Saturday Night Live Season 50 has been quite the milestone chapter for the long-running sketch comedy series, from the three-hour anniversary special and Homecoming Concert, to unplanned moments like Morgan Wallen walking off stage during the closing credits and audience members screaming an obscenity during a Weekend Update segment. For cast member Bowen Yang, Season 50’s run on the 2025 TV schedule has been notable for him because he was selected to play Vice President JD Vance in the politically-themed cold opens. However, the Wicked star is now more than happy to pass that role along to someone else now.
While speaking with host Desi Lydic on The Daily Show, Yang recalled that when SNL creator Lorne Michaels asked him to play then-VP candidate JD Vance for the first time in the Season 50 premiere, Yang responded, “Please, please, please don’t make me do this.” He’s since played the role a handful of other times, but he described bringing Vance to life as “challenging,” adding:
First of all — God’s honest truth, I really do my best with him, but every time I have to play him, I go to Lorne and I say, ‘You can do a buyback.’ You don’t have to stick with me. Please reach out to Zach Galifianakis. Please reach out to Taran Killam.’ But no, that’s my charge.