Season 38/Episode 1 - Cold Open: Obama and Romney
Jay Pharoah gets his first shot at playing President Barack Obama, in what could be the reboot of his SNL career. President Obama is speaking at an Ohio rally, when he pulls out the Democrats' best weapons, Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan. Sudekis is back as Romney, playing on Romney's severe awkwardness, while Taran Killam utilizes bugged-out eyes to play Ryan, naturally using his issues with truthiness as his main gag.
In his first time out, Pharoah's Obama is lightyears ahead of Fred Armisen's, coming off as far more accurate in his impersonation, while actually putting some comedic character into the part, focusing on Obama's pauses and giving him some silly bits as well, like his reference to the Sanford and Son theme.
It's a good start to the season, and a good start to Pharoah's second chance.