The cold open of Saturday Night Live satirizes the divergent perceptions of the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer charged with the death of George Floyd, including the assumption among white people that justice will really serve.
The news program was on the shit Look at Minnesota and their four-person anchor team – with Kenan Thompson and Ego Nwodim as anchors on the left, with Kate McKinnon and Alex Moffat as news personalities on the right – as they discuss what has happened so far in the case.
“I thought the prosecution did an excellent job of questioning the medical examiner,” McKinnon said at the outset.
“The video recordings alone should tell you everything you need to know about what happened … And hopefully justice will be done,” Moffat said.
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“It sounds like we all agree. There’s no way Derek Chauvin can walk away from all this, ‘McKinnon said.
Then the camera moves to Thompson and Nwodim, who said: ‘Well …‘
“Wait a minute. You’re not buying Chauvin’s defense, are you?” Moffat asked.
“Of course not,” Thompson said.
“I mean, the defense trying to argue that George Floyd’s drug use is somehow responsible is just deplorable,” Nwodim said.
“It was a clear act of desperation to create doubt where there is none,” Thompson said.
‘Exactly. And there is no way the jury is going to fall for it! McKinnon said.
Then Thompson and Nwodim climbed in and expressed doubt again. “We do not know.”
The sketch emphasized the belief of the white anchors in the system against the skepticism of their black counterparts.
“Let’s say, ‘We’ve seen this movie before,'” Nwodim said.
‘Tree!’ Thompson said.
“Historically, police officers have gotten away with other cases like this,” McKinnon said.
‘Historic?’ Thompson said. “She means every time,” Nwodim said.
But through the shit, McKinnon and Moffat continue to give away their naivety about the system.
“I want to choose my words carefully here, to quote Thomas Jefferson,” Moffat said.
“It’s a bad start,” Thompson said.
Later, the conversation about the possible precipitation and the hope that justice will finally be done
“The last thing we want is another riot,” Thompson said.
“Amen to that,” Nwodim said.
Then Moffat takes it one step further. ‘And I think we can all agree that the destruction of property no matter how bad it is never the answer.”
Then Thompson and Nwodim did not really struggle for that. “I would not say that,” Nwodim said. “There is insurance.”
“It’s not just property. I just think protests should be violent, “Moffat said in a somewhat arrogant tone.
Thompson replied sarcastically, “Well, thank you for the little note.”
The opener’s funniest moment came to an end when they went to other topics in the news.
‘More sad news. “Unfortunately we lost royals yesterday,” McKinnon said.
“Yes, the rapper DMX is dead,” Nwodim said.
“I was talking about the prince,” McKinnon corrected.
“Girl, prince is dead,” Nwodim shot back.
“No, she means Prince Philip of England,” Moffat said.
“Meghan Markle’s boyfriend?” Thompson said.
Watch the full cold open above.