Saturday Night Live Takes on Internet Obsession with Luigi Mangione
“Saturday Night Live‘s” cold open this week tackled the internet frenzy surrounding Luigi Mangione, the alleged killer of United HealthCare CEO Brian Thompson. The sketch featured Sarah Sherman as true crime expert Nancy Grace, who humorously delved into the shocking story of Thompson’s murder on Dec. 4 in Manhattan.
Sherman’s Grace pointed out the bizarre phenomenon of Mangione being seen as a sex symbol, describing him as a mix of Dave Franco and Eugene Levy’s eyebrows. She joked about how Mangione had managed to capture the attention and attraction of women and even some gay men.
Kenan Thompson made an appearance in the sketch as a man who had encountered Mangione. When asked about the killer’s appeal, Thompson’s character quipped, “Women love bad boys,” and referenced Mangione’s alleged manifesto against the healthcare industry.
The sketch also hilariously spoofed the experience of watching YouTube videos with unexpected ad breaks. Grace warned viewers of potential interruptions by loud ads, leading to a comical exercise machine pitch by Marcello Hernandez.
Another guest in the sketch, played by Emil Wakim, resembled Mangione and shared humorous anecdotes about receiving DMs from admirers. The cold open maintained its satirical tone throughout, highlighting the absurdity of the situation.
Saturday Night Live’s cold opens often feature celebrity cameos, with past appearances by Dana Carvey as the Church Lady. This season has seen Maya Rudolph as Kamala Harris, Bowen Yang as JD Vance, and Jim Gaffigan as Tim Walz, among others, in the political satire segments.
