Jeremy Culhane’s Tucker Carlson Impression Returns to SNL Weekend Update

Carlson Impression Gets an Encore on Update

Jeremy Culhane returned to the “Weekend Update” desk on Saturday Night Live this week, reprising his well-received impression of former Fox News host Tucker Carlson. The appearance marks the second time in a month the show has given a prominent spot to Culhane, who is not a regular cast member, solidifying his Carlson as a new fixture in the program’s arsenal of political satire. This latest segment featured Culhane’s Carlson delivering a commentary on the recent Met Gala, employing the specific vocal cadence and bewildered outrage that has become the commentator’s signature.

Positioned as a correspondent, the character dissected outfits from the high-fashion event with a mix of conspiratorial thinking and cultural grievances. The specific comedic angle hinged on interpreting celebrity fashion through a partisan lens, a conceit that allowed the show to lampoon both the excesses of the gala and the predictable patterns of right-wing media commentary. The segment shared the “Weekend Update” spotlight with another notable character piece from cast members Mikey Day and Marcello Hernández, who appeared as a pair of conspiracy-minded, so-called kamikaze dolphins, providing a dose of surreal absurdity to counterbalance the topical political humor.

The decision to feature Culhane again so quickly is a clear signal of confidence from the show's producers. The first installment of his Carlson impression became a standout moment from the Ramy Youssef-hosted episode in late March, earning positive commentary for its accuracy and comedic timing. By bringing it back, SNL is investing in a character that has demonstrated an ability to connect with its audience, building on recent momentum as the show’s 49th season heads into its final stretch.

The Emergence of a New Political Player

The ascent of Jeremy Culhane is an unusual development in the highly structured world of Saturday Night Live. Typically, breakout impersonations and recurring “Weekend Update” characters are the domain of repertory players or featured cast members looking to make their mark. Culhane, a Los Angeles-based comedian and writer, holds no official on-air title with the show, making his repeated appearances a noteworthy exception to the program’s unwritten rules. His success demonstrates a flexibility in the show's format, allowing talent from outside the core ensemble to land a coveted spot based on the strength of a single, compelling character.

This pathway, while rare, is not entirely without precedent. In past seasons, writers and other behind-the-scenes talent have occasionally found themselves in front of the camera for a specific bit that resonated. However, a repeat performance in a featured desk piece on “Weekend Update” elevates Culhane to a different level of visibility. It suggests that executive producer Lorne Michaels and the show’s leadership see potential for the Carlson impression to become a reliable part of their comedic toolkit, particularly in an election year where political media figures are as much a part of the narrative as the candidates themselves.

For Culhane, the national platform provides career-defining exposure. His impersonation’s viral success has turned him from a working comedian into a recognized face overnight. The repeat booking validates the initial positive reaction and positions him as a significant new voice in the landscape of political comedy, following a path of performers who built a career on their uncanny ability to inhabit a public figure. Whether this leads to a more formal role with the show remains to be seen, but for now, he has carved out a unique and influential niche.

Continuing SNL's Legacy of Political Satire

Culhane’s Carlson fits squarely within Saturday Night Live’s long and influential history of political impersonations. Since its inception, the show has used satire to shape and reflect public perception of major political and media personalities, from Chevy Chase’s bumbling Gerald Ford to Dana Carvey’s patrician George H.W. Bush and Alec Baldwin’s pugnacious Donald Trump. These portrayals often become as famous as the public figures themselves, defining them in the cultural consciousness for a generation of viewers.

In the current media environment, SNL has increasingly turned its satirical lens toward commentators and media ecosystems, recognizing them as powerful political actors in their own right. Kate McKinnon’s portrayals of figures like Kellyanne Conway and Laura Ingraham set the stage for this shift. Culhane’s Carlson continues this tradition, focusing less on a politician and more on the media personality who shapes the political conversation. His performance is a detailed character study, capturing not just vocal tics but a specific worldview of grievance and perplexity that animates much of modern political discourse. It’s a different kind of political satire, aimed at the mediators of power rather than power itself.

This shift reflects a broader change in how political comedy functions. With the 24-hour news cycle and the fragmentation of media, figures like Carlson wield influence that can rival that of elected officials. By making him a recurring character, SNL is making a statement about who it considers to be a relevant and necessary target of satire. The effectiveness of the impression lies in its ability to deconstruct a media persona that is itself highly constructed, revealing the mechanics of its appeal and its absurdity.

Weekend Update as a Character Incubator

The “Weekend Update” segment has long served as SNL’s primary laboratory for testing new characters and comedic concepts. Its format, a series of short appearances at the news desk, provides a low-risk, high-reward environment to gauge audience reaction. A character that lands well during a three-minute spot on “Update” has a strong chance of becoming a recurring favorite. Memorable characters like Bill Hader's Stefon, Cecily Strong’s The Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation With at a Party, and Bobby Moynihan’s Drunk Uncle all found their footing at the “Update” desk before becoming hallmarks of their respective eras.

Culhane's second appearance is a classic example of this incubation process in action. The first performance proved the concept: the impression was sharp and the audience responded. The second outing confirms that the character has legs beyond a single appearance and can be adapted to comment on new and different topics, in this case the Met Gala. This is the critical test for any recurring character’s longevity. It's a strategic move by the show to build out its roster of reliable bits, ensuring a deep bench of comedy that can be deployed whenever the news cycle warrants it.

The success of this strategy reinforces the central importance of “Weekend Update” to the overall health of SNL. Anchored by Colin Jost and Michael Che, the segment provides a stable, topical spine for each episode, while the guest character spots offer opportunities for cast members, and occasionally outsiders like Culhane, to create breakout moments. It is the show’s most direct connection to the weekly news conversation and its most effective engine for generating new, sustainable comedy.