In a surreal – yet too real – moment on Saturday Night Live tonight, Jessica Chastain deliberately broke character as a talk show host to lament, what even matters anymore?
Chastain ostensibly plays host Veronica Elders, quizzing contestants played by Cecily Strong, Kate McKinnon, and Kenan Thompson on whether newsworthy things President Trump has said or done recently even rate among his base or the media today.
Not surprisingly, nothing does.
Even hypothetical situations, however objectively horrible, don't matter.
"The president fires Robert Mueller, the very man investigating him for treason. Does it even matter?" host Veronica asks.
"He hasn't done that yet," Strong's character clarifies.
"Yeah, but he's gonna, so you know, when he does, will it even matter?" Veronica continues, buzzing out Strong's answer when she suggests that, despite the fact that it would cross a line, it would make a lick of difference.
The wheels start to fall off when Veronica comes up with more and more outlandish future events, giving up on the game show format entirely to chug a bottle of wine while the contestants write their own nutso suggestions of what the president could do that would possibly lead to any sort of consequences.
That's when McKinnon tells Chastain – not "Veronica" – she doesn't have to do this.
"Jessica, we know you're upset about the way our country's going, but you can't just, like, build a whole game show set and make us pretend to be contestants," Strong adds.
"I'm sorry guys, it just seems like nothing matters anymore," Chastain – not "Veronica" – says.
She concludes the show with a group hug.
It's been a year. We could all use a hug.
Topics SNL
