Goodbye, Melissa McCarthy. Welcome back, Aidy Bryant.
With news of Sean Spicer’s resignation as White House press secretary to be replaced by his deputy, “Saturday Night Live” fans may worry about the comedic fallout.
Bryant has played Sarah Huckabee Sanders as fill-in press secretary for “Spicey,” but will the combative dynamic that McCarthy-as-Spicer pioneered endure?
“In one memorable exchange, [Sanders] sparred with a reporter over what she described as ‘the constant barrage of fake news’ about the president. The reporter challenged her rhetoric, and accused her of inflaming anti-media sentiment.
“Sanders also has faced criticism from reporters. The press office has banned live audio and video coverage of the daily briefings, raising questions about White House commitment to transparency. Earlier this week, a reporter defied the ban, livestreaming audio of Sanders’ briefing via Periscope.”
The daughter of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is a longtime GOP functionary who joined Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign after her father ended his run for the nomination. She’s the third woman to serve as press secretary — following Dee Dee Myers for Bill Clinton and Dana Perino for George W. Bush.
Reaction to Bryant’s turn of possible good fortune.
Congratulations @aidybryant on your promotion to full-time White House Press Secretary! #SNL
— Dave Quinn (@NineDaves) July 21, 2017
Sarah Huckabee Sanders takes over for Sean Spicer. Congratulations Aidy Bryant on getting a ton of future airtime on SNL! Make up proud!
— Dana Goldberg (@DGComedy) July 21, 2017
Only upside to Press Secretary Sanders is that Aidy Bryant gets more SNL screen time
— Molly (@isteintraum) July 21, 2017
Sean Spicer’s resignation is very good news for me because I find Aidy Bryant’s Sarah Huckabee Sanders impression delightful.
— Soldier Jane (@sgtjanedoe) July 21, 2017
Lord I hope Aidy Bryant renewed her SNL contract #PressBriefing
— Bamboozled???????????? (@holleyr) July 21, 2017
I don’t want Aidy Bryant to lose the part but it would be fitting if one of the male actors on SNL played her, keeping with the theme.
— Kelley (@bratknits) July 21, 2017
Others began commenting on Sanders’ tenure.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders introduces dramatic new eyelashes in last-ditch attempt to distract from #TrumpRussia scandal pic.twitter.com/Di3UFHxjpn
— The Daily Edge (@TheDailyEdge) July 21, 2017
Sarah Huckabee Sanders is the new Press Secretary, which means Melissa McCarthy isn’t out of a job yet: pic.twitter.com/vHbuAn4QAZ
— Nick Jack Pappas (@Pappiness) July 21, 2017
KABOOOOOOOOM !! Scaramucci’s first order of business was Hiring Wonder Women,
Sarah Huckabee Sanders as Press Secretary!!#FridayFeeling ???????? pic.twitter.com/v2SndThDcT— ????STOCK MONSTER???? (@StockMonsterUSA) July 21, 2017