Fansided

25 best cold-opens in SNL history

By David Rouben

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE -- "Michael Phelps" Episode 1532 -- airdate 09/13/2008 -- Pictured: (l-r) Tina Fey as Governor Sarah Palin, Amy Poehler as Senator Hillary Clinton during 'A Nonpartisan Message From Sarah Palin & Hillary Clinton' skit on September 13, 2008 (Photo by Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE -- "Michael Phelps" Episode 1532 -- airdate 09/13/2008 -- Pictured: (l-r) Tina Fey as Governor Sarah Palin, Amy Poehler as Senator Hillary Clinton during 'A Nonpartisan Message From Sarah Palin & Hillary Clinton' skit on September 13, 2008 (Photo by Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images) /
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SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE — Episode 1 — Air Date 09/29/2001 — Pictured: Members of ththe New York Fire Department, New York Police Department, Port Authority Police Department, with (center, l-r) Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik, Mayor Rudolph Guiliani, Fire Commissioner Tom Von Essen during the “9/11 Tribute” on September 29, 2001 (Photo by Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE — Episode 1 — Air Date 09/29/2001 — Pictured: Members of ththe New York Fire Department, New York Police Department, Port Authority Police Department, with (center, l-r) Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik, Mayor Rudolph Guiliani, Fire Commissioner Tom Von Essen during the “9/11 Tribute” on September 29, 2001 (Photo by Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images) /

2. Rudy Giuliani leads SNL’s post-9/11 tribute

Sometimes, the best cold opens aren’t the funny ones. They’re the ones that knock you down and send a powerful message. After Sept. 11, 2001, a tragedy that was felt on a global scale, the outpouring of support was overwhelming. The world may have shut down for a week, but the message New Yorkers wanted to send to the world was they will not go down without a fight.

Sports fans fondly remember when the Mets played the first sporting event in New York after the attack, and how Mike Piazza hit the game-winning home run. When SNL returned on Sept. 29, everyone looked to them to lift their spirits and make them laugh for a change. But, at least for the cold open, they needed to do something special.

Much like how the country turned to President Bush to lead them through this tough time, New Yorkers looked to Mayor Rudy Giuliani. His highly visible presence in the aftermath drew tons of praise, and he was later named Time’s Person of the Year. It would’ve been enough for him to address the audience himself, but he stood alongside the FDNY and NYPD and acknowledged them as the real heroes.

After a stirring tribute by special musical guest Paul Simon, Giuliani called SNL one of the great New York City institutions and encouraged Lorne Michaels to put on a great show. When Michaels asked, “can we be funny?” he responded “why start now?” There wasn’t a dry eye to be found after that cold open.

Thankfully, there hasn’t been a tragedy on the same scale as 9/11. But the response to it, especially in New York, was highly commendable and was a perfect example of the city’s enduring spirit.