Politics usually feels like a high-stakes shouting match where everyone takes themselves way too seriously. Then, every once in a while, a politician decides to lean into the joke. That's exactly what happened when the Tim Kaine SNL skit hit the airwaves on November 2, 2024.
The Virginia Senator didn't just show up for a boring cameo. He walked right into a buzzsaw of self-deprecating humor that poked fun at the one thing every politician fears: being completely forgotten by the public.
The Night Tim Kaine Became a Human Punchline
The sketch was a revival of the recurring "What’s That Name?" game show format. John Mulaney, hosting for the week, played a hyper-progressive contestant who claimed to be obsessed with every nuance of Democratic politics. He could identify obscure figures and niche policy details. But then, the host (played by Michael Longfellow) brought out a "mystery guest" worth $300,000.
Out walked Tim Kaine.
The joke? Mulaney’s character had absolutely no idea who he was. Despite Kaine being the Vice Presidential nominee on the 2016 ticket with Hillary Clinton—an election many called "the most important of our lives" at the time—the contestant drew a total blank.
It was awkward. It was brutal. Honestly, it was pretty funny.
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Kaine stood there, a good sport through and through, as the show compared him to Tim Walz. They even put up a side-by-side photo comparison just to drive home how "generic" and "dad-like" the two Tims appear to the average voter. Mulaney’s character eventually guessed his name was "Tim Tim" or "Tim Scott."
Behind the Scenes: How the Cameo Happened
Believe it or not, Kaine almost said no.
He was in the middle of a tight re-election campaign in Virginia. When his staff told him John Mulaney wanted to talk, Kaine’s first response was basically, "Who is John Mulaney?" He isn't exactly a guy who spends his nights scrolling through stand-up specials.
The logistics were a bit of a nightmare. Kaine was campaigning in Leesburg on the Thursday before the show. He didn't even see a script until Friday morning. When his team finally read it, they warned him, "Senator, they kind of make fun of you."
Kaine's response was refreshingly human. He figured if he couldn't laugh at himself, he shouldn't be in politics. He hopped a train to New York, did the dress rehearsal, and waited to see if he’d make the final cut.
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Lorne Michaels, the legendary creator of SNL, gave him one piece of advice right before he walked out: "Look at the camera."
The Equal Time Rule Drama
You can't have a politician on TV without a little bit of legal drama. Because Kaine appeared alongside Kamala Harris in the same episode, NBC ran into some hot water with the FCC's "Equal Time Rule."
This rule basically says that if a broadcast station gives free airtime to one candidate, they have to offer the same to their opponents. Kaine's Republican challenger at the time, Hung Cao, didn't miss the opportunity to fire back. He called Kaine a "human punchline" and used the moment to highlight the contrast between a senator in a comedy sketch and a candidate "barnstorming" across Virginia.
NBC eventually had to file notices and provide comparable airtime to the opposing campaigns to stay in the clear.
Why This Skit Worked
Most political sketches on SNL involve an actor doing an impression. When the actual person shows up, it changes the energy.
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- Self-Awareness: Kaine leaned into the "boring" label that has followed him since 2016.
- Timing: It aired just days before the 2024 election, tapping into the collective anxiety of the country.
- The Comparison: Using Tim Walz as a foil was a stroke of genius by the writers. It highlighted the "VP archetype" in a way that felt relevant to the current news cycle.
Kaine later described the experience as "truly magical" and "random." For a guy who spent years as a governor and a senator, being a foil for John Mulaney was a weird career highlight.
What We Can Learn From the "What's That Name" Skit
Politics moves fast. What feels like a world-ending event in 2016 becomes a trivia question in 2024. The Tim Kaine SNL skit was a reminder that even the people at the very top of the ticket can fade into the "Who is that guy again?" category of history.
If you're looking to watch the sketch, it's still floating around on Peacock and the SNL YouTube channel. It's a solid 5 minutes of comedy that manages to be biting without being mean-spirited.
For anyone interested in the intersection of pop culture and the beltway, it’s worth a re-watch. It shows that sometimes, the best way to handle a "boring" reputation is to own it completely on national television.
To dig deeper into how late-night comedy impacts voter perception, you can check out the FCC's public filings on equal time or look into the history of the "What's That Name?" sketch, which has previously featured other "forgotten" celebrities like Vince Gill and various 90s stars.
Next Steps for Readers:
- Watch the Clip: Search for "What's That Name Election Edition" on YouTube to see Kaine's timing for yourself.
- Research the Law: Look up the FCC Equal Opportunities Rule (47 U.S.C. § 315) to understand why NBC had to give airtime to Kaine's opponent.
- Compare the Tims: Check out the side-by-side photos SNL used to see if you can actually tell the difference between 2016 Tim Kaine and 2024 Tim Walz without a teleprompter.