woman.
When Biden suggests a handshake, Gwen agrees it's a good idea.
But then Biden asks if it's ok if he 'tickles her palm a little bit.'
'No tickling at all,' Gwen says.
'Really? Even on her birthday?' Biden says.
The former vice president then asks Gwen if it's okay if he 'lifts up a woman's shirt and blows on her tummy.'
'Absolutely not,' Gwen says.
Biden then suggests doing 'that gorgeous lift that they do at the end of Dirty Dancing.'
'Who would you do that with?' Gwen asks Biden.
Biden replies: 'Whoever's strong enough to pick me up, I guess.'
Gwen then says she invited two 'Democratic women voters' so that Biden could 'learn by doing.'
Biden then asks Alexa to play Legs by ZZ Top - which his aides immediately shut off.
When he is told one of the voters got laid off from General Motors because they 'downsized her unit,' Biden jokes: 'I'd like to upsize my unit.'
Gwen then brings in Jenny, played by Bryant.
'Jenny, it is an absolute pleasure to meet you,' Biden says while awkwardly approaching her to greet her.
'What am I doing?' he sheepishly asks Gwen. 'Oh, I know, I cradle her face in my hands.'
When Gwen disapproves, Biden says he should 'keep it neutral and greet her like a guy.'
'Come here you son of a b****,' he says to Jenny while taking her in a headlock and rubbing her head with his knuckle.
When his aides intervene, Biden says: 'I'm just messing around.'
Jenny responds by punching Biden in the stomach and storming out.
'Well, you know, I would say she's still on the fence, that's clear as day,' Biden says.
The aides then bring in 'Mrs. Douglas', a software engineer from Oakland.
Mrs. Douglas, played by Jones, tells Biden: 'Wait a second, I know who you are. Oh, my god, you're Obama's granddaddy!'
At this point, an excited Mrs. Douglas gives Biden a huge embrace.
The former vice president then asks her to give a 'low five', which she does by slapping his rear end.
Mrs. Douglas then grabs Biden's behind and exclaims: 'I am so going to vote for you!'
After the aides ask if Biden learned anything, he says 'not really.'
'So let's hug it out, America, what do you say? Biden and some woman in 2020, right? We can do this.'
No comments