The truth behind Maya Rudolph’s ‘SNL’ skit removal with Barack Obama

Maya Rudolph had a sketch with Barack Obama on “SNL” that didn’t quite land. The comedian shared that she, along with Amy Poehler and Darrell Hammond, were all set to appear in a Halloween party skit where Rudolph and Hammond would play Hillary and Bill Clinton. In the sketch, Obama, who was new to the scene at the time, would surprise Rudolph’s character by revealing himself as the real Barack Obama.

The planned sketch was supposed to air in Season 33, episode four in 2007 but was ultimately cut during dress rehearsals. Rudolph explained that the joke was centered around her lack of a good impression of Obama, which she admitted to him when they were backstage just minutes before the sketch was set to go on air.

Although the sketch didn’t make it to the final show, the episode included a different sketch with Obama attending the Clinton’s Halloween party as himself. Jason Sudeikis debuted his Joe Biden impression, and Poehler portrayed Hillary Clinton.

Rudolph, who starred on “SNL” from 2000 to 2007, now stars in the Apple TV+ comedy series “Loot,” which premiered in 2022. The show’s Season 3 finale aired on Dec. 10. Rudolph’s co-star Joel Kim Booster had nothing but praise for working with her, sharing a sweet story about receiving relationship advice from Rudolph during the filming of the show.

Rudolph, who has been in a long-term relationship with director Paul Thomas Anderson since 2001, had some simple advice for Booster: “Chill out.”