The controversial comedian makes a plea for empathy from the returning president in a strong week for the show

Saturday Night Live returns from holiday hiatus with MSNBC coverage of the impending presidential inauguration. Rachel Maddow (Sarah Sherman) presides over a panel of liberal pundits – including her doppelganger Chris Hayes (Andrew Dismukes) – essentially “the Avengers for your aunt”.

The panel promises not to let crazy a Trump outburst distract them from the real news like las time around, only to breathlessly report on the president-elect’s incoming comments and tweets, including a plan to trade Kentucky for Italy, sending Don Jr to purchase the Emerald City from Wicked, challenging China’s president to a fight in the UFC octagon, and a declaration of war on sharks.