Alec Baldwin returns to SNL for the first time since Rust trial

Alec Baldwin has made his return to the iconic sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, commonly referred to as SNL. This marks his first appearance on the show since the legal troubles surrounding the tragic death of Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film Rust. In 2021, Baldwin was rehearsing with a prop gun when it accidentally discharged a live round, resulting in the death of Hutchins. Following this incident, Baldwin faced charges of involuntary manslaughter, which he has consistently denied. Recently, the court ruled that Baldwin would not face another trial regarding Hutchins' death, as the case against him in New Mexico was dismissed in July. Baldwin has a long history with SNL, having hosted the show a record 17 times. In this week's episode, he opened the show by impersonating Fox News host Bret Baier, parodying a recent interview he had with Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president. During the skit, Baldwin's character humorously claimed that he could not hear Harris's responses because he was too busy talking, poking fun at the interruptions that occurred during their actual interview. After a handshake, Harris, played by Maya Rudolph, quipped, 'The pleasure is neither of ours,' which added to the comedic moment. Baldwin's portrayal of Donald Trump on SNL earned him an Emmy award in 2017, showcasing his talent for political satire. The incident involving Hutchins was a deeply tragic event, and Baldwin expressed his sorrow over the situation. He has maintained that he did not pull the trigger of the gun and was unaware of how live ammunition ended up in the firearm. Baldwin described the incident as a 'one in a trillion episode. ' The legal proceedings against him fell apart after his legal team argued that crucial evidence, specifically a batch of bullets, had been concealed by law enforcement and prosecutors. While the prosecution contended that the bullets were not relevant to the case, the judge in New Mexico determined that this evidence should have been disclosed to Baldwin's defense team. Additionally, in April, the film's armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, faced scrutiny as prosecutors claimed she failed to ensure that live rounds were not mixed with dummy rounds in the ammunition box on set. One of these live rounds was found in the gun that Baldwin was using during the rehearsal.