New York City — NBC’s sketch comedy show “Saturday Night Live” gave political junkies, “Seinfeld” fans, and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” enthusiasts everything they could have hoped for when Senator Bernie Sanders joined comedian Larry David as he hosted Saturday’s show.
@BernieSanders #SNLhttps://t.co/f4yLQMbgjh
— Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl) February 7, 2016
The Democratic presidential hopeful met the sitcom creator, who had played the senator several times on the show this season, in a live sketch on board a Titanic-esque sinking ship as the famous vessel began to sink into the ocean.
David, playing an Irish aristocrat of sort, attempted to convince the ship’s captain captain to save him instead of primarily “women and children.”
Sanders would not stand for this as he barreled on stage to applause with a cabbie’s hat and a rumpled brown vest and jacket.
“Enough is enough! We need to unite and work together if we’re going to get through this!” shouted Sanders.
“Sounds socialist to me,” replied David.
“Democratic socialist,” corrected the Vermont senator who is a self-described democratic socialist.
The two men poked fun at Sanders’ pronunciation of the word “huge” (as “yuge”), as well as the candidate’s Jewish religion when David asked him his name.
“Bernie Sanderswinsky,” said Sanders with a grin, “but we’re gonna change it when we get to America so it doesn’t sound quite so Jewish.”
“Yea, that’ll trick em,” responded David to laughs.
Don't miss @BernieSanders' full cameo on #SNL!https://t.co/gr0b073ZuS
— Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl) February 7, 2016
While this was the only scene where the two appeared together save an introduction of the musical guest, The 1975, the candidate remained present throughout the show.
Perhaps the moment that delighted fans of both men alike came earlier in the show because it featured David’s frighteningly accurate depiction of Sanders in a digital short titled “Bern Your Enthusiasm.”
“I am running for president. I do not shake disgusting hands!” David—as Sanders—said neurotically after a back and forth at a crowded rally with a voter who coughed on her hand before hoping to meet the candidate.
The voter, played by SNL’s Leslie Jones was dismayed at not shaking Sanders’ hand.
Then, on a venture to purchase a cup of coffee with whole milk (not 2%), David came across a woman who got into a car accident on her way to vote for Sanders. Upon asking for his help relocating her shoulder however, David demurred.
When you're minding your own business and she asks you to pop her shoulder back in. #BernYourEnthusiasm pic.twitter.com/c6d0CVd06B
— Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl) February 7, 2016
“Pop it back in? Are you nuts … Go to a hospital, I’m not a popper,” said the comedian as Sanders.
“F*** You!” shouted the voter. Later in the sketch David watched the polls close on the night of the Iowa caucuses with his campaign team and wife Jane Sanders, portrayed by SNL’s Vanessa Bayer. As the results came in showing former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton just barely edging him out, the quintessential Curb Your Enthusiasm trombone music played over the scene as the camera panned to the two voters who Sanders rebuffed earlier in the sketch. They were wearing Clinton shirts and stickers shaking their heads in disgust. The scene ended going to black showing the title: “Directed by Bernie Sanders.” What, you think a rope line isn't infested with germs? #BernYourEnthusiasm pic.twitter.com/jEDdJLcMvN Hillary Clinton appeared on ‘SNL’s’ season premiere in October playing a bartender named Val talking to Kate McKinnon, who played the presidential candidate. David first became Sanders’ unofficial doppelgänger later in October after the first Democratic debate in Las Vegas. “And now if you don’t mind, I’m gonna dial it right up to a ten!” said David as Sanders in that episode. “We’re doomed! We need a revolution!” At that moment, most media critics and political fans agreed that this was an instant ‘SNL’ classic. This article first appeared on NBCNews.com.
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