In its most recent episode, Saturday Night Live (SNL) tackled the high-profile case of Luigi Mangione, the individual charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO. Sarah Sherman headlined the episode with a parody of ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace,’ casting herself as the famed TV host and former prosecutor, Nancy Grace. During the episode, a special segment was dedicated to analyzing the internet fascination surrounding the accused murderer Mangione, a 26-year old who has piqued the interest of both women and the gay community.
Sherman, stepping into the shoes of Nancy Grace, humorously explains: ‘Tonight, we focus on the person behind the CEO’s shooting incident who has now been exposed. Well, Luigi, your time is up.’ The comedian continued with a punchline, comparing Luigi to popular celebrities, ‘This guy is a doppelgänger of Dave Franco, but with Eugene Levy’s distinctive eyebrows.’
Luigi Mangione has recently made headlines being implicated in the murder of Brian Thompson, UnitedHealthcare’s CEO. The murder occurred outside Manhattan’s New York Hilton Midtown on December 4. Following a rigorous search operation that spanned multiple days, he was eventually apprehended and taken into custody on December 9 in Pennsylvania. Consequently, he was charged with Thompson’s murder by New York authorities.
Sarah, still portraying Nancy Grace, commented on the widespread sentiments that Mangione could be considered a ‘sex icon.’ She used this argument as a springboard to discuss some of the public opinions expressed on social media platforms, where users have remarked on his ‘BDE’ aura and labelled him as a ‘twunk.’
The SNL sketch continued with an onstage psychologist invited by the host to weigh in on the surprising public fascination with Mangione – a conversation the host quickly diverted away from. Instead, Grace navigated to lighter-hearted discussions, maintaining the comedy show’s signature tone.
The sketch went on to include a fictitious narrative involving a character named Donnell Davis. This character is described as being present at the McDonald’s restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where Mangione was eventually captured. Played by SNL cast member Kenan Thompson, Davis recounts his experience as a witness to the arrest.
In Thompson’s portrayal of Davis, he amusingly confessed to pretending to have a job, only to evade his spouse’s prying eyes. Thompson’s character was then prodded by Sherman’s Grace with the question: ‘Donnell, after coming into close contact with this criminal, is it believable that multiple individuals found this dangerous murderer attractive?’ Thompson, munching away at his McDonald’s fries, offered an equally comical response.
Thompson’s character Davis humorously remarked: ‘Well, it does seem apparent he was quite the ladies’ man.’ Thompson casually continued, reflecting societal changes, ‘Earlier, charming a lady could be as simple as penning a sentimental poem. Today, it seems a manifesto is a minimum requirement.’
Subsequently, the direction of the talk swung towards the condition of health care in the United States, with Thompson’s character Davis invited to give his thoughts on the issue. Davis quipped, ‘Do you know, Nancy, I’ve indulged in McDonald’s daily for the last three years. I have reached the stage of type 10 diabetes. As for healthcare insurance such as Blue Cross? Heck, all I’ve got is my blue foot.’
The comedic sketch continued with a discussion on alternative medicine. Thompson’s character shared his viewpoint, using his typical humour: ‘Every time they present me with the bill for a medical procedure, I find myself asking, ‘What’s the alternative pricing?’
As the skit carried on, another character is introduced who bears an uncanny resemblance to Luigi Mangione, further revving up the laughs from the live audience. This served as a running gag throughout the remainder of the sketch, as Thompson’s character continued to provide amusement with his offbeat remarks.
In standard Saturday Night Live fashion, the sketch ultimately concluded with the signature line, ‘Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night.’ This statement signalled the end of what was undeniably a humor-filled portrayal of what could otherwise have been a serious criminal case.
In essence, SNL showcased their adeptness at pairing serious topical content with humor. Sarah Sherman’s portrayal of Nancy Grace brought a light-hearted approach to unfurling the curious case of Luigi Mangione, while Kenan Thompson’s character assured viewers of riotous laughs.
The conversation served multiple purposes: it discussed the stark reality of crime, but also critiqued some of the more amusing and unanticipated public responses to such incidents. Not shying away from the bizarre fascination with Mangione’s physical characteristics, the sketch addressed the strange societal phenomenon head-on.
Indeed, this episode of Saturday Night Live presented an insightful social commentary on how serious crimes can be unexpectedly transformed into media spectacle. It highlighted the role that popular media, like SNL, can and do play in shaping public perception to such incidents, mediating between the gravity of events and the amusement of the public in general.