'Saturday Night Live' January 6 Sketch Divides Fans: 'Bad Taste'

A former NBC executive said he was "surprised" at the "negative reaction" over a Saturday Night Live skit about the final January 6 Committee hearing.

The NBC sketch show's most recent cold open (jumping into a story at the beginning of a TV show, before title sequences) spoofed the events of the hearing, which showed footage of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer during the attack on the U.S. Capitol.

The attacks on the Capitol saw former U.S. President Donald Trump supporters storm the building to contest the results of the 2020 election, which saw Democrat Joe Biden win the presidency.

Pop culture expert Mike Sington told Newsweek he posted the skit to his Twitter feed, where he was "flooded" with negative comments, so he decided to run a poll on whether people approved of it or not.

"I was surprised at how controversial it was and the huge reaction it got," he said.

"So I quickly posted an online poll and found out the vast majority of people didn't find the skit funny at all, and were furious at SNL."

Chloe Fineman played Pelosi, who was first seen on the skit speaking on the phone, as she did in real life speaking to Schumer, played by Sarah Sherman.

She was asking exactly when the count to verify the 2020 election results could resume during the riot.

But while she was speaking, Schumer was trying to redirect his DoorDash delivery after the app changed the drop-off location.

The joke on SNL was that DoorDash had to change the delivery location due to "some unfortunate treason."

Then Fineman as Pelosi is seen speaking to Vice Present Mike Pence about confronting President Trump if he were to come to the Capitol building.

"Let me tell you, if Trump comes here now I'm going to punch him in the face, right in the face and I'll go to jail, but I'll be happy," Fineman's Pelosi said.

The cold open also featured the committee's chairman Bennie Thompson, played by Kenan Thompson, Representative Jamie Raskin played by Mikey Day, and Republican Liz Cheney was played by Heidi Gardner.

But people watching at home were not impressed and slammed the segment saying, "this isn't funny, at all."

"I know that comedy is objective but damn. I am still on therapy. Trying to heal from the trauma from that day. They need to do better," wrote Twitter user Dandridge.

While another user, Kriss added: "Not funny whatsoever. But extremely poor taste."

Sington agreed that the skit might not have been the right move.

"Personally, I wished SNL had not mocked those were trying to save democracy on that day," he said.

He also elaborated what SNL chooses to joke about is important because of its role in the cultural zeitgeist.

"The spotlight is always on SNL because it satirizes whatever has currently grabbed the nation's attention," Sington said.

"People tune in, and it spreads quickly on social and conventional media. If it appears on SNL, it's a validation of a cultural or newsworthy moment."

Newsweek has reached out to SNL for comment.