'SNL' cold open celebrates the first warm day of the year

The climate may be getting worse but now all your favorite NPCs are finally back in Central Park.
 By 
Chance Townsend
 on 
Bowen Yang in a salmon suit interviewing Mikey Day who's wearing tight spandex and a heart monitor on his left arm.
Watch Next

Taking a break from their more usual Trump-centric cold opens, this week's Saturday Night Live decides to roll out the red carpet to spotlight some of NYC's favorite (and most annoying) random Central Park visitors.

It's the first warm day of the year and although it's "two months ahead of schedule," it means all your favorite "freaks, crazies, and weirdos" are headed to Central Park. From the old man aggressively speed-walking to the iconic villain "the guy with a clipboard who wants to know if you have a second for a good cause," everyone is on the red carpet today.

Excellently hosted by Bowen Yang and Heidi Gardner, this is one of the most refreshing cold open's in recent memory. Even funnier, this is perhaps the first time (at least that I've seen) that the "live from New York" call has ever been interrupted. You can thank Ego Nwodim's "lady who's trying to tell somewhere where she is" for that.

If you can't find her, she's by the big tree. Yes, the one by the bridge. No, not that bridge, the other bridge (BY THE BIG TREE).

Topics SNL

Headshot of a Black man
Chance Townsend
Assistant Editor, General Assignments

Chance Townsend is the General Assignments Editor at Mashable, covering tech, video games, dating apps, digital culture, and whatever else comes his way. He has a Master's in Journalism from the University of North Texas and is a proud orange cat father. His writing has also appeared in PC Mag and Mother Jones.

In his free time, he cooks, loves to sleep, and greatly enjoys Detroit sports. If you have any tips or want to talk shop about the Lions, you can reach out to him on Bluesky @offbrandchance.bsky.social or by email at [email protected].


Latest Videos

Stephen Colbert reacts to the Artemis II moon mission
A man in a suit stands on a talk show stage, gesturing.


'The Daily Show' reacts to judge halting Trump's White House ballroom
Desi Lydic presents "The Daily Show" beside an image of Donald Trump.


A24's 'Mother Mary' trailer is worth it for the FKA twigs track
Anne Hathway is dressed in a red pop star outfit with religious overtones in a film still from "Mother Mary."

Jon Stewart has a brutal reaction to Trump waffling about pens
A man in a suit sitting behind a talk show desk looks angry. In the top left is an image of the president holding up a pen.

Stephen Colbert gleefully recaps the best signs at the 'No Kings' protest
A man in a suit stands on a talk show stage, smiling. The caption at the bottom reads, "I like that one."

Riz Ahmed is troublingly intense in new 'SNL UK' promo
A close-up of a man grinning in a slightly creepy way.


The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!