One of the biggest questions of the 2024 presidential campaign was answered over the weekend, and, at the same time, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz received the supreme comedic treatment.
Speculation ran rampant when Kamala Harris picked Walz as her running mate... who would play him on NBC's "Saturday Night Live?"
It was another midwesterner, comedian Jim Gaffigan, who bounded out onto the stage with an over-the-top portrayal of the governor's trademark enthusiasm, the image instantaneously spilling out into the living rooms of millions of people.
"Folks, I haven't been this excited since I got a ten-percent rebate on a leaf-blower from Menard's!" spouted Gaffigan after he was introduced by SNL alumnus Maya Rudolph, who repeated her performance as the vice president.
Wearing dark-rimmed glasses with a jacket and no tie, Gaffigan did one joke about Minnesota's cold weather, and his touched on his education background as to his reasoning for accepting the veep offer from Harris.
"This is personal for me," he said. "I love this country, and as a former teacher, I need the money!"
Among the names bandied about to play the role of Walz was legendary comedian Steve Martin.
When he declined the offer, Martin was reported saying he was only picked because he had gray hair and glasses.
There's no confirmation that SNL creator Lorne Michaels responded with, "Well, excuse me!"
Gaffigan is no stranger to Minnesota, he's performed at the State Fair several times and has hosted his own show at clubs and theatres around the state.
He's likely to repeat his performance in the upcoming SNL show, which follows Tuesday's vice presidential debate between Walz and GOP nominee JD Vance.
In the cold open, which began the show's 50th season, Vance was played by SNL cast member James Austin Johnson.