‘SNL’ Sparks Ire With Larry David Holocaust Joke, Alec Baldwin Sketch

Cold open and monologue fall flat with ill-timed Weinstein and Holocaust humor.

November 5, 2017 8:23 am
SNL
Alec Baldwin on 'Saturday Night Live' (NBC)

Saturday night’s episode of SNL may not have been ready for primetime.

Many viewers flocked to social media after Saturday Night Live produced a number of controversial moments that fell flat with many viewers—kicking off right from the episode’s cold opening (see the video above).

In that sketch, Alec Baldwin returned once again to impersonate President Trump, this time in a visit with Paul Manafort (SNL‘s Alex Moffat) that ends up in a shower.

During that already cringe-worthy bit, Baldwin spouts off: “That’s what she said. Like, a whole bunch of she’s have said that. Speaking of which, what an idiot that Harvey Weinstein is. He could have gotten away with all of it, if only he’d gotten himself elected president.”

The problem is that Baldwin is in the midst of his own controversy, having just quit Twitter earlier in the day over reaction to comments he made that were perceived to be victim-shaming the women who have come forward to accuse Weinstein of sexual harassment and assault.

Then guest host Larry David made it worse.

The Curb Your Enthusiasm star added to the discomfort with a monologue in which he segued from a bit on the number of Jews accused of sexual harassment to hitting on women in concentration camps. (David is Jewish himself.)

“You know, I’ve always, always been obsessed with women, and I’ve often wondered, if I’d grown up in Poland, when Hitler came to power, and was sent to a concentration camp, would I still be checking out women in the camp?,” he quipped. “I think I would.

“Of course, the problem is, there are no good opening lines in a concentration camp.”

See the monologue below and judge for yourself.

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