Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Names and faces
▪ Jim Carrey, who played Joe Biden on “Saturday Night Live” for several episodes, announced before the midseason finale that he was retiring his manic impression of the president- elect. “Though my term was only meant to be 6 weeks, I was thrilled to be elected as your SNL President,” Carrey tweeted. “But I am just one in a long line of proud, fighting SNL Bidens!” The cold open answered the big casting question mark. Beck Bennet as Vice President Mike Pence got his coronavirus shot to shore up public confidence. “I’m sure all Americans are excited to see me, the guy who let covid spread everywhere, get one of the first vaccines,” he said. “I just want to reassure the American people that this vaccine is completely safe and harmless. And that’s why President [Donald] Trump refuses to take it or talk about it.” Pence told his doctor that he “didn’t feel a thing” — a line taken straight from the real-life vice president during his actual shot. “Yep. It’s totally painless,” replied the “SNL” doc. “No. I meant for the past four years, I haven’t felt a thing,” Pence said. “Just kind of watched the country burn.” Maya Rudolph as Vice President- elect Kamala Harris arrived to quite literally slap some sense into Pence when he mentioned overturning the election results before introducing the show’s new Biden: Limping into the scene with a walking boot and cane, it was “SNL’s” own Alex Moffat. “Joe, you look different somehow,” said Pence, alluding to the revolving door of Biden impressions. “I’m like Colonel Sanders,” said Moffat. “Every time you see me, I’m a different guy. There’s a good chance that by this time next year, I’m going to be Mario Lopez.” And with that, Moffat’s Biden landed a few more one-liners before exiting. So far it seems his Biden’s slow, almost whispered, cadence most closely mirrors the man’s actual speaking voice. The smoldering take, judging solely from the short introduction, plays off the president-elect’s potential for gaffes and stepping on land mines about diversity. Rudolph’s Harris made sure to usher Biden off just as he was getting super-excited about Kwanzaa.
▪ Mick Jagger recently purchased a mansion south of Tampa, Fla., as a Christmas present for his girlfriend, ballet dancer Mel anie Hamrick. The four- bedroom, 8,400-square-foot home sits on a third of an acre in the planned community of Lakewood Ranch, perched next to a lake and close to neighbors. Real estate firm Michael Saunders & Co. said the Rolling Stones front man, 77, paid $1.9 million, with the title put in Hamrick’s name. Tina Ciaccio, the listing agent, said the couple never visited before buying the property, but met with her online. “It was very cool hearing Mick Jagger’s voice over the phone; that was neat,” Ciaccio said. “But regardless, they really were a pleasure, a great couple to transact with.”