Tucker Carlson on 'SNL' critiques Met Gala and 'Michael' movie's neglect of 'white man' era

Saturday Night Live (SNL) continued its sharp political satire this week as cast member James Austin Johnson returned to the “Weekend Update” desk with his popular impression of Tucker Carlson, delivering a blistering monologue about the Met Gala and several figures from pop culture.

Opening the segment, Johnson’s Carlson mocked the star-studded fashion event, questioning why celebrities were “strutting around in $100,000 clown suits” while “the American empire” crumbles. 

The commentary set the tone for a rapid-fire series of jokes targeting some of the gala’s most talked-about attendees and outfits.

Among the celebrities singled out were Dwayne Johnson, Madonna and Heidi Klum. Johnson’s Carlson also launched into a tangent about the silent “e” in Maine after “Weekend Update” co-anchor Colin Jost reminded him that the real Carlson lives there.

The sketch later shifted to the upcoming biopic Michael, starring Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson. 

Johnson’s Carlson joked that the film’s timeline ending in 1988 avoided discussing Jackson’s changing appearance.

The segment concluded with a parody advertisement for “round bananas” and an intentionally outrageous punchline involving rapper A$AP Rocky, prompting laughter from the studio audience.

Johnson’s Tucker Carlson impression has become a recurring highlight on “Weekend Update,” known for mimicking the commentator’s rhetorical style and conspiratorial tone while lampooning current events and celebrity culture.