Blame health care for Heisenberg.
Actor Aaron Paul appeared as his “Breaking Bad” character Jesse in the season-opening episode of “Saturday Night Live,” stealing the spotlight from host Tina Fey.
SNL’s 39th season began with President Obama (cast member Jay Pharoah) holding a press conference to push Obamacare.
Different speakers – a chain-smoking doctor, a degenerate 20-something, Sen. Ted Cruz (played by Taran Killam) – emerged to discuss the health care policy.
Then “Obama” introduced a young man from New Mexico – “Jesse.”
Clad in his usual beanie cap and hoodie, Jesse approached the podium and discussed his friend.
“He got sick, like cancer sick,” “Jesse” said, describing “Breaking Bad” star Walter White (Bryan Cranston).
“Because there wasn’t Obamacare, he couldn’t afford the treatments, so he was backed into a corner, y’know what I mean?”
“Keep in mind, this man was a teacher with a family,” Obama said.
“Was … was,” Jesse said. “So he did what any of us would have done, he started cooking meth. And soon it wasn’t just meth, it was murder.
“Not regular murder. He blew half of a guy’s face off.”
Paul also appeared in character for an “e-meth” skit spoofing electronic cigarettes – as well as the episode’s “Weekend Update” segment.
The SNL cameos come less than 24 hours ahead of the series finale for “Breaking Bad.”
Fey, a longtime “SNL cast member, brought hosting stability for a show undergoing off-season change. The summer was marked by a cast overhaul – with mainstays Jason Sudeikis, Fred Armisen and Bill Hader departing.
This was Fey’s fourth time hosting SNL, and the episode’s musical guest was Arcade Fire.