Chappelle, SNL Put Thoughtful Coda on Election

Saturday Night Live called on host Dave Chappelle's wit and Kate McKinnon's "Hallelujah" for a thoughtful coda to a divisive election, reports the AP. Chappelle, claiming to be rusty after a decade out of the TV spotlight, proved eager to offer his take on Donald Trump's victory over Hillary Clinton, including protests that followed. "I haven't seen white people this mad since the OJ (Simpson) verdict," he said drolly, suggesting he would take a knee like Colin Kaepernick and let white people figure out the election. There were one-liners—he grabbed the maid in his Trump hotel room because the "boss said it was OK"—but Chappelle also got serious, talking about Black Lives Matter and issues beyond the election. "I don't even think it's the most important thing we're dealing with," Chappelle said, noting "all these shootings in the last year, worst mass shootings in the history of the United States."

Giving a shoutout to President Obama for a job well done, Chappelle told of attending a recent BET-sponsored White House party attended mostly by African-American guests. He recalled how rare it was in past centuries for blacks to be allowed to visit the White House, adding that "it made me feel proud to be an American, and it made me very happy about the prospects of our country," Chappelle said. "So, in that spirit, I'm wishing Donald Trump luck, and I'm going to give him a chance. And we, the historically disenfranchised, demand that he give us one, too." After openings featuring McKinnon as Clinton sparring with Alec Baldwin's Trump, McKinnon owned the stage solo, performing "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen, who died last week. It proved a resonant Clinton swan song. "I did my best, it wasn't much, I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch," McKinnon sang. "And even though it all went wrong, I'll stand before the lord of song, with nothing on my tongue but hallelujah." At the end, McKinnon turned to the camera with her own—or faux Clinton's?—message of hope. "I'm not giving up and neither should you," she said. (More Saturday Night Live stories.)