Tucker Carlson Returns to ‘SNL’ to Review ‘The Odyssey,’ Gender-Neutral ‘Spider-Man’ and Left-Wing ‘Obsession’
“Saturday Night Live” revived Jeremy Culhane’s impression of Tucker Carlson during the first “Weekend Update” of Season 52. The satirical segment used Carlson’s fictional commentary on major summer films to mock conservative talking points about gender, relationships, Hollywood and Donald Trump.
The character discussed “The Odyssey”, “Spider-Man: Brand New Gender”, “Obsession”, “Minions and Monsters” and “Toy Story 5”, using exaggerated jokes and innuendo. Culhane first introduced the impression in Season 51, and this was its third appearance on “Weekend Update”.
- SNL brought back Jeremy Culhane’s Tucker Carlson impression.
- The sketch satirised culture-war commentary through film reviews.
- It marked the character’s third “Weekend Update” appearance.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters could argue that the sketch uses political satire to expose what it sees as contradictions and anxieties in conservative commentary about gender, culture and Donald Trump. By placing exaggerated views in a recognisable fictional persona, it invites audiences to question those ideas while exercising the long-standing comedic right to mock public figures and political movements.
The case against
Critics could argue that the sketch reduces conservative concerns about culture and entertainment to crude caricature rather than engaging with their strongest arguments. They might see its repeated use of a partisan impression as evidence that a major comedy programme reinforces an established political consensus, potentially alienating viewers who expect satire to scrutinise both sides with comparable force.