The renowned television show, now on its summer hiatus after concluding its 50th season, ended on a note that suggested the writers might be in need of the break.
The final sketch of the season, which revolved around President Donald Trump's meeting with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, seemed to lack the usual spark.
As reported by Mediaite, the sketch, which has been a recurring theme throughout the season, saw James Austin Johnson, the actor portraying President Trump, delivering a monologue that was largely a rehash of previous Trump impersonations. The interaction between Trump and bin Salman, played by Emil Wakim, was minimal.
The five-and-a-half-minute monologue was largely predictable, including an anticipated jab at President Trump over the $400 million plane the U.S. accepted from Qatars royal family. I didnt make this trip for myself, I want to make that clear, Trump was quoted as saying. I did this for the American people, and, in many ways, myself, my personal enrichment. I did that, too. I did very well on this trip. Got a lot of cool stuff!"
Trump continued, "The Qataris gave me a $400 million plane. Can you believe that? And people said that was some sort of bribe. Not true. Not true. Because they havent asked for anything in return." To which bin Salman responded, "Well, not yet." Trump then retorted, "Alright, so its a pre-bribe," a line that was met with little laughter from the audience.
The monologue then predictably transitioned to domestic air travel, with Trump making light of the ongoing chaos at Newark Airport. Now people are saying I should really be flying in an American plane, Trump said. Uh, no, thanks, honey. Have you seen whats going on with our planes? The radar is down, and the screen is blank. Newark! Darling, where are we going? Where are we flying for our vacation? Honey, directly into the ground.'
The audience's reaction was once again minimal, leading Johnson to break the fourth wall and venture into the crowd in search of laughter. He made a sarcastic comment about the attractiveness of the audience members nearby, saying, Hello, look at her! Wow! Trump said, commenting on one particular person in the crowd and talking about how more attractive audience members generally get better seats at . Sevens or more, sit on the floor. Six and below, to the bleachers you go.
Johnson then reminded the audience that this was the last they would see of his Trump impersonation for a while. Since its a finale, that means, after tonight, you wont be seeing me here for a while, Trump said. Well, not the fake, fun version of me that makes you smile. The real one will still be omnipresent. You cant escape me, right? Im everywhere!
The show's reliance on Trump impersonations seems to be a double-edged sword. While Austin Johnson is a talented performer, there are only so many directions the writers can take the Trump character. The audience, however, expects and even demands that the show take on the President nearly every week.
This expectation puts the show in a difficult position, with pressure to continue producing Trump sketches to satisfy both a left-leaning audience that wants to see the President criticized and a right-leaning audience that enjoys disliking the show.
Despite the potential benefits of less Trump-focused content, Johnson indicated that not much will change when the show returns. See you again in the fall, he promised. This promise suggests that the show's struggle to balance audience expectations and creative originality will continue into the next season.
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