‘SNL’ Brings Back Mid-Day News Skit That Riffs On Race

Lynette Rice
·1-min read

After a lengthy absence, SNL regulars Kenan Thompson and Ego Nwodim brought back their memorable Mid-Day News sketch on Saturday, with host Shane Gillis joining Heidi Gardner in the awkward competition to see whether Black or white perpetrators were involved in a crime.

The bit hasn’t changed much since it first surfaced in 2019: Thompson and Nwodim play WANU newsreaders who cheer when they learn that whites were responsible for local shootings, the bust of a local meth ring, and looters after a local wildfire. Even their “eye in the sky” traffic reporter (played by Devon Walker) couldn’t help but contain his excitement over how three of the top stories involved caucasians.

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“This is looking like a sweep, y’all,” he exclaimed from his helicopter.

His joy is short-lived, however, when Gardner revealed “mayhem at a barbershop.” Thompson and Nwodim moaned as Gardner said a customer was shot during an argument over Drake and Kendrick.

“Yeah, that’s us,” said Thompson.

Nwodim then shares a story about violence in a parking lot of a concert, “where Shaboozey was performing.”

“Who the hell is Shaboozey?” asked Thompson.

“He’s a genius but this sounds like us,” replied Gillis, who was suddenly all smiles when he realized the crime involved a man selling bootleg T-shirts who opened fire.

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