Alec Baldwin

The ongoing saga of SNL’s antagonistic relationship with the Trump administration yielded some strange results last week, as Melissa McCarthy’s Sean Spicer impression reportedly upset the tweeter-in-chief by casting a woman in a male role. The internet was quick to yield additional suggestions for female stars to play male Trump staff, including his longtime target Rosie O’Donnell, though SNL apparently declined.

Alec Baldwin’s been a regular presence at SNL this season, but surely his seventeenth official hosting turn is a big deal, right? Well, maybe not, judging by the reigning Trump impersonator’s promos, which see Baldwin revisiting his SNL past.

It seemed perhaps a little odd that Alec Baldwin’s Trump was nowhere to be found on the first post-inauguration SNL, but Baldwin is more than making up for it. SNL has officially booked a record-setting return for Baldwin as host, and Trump Twitter is officially on notice.

The initial shock of Donald Trump’s election left it unclear if SNL would continually call on Alec Baldwin for such an extended commitment, but the 30 Rock alum and ranking host has soldiered on, much to the real Trump’s enjoyable chagrin. Baldwin may even follow in Will Ferrell’s “Dubya” footsteps, apparently taking the role to “other venues.”

Once upon a time, Alec Baldwin thought he might get to retire his SNL rendition of Donald Trump, as the world moved on with a Clinton presidency. Now, over a month past the election and three appearances since, Baldwin reveals not only a surprisingly small takehome for the role, but also the likelihood of a regular presence going forward.

It’s not uncommon for stars to speak for a moment or two before a trailer for their upcoming film, hyping the release a touch while lending their celebrity directly to the proceedings. Especially for animated projects such as the upcoming The Boss Baby, it’s helpful to see the talent’s face as a reassurance of the film’s pedigree. But it almost looks like the Academy Award-nominated actor is trying to hold a straight face when he reads the words, “You are seconds away from seeing a sneak peek of Dreamwork’s new animated film The Boss Baby. I’m so excited for you. Really.” That little “really” tacked on to the end makes it sound like he’s got something to prove. Baldwin knows exactly what he’s gotten himself into. He knows how the phrase “The Boss Baby, starring Alec Baldwin” sounds.

Complicit or otherwise, SNL knew that the first post-election show needed a note of relief, moreso than reminders of Trump’s victory. Presidential portrayer Alec Baldwin even expressed uncertainty he’d ever don the wig for SNL again, but sources confirm the sketch series’ take on Trump will return Baldwin to the limelight with Kristen Wiig this weekend.

This past weekend’s SNL offered a sobering reaction to Donald Trump’s presidential win, a concept the series has continually taken flack for helping to normalize. Now, it seems Alec Baldwin will retire his version of the Republican billionaire, also claiming that NBC denies SNL the ability to officially endorse either political party.

I’ve got an almost 10-month-old baby at home, so I can say with absolute authority: The Boss Baby is a documentary.

Boy, that SNL train keeps right on chugging today. Following word that Lin-Manuel Miranda (and maybe Emily Blunt) would follow Margot Robbie as this weekend’s Season 42 premiere host, there’s even more breaking news. Jack Donaghy himself, Alec Baldwin will take over the role of Donald Trump, with the first debate promo already online.