After moving to a virtual, video-chat heavy episode format in the spring because of the COVID-19 pandemic, "SNL" returned to mostly normal form in its Season 46 premiere in October, back in Studio 8H in New York City with an audience (made up of first responders in masks) and host Chris Rock.
The venerated sketch comedy show announced the month prior that Carrey would portray Biden, and Carrey was ready with a white wig and aviator sunglasses. However try as the cold open might, the past week in the real world was just too hard to parody.
The actor failed to rise to the occasion as Biden, according to USA TODAY's TV critic Kelly Lawler who noted the sketch comedy's biggest problem is also its most famous: Carrey as Biden.