To counter some of the more confusing aspects of COVID-19 vaccination eligibility in the United States, Saturday Night Live's version of Dr. Anthony Fauci, portrayed by Kate McKinnon, hosted a game show in which "everyday Americans" receive a chance to vie for a shot. The judges of "So You Think You Can Get the Vaccine" were a trio of governors — California's Gavin Newsom, New York's Andrew Cuomo, and Michigan's Gretchen Whitmer (played by Alex Moffatt, Pete Davidson, and Cecily Strong, respectively).
The show got off to a rough start. Among the first few contestants were a woman pretending to be much older than she was, a fake smoker, and Aidy Bryant's Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex), who appeared more focused on delivering a standup comedy routine than getting vaccinated. Finally, a serious candidate who met all the requirements was given the nod of approval from the governors, but it turned out it was all for naught when they told him he'd have to go make an appointment online like everyone else. Watch the full clip below. Tim O'Donnell
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Corbynism returns: a new party on the LeftTalking Point Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana's breakaway progressive party has already got off to a shaky start
-
Oasis reunited: definitely maybe a triumphTalking Point The reunion of a band with 'the power of Led Zeppelin' and 'the swagger of the Rolling Stones'
-
Sudoku medium: July 12, 2025The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
-
Measles cases surge to 33-year highSpeed Read The infection was declared eliminated from the US in 2000 but has seen a resurgence amid vaccine hesitancy
-
Kennedy's vaccine panel signals skepticism, changeSpeed Read RFK Jr.'s new vaccine advisory board intends to make changes to the decades-old US immunization system
-
Kennedy ousts entire CDC vaccine advisory panelspeed read Health Secretary RFK Jr. is a longtime anti-vaccine activist who has criticized the panel of experts
-
RFK Jr. scraps Covid shots for pregnant women, kidsSpeed Read The Health Secretary announced a policy change without informing CDC officials
-
New FDA chiefs limit Covid-19 shots to elderly, sickspeed read The FDA set stricter approval standards for booster shots
-
US overdose deaths plunged 27% last yearspeed read Drug overdose still 'remains the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-44,' said the CDC
-
Trump seeks to cut drug prices via executive orderspeed read The president's order tells pharmaceutical companies to lower prescription drug prices, but it will likely be thrown out by the courts
-
RFK Jr. visits Texas as 2nd child dies from measlesSpeed Read An outbreak of the vaccine-preventable disease continues to grow following a decade of no recorded US measles deaths
