If your favorite character was “the guy who punched Dana in the hospital” (Doug Driscoll, portrayed by Drew Powell) on HBO Max’s The Pitt, then Saturday Night Live‘s satire of the hospital drama is the show for you. The Lorne Michaels-created late-nighter opted for a pastiche of the Emmy-winning phenomenon — about three months after fellow parody series The Daily Show did the same thing.
SNL, featuring second-time host and musical guest Harry Styles (who has previously been a musical guest as part of band One Direction and as a solo artist), ribbed the procedural with “MAHA-spital” — a high-stakes show with unfounded advice in place of sound medical treatment.
“60 ccs of bull semen now,” ordered a character. Ashley Padilla portrayed a version of Emmy winner Katherine LaNasa (who plays Dana), while Styles embodied Dr. Robby (Noah Wyle’s character). Other remedies included burning sage and prescribing beef tallow and whey protein.
Meanwhile, Ben Marshall confessed that his parents died from the Covid vaccine: “I found out they got it [the Covid vaccine], and I shot them.”
In another scene, Marshall pulls the plug on a vegan patient as he states: “Well, nothing we can do.”
A reference to RFK Jr. falsely claiming that Tylenol usage during pregnancy causes autism in children featured newcomer Tommy Brennan attempting to dispense the painkiller as Marshall cried: “Not in my hospital!”
The satire also touted a “special appearance” by the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services himself, portrayed by SNL cast member James Austin Johnson.
Despite being an effective sketch, the trouble is The Daily Show opted for a similar punchline several months prior, with a parody titled “RFK Hospital,” with correspondent Michael Kosta portraying the RFK Jr./Robby stand-in.