'SNL': Justin Timberlake Mocks Hugo Chavez in Cold Open

NBC

Justin Timberlake

Saturday Night Live kept it’s cold open short and sweet this week, with the NBC show tackling the death of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez.

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Fred Armisen introduced Elton John (Justin Timberlake) at a memorial, where Sir Elton amended the words to “Candle in the Wind” to reflect the life of the socialist leader.

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From calling President George W. Bush the devil during a United Nations speech to claiming that capitalism killed a civilization living on Mars, Chavez had his fair share of explosive media moments for SNL to take advantage of.

“You said the U.S. causes earthquakes and you outlawed Coke Zero. And on your shoulder sat your parrot with a matching red beret,” Timberlake sang.

Timberlake said Chavez helped make his country the kidnapping capital of the world. But on a positive note,  Chavez “increased milk production by almost 50 percent” and hosted his own TV show, Hello Mr. President.

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“You were hero to your people and you never gave up a fight. We’ll Miss you Hugo Chavez, because Live from New York its’ Saturday Night,” Timberlake concluded.

We’ll post video as soon as it’s made available online.