**Saturday Night Live Parodies New York City Mayoral Debate in November 1, 2025 Cold Open**
Saturday Night Live’s cold open in the November 1, 2025 episode delivered a sharp and timely parody of the recent New York City mayoral debate held just days before the November 4 election. The sketch reenacted key moments from the real debate between Curtis Sliwa, Andrew Cuomo, and Zohran Mamdani, blending humor with political satire to highlight the personalities and issues shaping the race.
### A Star-Studded Cast Brings the Debate to Life
The parody featured host Miles Teller portraying Andrew Cuomo, capturing the former governor’s leadership style and political demeanor. Ramy Youssef took on the role of Zohran Mamdani, emphasizing the candidate’s progressive platform and optimistic tone, including humorous references like his call for “free Wi-Fi” in the city. Shane Gillis played Curtis Sliwa, spotlighting his background as the leader of the Guardian Angels and his past public controversies.
Kenan Thompson appeared as journalist Errol Louis, serving as the moderator for the spoofed NY1 broadcast that framed the sketch. Thompson’s moderation anchored the debate, setting the stage for comedic exchanges that touched on familiar New York City issues such as housing, transportation, and public services.
### Sketch Highlights and Comedic Moments
The cold open cleverly wove together real debate themes with exaggerated humor about everyday life in New York. From complaints about soaring grocery prices to the frustrations of crowded bike lanes, the sketch resonated with locals and viewers alike.
A notable twist occurred midway through the scene when James Austin Johnson appeared as Donald Trump. Johnson’s Trump interrupted the debate to declare the election “all about me,” followed by a humorous parody of *The Phantom of the Opera*. This chaotic moment escalated the sketch’s energy, culminating in Thompson’s moderator struggling to regain control.
Following the debate parody, the show seamlessly transitioned into Miles Teller’s monologue, in which he shared a personal story about losing his home in the Los Angeles wildfires, adding a heartfelt touch to the evening.
### Comparing the SNL Parody to the Real Debate
The actual New York City mayoral debate held in late October featured Cuomo, Mamdani, and Sliwa discussing pressing issues facing the city. Reports of heated exchanges, especially between Mamdani and Cuomo, underscored deep policy and ideological differences.
Saturday Night Live’s approach was not to mimic every detail but to use comedic exaggeration to capture the essence of each candidate’s personality and public image. Teller’s Cuomo reflected the ex-governor’s vocal leadership style, Youssef’s Mamdani embodied progressive idealism, and Gillis’ Sliwa channeled the street-savvy Guardian Angels figure well known to New Yorkers.
This condensation of political personas into accessible archetypes provided viewers with an entertaining yet insightful lens on the mayoral race.
### More from the November 1 Episode
This episode marked Miles Teller’s second time hosting *Saturday Night Live*, with his first hosting gig having been on October 1, 2022. Beyond the cold open, Teller showcased his versatility by appearing in multiple sketches, including a parody of *The Property Brothers*, where he played both Jonathan and Drew Scott.
Musical guest Brandi Carlile performed two songs, adding to a night filled with entertainment. Keeping with tradition, *Saturday Night Live* blended local New York City politics with broader national themes, continuing to provide timely and humorous commentary on current events.
*Saturday Night Live* airs Saturdays at 11:30 PM ET on NBC. Episodes are typically available for streaming the following day on Hulu and Peacock.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/us/shows/did-saturday-night-live-mock-new-york-mayoral-debate-miles-teller-s-cold-open-explained
