Taran Killam gets VERY frank on Donald Trump’s Saturday Night Live gig

While Saturday Night Live fans may get quite a kick out of watching Alec Baldwin mock Donald Trump, there is a kicker. This is still the same exact show that had then-candidate Trump come on the show in the fall of 2015 as a host. The episode was unfunny and widely panned, but more than that it remains a blemish on a show that has repeatedly taken a stand against much of what Trump advocates. If you hate his platform so much, why are you giving him your own?

Since the time of that interview many cast members have spoken out in opposition of Trump’s hire, and described in turn what was a very contentious cast who struggled to make the show good when he didn’t seem all that interested in taking part of that effort. Former cast member Taran Killam has probably given us now one of the most detailed accounts of the experience that we’ve seen so far, and you can read more about that courtesy of NPR below:

“It was rough. It was not enjoyable at the time and something that only grows more embarrassing and shameful as time goes on. I don’t necessarily put so much weight into [the idea of] Trump hosting SNL helping him become president, but there’s definitely something where it normalizes him and it makes it OK for him to be part of the conversation. And I don’t think the intention of having him on was ever politically based. I sincerely believe that. But I don’t think it was considered — the implications that it had then and could have moving forward. And I think looking back … there’s nothing good I can take from that week. Because he’s not an enjoyable person to be around — he’s from a different class; he’s from a different way of life. There was never any common ground…

“The most heartbreaking moment at the time: We’re at the host dinner, and he brings [his wife] Melania and he brings [his daughter] Ivanka and [son-in-law] Jared [Kushner]. And he says [to SNL creator Lorne Michaels], ‘You know, Lorne, if I don’t win this thing, I’m gonna be fine. We just bought this beautiful piece of property in Scotland. If I have to be president, I’m never gonna see that thing.’ And that that was his priority in that moment, that that was even a consideration, made me sad.”

What makes these comments all the more notable coming from Killam is that he actually studied Trump more than most — he impersonated him for a brief period of time during season 41 before Darrell Hammond took over the role by and large. Baldwin came on board as Trump in season 42 and since that time has been thought of as the best Trump impersonator in the history of the show by far.

Ultimately, the one thing that SNL can do here is learn from this; while they can’t just second-guess their decisions at every turn in general we’re against having politicians as hosts. Think about this on the flip side: Even if there was a liberal host who was popular at the time, what if down the road they proved to be someone who shocked and appalled many of their own voters? Would this appearance be remembered anywhere near as fondly? We have a difficult time imagining so.

What do you think about Taran Killam’s comments, and should SNL stop hiring politicians to host?

Share your thoughts in the comments, and check out the story here to see more of how the show is faring in the ratings now that the election cycle is over.

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