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SNL: Alec Baldwin’s Donald Trump asks for impeachment advice from Ray Donovan

Ray Donovan actor Liev Schreiber provided a cameo in the sketch

Adam White
Sunday 29 September 2019 09:24 BST
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Alec Baldwin's Donald Trump seeks impeachment advice from Ray Donovan on SNL

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Last night’s season premiere of Saturday Night Live saw Alec Baldwin’s Donald Trump attempt to make the threat of his impeachment “go away” by calling fictional fixer Ray Donovan.

The episode’s cold open featured Baldwin putting in a call to a number of his closest celebrity allies, including Kanye West (played by Chris Redd) and Judge Jeanine Pirro (Cecily Strong).

“It’s the greatest presidential harassment of all time,” Baldwin’s Trump raged. “I should know; I’m like the president of harassment.”

When Pirro suggested that Trump call up Ray Donovan for advice on making the situation “go away”, he was seen telephoning the actor Liev Schreiber, who has portrayed the fictional Donovan in the series of the same name since 2013.

“You’re the guy who takes care of stuff,” Trump said. “Wink-wink”.

“I’ve told you, Mr President, Ray Donovan is a fictional character,” Schreiber responded. “I’m Liev Schreiber, the actor.”

A baffled Trump replied: “If you can’t do it, can you connect me with John Wick? Is he fake? What about Liam Neeson?”

The sketch also marked the debut of comedian Bowen Yang, Saturday Night Live’s first Asian-American cast member in its 45-season history. Yang portrayed Kim Jong-un in the cold open.

Woody Harrelson was the episode’s celebrity host, while Billie Eilish provided the episode’s two musical performances.

Not featured was comedian Shane Gillis, who was announced as a new cast member before being fired days later after his past use of racist and homophobic language went viral.

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