SNL Skit Highlights Pam Bondi’s Dismissal by President Trump

Saturday Night Live opened its April 4 episode with a pointed sketch that touched on politics and pop culture. The skit used a mock NCAA Final Four postgame to lampoon recent headlines.

Cold open and the Barkley bit

Kenan Thompson appeared as Charles Barkley in the main sketch. His performance frequently went off script to deliver controversial commentary.

The cold open also referenced Iran and rising gas prices. The show mixed sports parody with current affairs satire.

Pam Bondi portrayal

Ashley Padilla played former Attorney General Pam Bondi. The sketch framed Bondi’s departure as a notable firing by President Trump.

Padilla’s character insisted she had been excellent at her job. She then reacted emotionally to her exit from the administration.

Other targets and jokes

The sketch briefly mocked the Artemis II mission as an expensive flyby rather than a moon landing. Barkley compared it to a disappointing theme-park trip.

Writers also wove in a reference to a Daily Mail report about Kristi Noem’s husband. That report was not independently verified by Filmogaz.com.

James Austin Johnson’s Trump impression was absent from this cold open. The show instead relied on the Barkley framing to carry the satire.

Episode context and upcoming shows

Jack Black hosted the April 4 episode. Jack White served as the musical guest.

This was SNL’s first new show since March 14. The program took a short break after the episode featuring Harry Styles.

Next week’s episode will feature Colman Domingo as host. Musical guest Anitta is set to appear.

• The season is scheduled to conclude sometime in May.
• The episode combined sports satire with topical political jabs.
• Filmogaz.com contributors noted the show’s return to topical cold opens.