‘SNL’: Ben Carson Skips COVID Vaccine for Help With Resume

SNL Covid Vaccine Cold Open (Credit: NBC)

Saturday Night Live got in a few laughs at HUD Secretary Ben Carson’s expense, by suggesting he’s been collecting checks but not doing much work for nearly four years.

During this weekend’s cold open, SNL regular Kenan Thompson played Carson, a retired neurosurgeon who joined the Trump administration as secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department in 2017.

The segment began with Beck Bennett as Vice President Mike Pence getting a COVID-19 vaccine on live TV, just like the real Pence did Friday.

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Bennett looked at the camera and said, “I just want to assure the American people that this vaccine is safe and harmless. That’s why President Trump refuses to take it or talk about it.”

Bennett’s photo op was interrupted multiple times, including by Kate McKinnon as Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, who had brown liquid dripping down the sides of his face (and possibly his legs).

Then Thompson crashed the vaccine party.

“Yes, it is I, Dr. Benjamin Carson, and I came here to ask what do I do?” Thompson said after walking on set.

“In terms of the vaccine?” Bennett responded. “No, No. In terms of my job. What is it that I do?” Thompson said. “I’ve been sitting alone in a dark office for the past four years and no one has told me what to do.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter now. We’re all leaving in a couple of weeks,” Bennett told him.

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That prompted Thompson to ask, “Well, can you at least tell me what my job was? I’d like to put it on my resume.”

“Sorry weren’t you a brain surgeon?” asked Mikey Day, who was playing a doctor administering the vaccine.

“Oh well, ain’t nobody gonna believe that now! Fiddle damn diddle,” Thompson said before stomping away.

[Watch the video below]

Earlier in the segment, cast member Alex Moffat was introduced as President-elect Joe Biden, just hours after Jim Carrey announced he was moving on from impersonating the former VP.

“Though my term was only meant to be 6 weeks, I was thrilled to be elected as your SNL President,” Carrey tweeted Saturday morning. “I would love to go forward knowing that Biden was the victor because I nailed that s—. But I am just one in a long line of proud, fighting SNL Bidens!”

Carrey made his debut as Biden on SNL’s season 46 premiere in October. Jason Sudeikis, Woody Harrelson, and John Mulaney have previously played Biden.

While Carrey had some hits, such as the cold open where he played the fly that landed on Pence’s head during the vice presidential debate, fans weren’t completely sold. Each week when the actor and comedian appeared as Biden, he drew mixed reactions with some viewers on social media, who accused him of overacting.

So far, there’s no word on who will become the NBC sketch show’s permanent Biden.

The real Joe Biden will take office as President of the United States next month.