Larry David's 'SNL' Feels The Bern

When it was announced that Larry David would host the February 6 episode of Saturday Night Live, everyone anticipated at least one Bernie Sanders sketch. After all, Sanders is the only reason to have David on as a host. He doesn't really have anything else to promote right now. He's already popped up on the show a couple of times to do a Sanders impression, and he killed it. Thankfully, when he came back as host, David delivered. Saturday Night Live had two Bernie Sanders sketches on in a row, and one of them featured Sanders himself.

Unfortunately, the one without Sanders is much funnier. It was a pre-filmed bit called Bern Your Enthusiasm, which looked like an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, but centered on Bernie Sanders, following his campaign. It was a perfect mash-up of the Curb Your Enthusiasm sensibility and a political campaign. Larry David as Bernie Sanders refused to shake the hand of a supporter who coughed on her hand before she extended it, and it came back to bite him in the Iowa caucus. That is exactly something that would've happened with David on the show. As a bonus, Jay Pharoah does an excellent impression of J.B. Smoove.

The next sketch, which was live again, involved a sinking ship, with crewmembers arguing about the order in which to load people onto lifeboats. Sanders showed up in that one, in person, to complain when a character said he deserved a spot because he's rich. "I am so sick of the 1 percent getting this preferential treatment," Sander said. "Enough is enough. We need to unite and work together if we're going to get through this." It felt like the sketch was a weak setup for Sanders to delivere that line. The funniest part of the sketch was the end when, after the boat was saved, Sanders looked to David and said, "Share a cab?" ("Eh, I think we've talked enough," was David's reply.)

Sanders made another appearance in the next segment, introducing the musical guest, The 1975. Before the band came on, David asked Sanders how things were going in New Hampshire. His response? "Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty good."

Watch both sketches here:

Image: Dana Edelson/NBC