“Saturday Night Live” used the cold opening of its last show to ponder the outcome of the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer charged with the murder of George Floyd.
“It sounds like we can all agree that Derek Chauvin can’t walk away from this,” comedian Kate McKinnon said as she faked a local news anchor during a discussion of the lawsuit.
“Hmmmm … well …”, co-stars Keenan Thompson and Ego Nwodim react doubtfully.
Chauvin’s lawyers have argued that Floyd’s drug use led to his death last year, which was captured on video showing Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes during an arrest outside a Connivence store.
“And that’s not what the jury is out for,” says McKinnon confidently.
“I’m not saying that,” Thompson replies, and the studio audience laughs.
“Let’s just say we’ve seen this movie before,” says Nwodim.
McKinnon’s character says she agrees, adding that “historically policemen have escaped” in other cases, such as Chauvin’s.
“Historically speaking?” Thompson asks.
“She means every time,” replies Nwodim.
Chauvin’s trial is expected to take several more days before a long-awaited verdict is issued later this month.