This Is Best ‘Weekend Update’ Desk Piece This Season On ‘SNL’

Ashley Padilla has been the breakout star of Saturday Night Live’s Season 51 thus far. That came into relief when Padilla played Karoline Leavitt in the Episode 6 cold open but signs were present earlier. One of Padilla’s prior ‘take notice’ moments was also the best Weekend Update desk piece this season. 

In Episode 4, Padilla and Andrew Dismukes make an appearance as “Two People Who Just Hooked Up Discuss the Government Shutdown.” The premise of the bit was strong: a it hooked into a current event without relying on an impression of a probably underqualified, inept, and maybe dangerous politician. (See: Season 51, Episode 5’s cold open.)

But what elevated a smart desk appearance into the best of Season 51 was Padilla and Dismukes's acting. There were no breaks. No flubs. This wasn’t about hamming it up or playing it too big. It was about acting like two of the most horned up people in America. 

“Well, the government shutdown has entered day 32, with both sides showing no sign of giving in any time soon,” Colin Jost introduced the pair. “Here to talk about it are two people who just hooked up.”

“Does my hair look okay?” Padilla asked, adjusting her clearly sex-mussed hair. 

“You're perfect,” Dismukes responded like a love struck teenager. 

“Okay, so you're here to talk about the government shutdown?” Jost interrupted. 

“Yes. Yes, we are here to discuss the shutdown,” a flustered Padilla replied. “I mean, how long can this go on without anything happening?”

“Yeah, exactly,” Dismukes chimed in. “But, you know, sometimes nothing happens for a very long time, and then suddenly...everything happens.”

Again, the two exchange a heated look that surpasses what can be found in most rom-coms these days. This back and forth continued—Jost asked a question about the government shutdown, and the enamored couple turned their response into a sexually-charged overture. 

The jokes were clever—it turns out there is a ton of innuendo to be found in discussing bipartisan politics. But the lines would have gone stale if it weren’t for the skill of Padilla and Dismukes. Padilla most of all.