In tune with the new administration of alternative facts, viewers are embracing a comic alternative president and his abrasive press secretary.
Alec Baldwin, who has scored in guest shots on "Saturday Night Live" with his mocking impersonation of Donald Trump since the campaign's final weeks, presided Saturday as guest host of NBC's late-night sketch show, serving up yet another Trump masquerade.
In his spoof, President Trump made good on a tweeted vow to "see you in court" directed at the three Ninth Circuit federal judges who last week refused to lift a stay preventing his immigration ban from being enforced.
His chosen venue: "The People's Court," where he was suing the three judges.
"I'm right, they're wrong," Trump erupted. "I want the travel ban reinstated. I also want $725."
Then, as a character witness, he brought in shirtless Russian president Vladimir Putin (Beck Bennett), who praised Trump as "my little American Happy Meal."
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In another sketch, Baldwin, making his record 17th "SNL" hosting appearance, took social relevance to an outrageous level as an ad man brainstorming a Cheetos commercial for the Super Bowl. In another, he was an obstetrician examining Beyoncé, pregnant with twins (played by a chatty Kenan Thompson and surprise guest Tracy Morgan).
But while Baldwin was the drawing card for viewers seeking political satire, the night belonged to ultra-versatile "SNL" cast member Kate McKinnon.
On "Weekend Update," she depicted Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who last week was silenced by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in the midst of final debate over the confirmation of Jeff Sessions, Trump's nominee for attorney general.
McKinnon was almost unrecognizable as newly sworn-in Sessions himself, played as drawling, cornpone and ghoulish.
And in yet another sketch, McKinnon encored her crowd-pleasing lampoon of White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, who this time was a crazed stalker pursuing CNN anchor Jake Tapper (Bennett).
Opening the show, Melissa McCarthy was back with the portrayal of hot-tempered White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer that wowed viewers last week.
"I said that wrong when I said it," SNL's Spicer seethed when asked about a confusing remark. "But then you wrote it — which makes you wrong."
Finally, losing all control, "Spicer" revved her motorized podium and mowed down the press corps.
The night's musical guest, British pop star Ed Sheeran, performed two numbers, "Shape of You" and "Castle in the Sky."
"Saturday Night Live" returns March 4 for an episode to be hosted by actress Octavia Spencer.