As catharsis after an emotionally exhausting week that witnessed both the election of Donald Trump and the death of Leonard Cohen, Saturday Night Live opened with Kate McKinnons Hillary Clinton sitting alone at the piano and singing Cohens Hallelujah.
After weeks of opening each pre-Election Day episode with amusing, over-the-top debate night sketches between McKinnons Clinton and Alec Baldwins Donald Trump, there was no laughter to be heard in the latest cold open. McKinnon, in her Hillary wig and white pantsuit, simply turned Cohens oft-covered Various Positions classic into her characters own personal concession speech.
Maybe Ive been here before / Ive seen this room and Ive walked this floor / I used to live alone before I knew you, McKinnons Clinton sang, with the actress breaking character to wink at the camera.
Im not giving up and neither should you, McKinnon, as Clinton, said following her performance. And live from New York, its Saturday night.
Watch Hillary Clintons heartfelt presidential concession speech.