'SNL' flays Kari Lake: 'Just a regular hometown gal … lit like a ’90s Cinemax soft-core'

The show took its time getting there, but “Saturday Night Live” finally went after Kari Lake — and it was brutal.

The cold open Saturday featured a takeoff on “PBS Newshour,” with Heidi Gardner playing Judy Woodruff. She interviewed Republican candidates Herschel Walker (Keenan Thompson), Dr. Mehmet Oz (Mikey Day) and Lake (a spot-on Cecily Strong).

It was funny, but it was also bizarre, in that it never had to stray too far from the things Lake actually says for laughs.

So maybe that’s not so funny, after all.

The gist of the segment was how all the candidates had surprisingly surged in the polls. When Gardner’s Woodruff introduced Strong’s Lake, she replied, “Great to be with you, Judy, on your sweet little show full of lies.”

That checks out.

'60 Minutes' to Mark Finchem: Problem with election denial in Arizona is 'people like you'

Cecily Strong's Kari Lake impression was spot on

Strong’s Lake stood in front of a perfect replica of the setting Lake uses for interviews with national media — a slightly smudgy, blurry background, while she’s in a vaguely soft focus that looks a little weird.

Why, “Woodruff” asked, have you proved so popular?

“Because I’m normal, Judy,” Strong’s Lake said. “I’m just a regular hometown gal constantly in soft focus and lit like a ’90s Cinemax soft-core.”

As Homer Simpson would say, it’s funny because it’s true.

“And frankly, I’ve just clicked with the wonderful terrified old people here in Arizona, the Florida of the West.”

Gardner’s Woodruff brought up Lake’s election denial.

“Can you media types just get over the one thing I’ve made the center of my campaign for months and months?” Strong’s Lake said. “Arizonans want to talk about the issues that affect them, like crime in New York, or crime in Detroit.”

Or, she said, the big one — “Drag queen story time. Men dressing as loud sassy women introducing children to the joys of reading? Not on my watch.”

Not quite ripped from the headlines, but not too far off, either.

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Lake has proposed some big changes to local voting laws, Gardner’s Woodruff said. “If you become governor do you promise to make sure everyone’s vote counts?”

“Judy I’ll make it easy,” Strong’s Lake said. “If the people of Arizona elect me, I’ll make sure they never have to vote ever again.”

Sorry, Homer Simpson. That’s not funny — but this time because it’s too close to true.

Arizona has become a punchline for election denialism. It's not funny

Some say that kind of election denialism leads to violence, “Woodruff” said.

“Violent?” “Lake” said. “What do you mean, crazy-eyed men waving assault rifles next to ballot boxes? That’s just Arizona, baby.”

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And there you have it. Arizona has become known as a hotbed for election denialism, a Wild West outpost where you have to fight your way through toy soldiers to get to the ballot box. That’s not entirely true — yet — but the impression is a strong one. Strong enough to lead off “Saturday Night Live.”

Being a running punchline is certainly an identity. It’s just not a good one.

Funny stuff: Why a former 'South Park' writer bought KariLake2022.com

Reach Goodykoontz at bill.goodykoontz@arizonarepublic.com. Facebook: facebook.com/GoodyOnFilm. Twitter: @goodyk. Subscribe to the weekly movies newsletter.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 'SNL' cold open skewers Kari Lake: 'That's just Arizona, baby'