SNL Cold Open: Biden-Ryan Vice Presidential Debate

Posted on October 14, 2012

The Cold Open for Saturday Night Live last night was a skit about the vice presidential debate between Joe Biden (Jason Sudeikis) and Paul Ryan (Taran Killam). Kate McKinnon played the debate moderator Martha Raddatz who lost no time informing the candidates that "your performance is extremely unlikely to affect the outcome of the election, so just have fun with it." She also made it very clear that she was no Jim Lehrer.

Sudeikis' Biden interrupted Ryan, rolled his eyes and challenged Ryan at every turn. Killam's Ryan drank water non-stop, refused to give any specifics about his tax and budgetary plans and grinned maniacally.

Ryan got called to account for his fibs about his marathon prowness, crowing at one point that he raced Usain Bolt at the summer Olympics and won. At that point the real Usain Bolt appeared on stage to inform Ryan that he was the winner of the 100 meter dash. Both sides got skewered. Somehow we don't think Ryan will be drinking as much water in future appearances. Take a look:

Photo: Dana Edelson/NBC