The latest episode of "Saturday Night Live" opened with a sharp political parody of the New York City mayoral debate, featuring Miles Teller as former Governor Andrew Cuomo, Ramy Youssef as Assembly member Zohran Mamdani, and Shane Gillis as Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels.
Teller's Cuomo kicked things off with a cheeky reference to his past controversies, quipping, "You all know me. I got us through COVID and then yada yada yada, honk honk, squeeze squeeze," while miming a notorious gesture tied to his harassment allegations. He added, "I'm born and bred New Yorker. I love this city — I know it like the back of a woman's back."
The sketch hilariously portrayed mispronunciations of Mamdani's name, with Teller and Gillis' characters repeatedly calling him "Zoltar Rob Zombie".
Kenan Thompson played the debate moderator, posing the question: "Why would you want the worst job in the world?" To which Teller's Cuomo responded, "As soon as you're elected mayor, everyone immediately hates you. In that way, I'm already one step ahead."
Ramy Youssef's Mamdani delivered one of the night's standout moments, breaking the fourth wall to flirt with voters: "Hey girl, I know you've got a little white guilt for gentrifying that Spanish neighborhood. Vote for me — you'll feel less bad about that chicken-and-rice shop turning into a Sweetgreen."
The segment concluded with James Austin Johnson appearing as Donald Trump, crashing the debate to declare, "I may not live in New York anymore, but I'm always watching — lurking in the shadows. Perhaps I'll add New York mayor to my list of duties."
The cold open drew laughs for blending sharp political satire with classic SNL absurdity, marking another memorable entry in the show's ongoing commentary on American politics.