Dave Chappelle Makes His Comeback On 'Saturday Night Live'

Dave Chappelle made a celebrated return to late night television on “Saturday Night Live,” reflecting on the grueling election and looking ahead to a country led by President-elect Donald Trump.

“Making a comeback is scary as hell,” said Chappelle, as the SNL cast and musical guests A Tribe Called Quest gathered for curtain call. “I wouldn’t even call it a comeback but whatever it is, it’s so much better than not coming on.”

The reclusive standup comic promised to give Trump a chance — as long as he does the same for the “historically disenfranchised.”

Some feared that Chappelle would skip SNL after blaming Trump’s hot-mic leak on Hillary Clinton, but the 43-year-old comedian made good on his promise with politically-fueled and a provocative commentary on race that brought him to high acclaim.

“I didn’t know Donald Trump was going to win the election — I did suspect it,” Chappelle said. “It seemed like Hillary was doing well in the polls and yet, I know the whites. You guys aren’t as full of surprises as you used to be.”

Alec Baldwin’s too-real Trump was absent from SNL, along with any other Trump impressions, but the future President and fallout from his Election Day upset was at the heart of Chappelle’s anticipated monologue — and the rest of the show.

“I watched a white riot in Portland, Ore., on television the other night,” Chappelle said. “News said they did a million dollars worth of damage and every black person watching was like, ‘amateurs.’ ”

Ahead of Trump’s victory, Chappelle recalled feeling “hopeful” and “proud to be an American” after gazing upon portraits of presidents past at a White House concert sponsored by Black Entertainment Television in October.

“It was a huge party and everybody in there was black except for Bradley Cooper for some reason,” Chappelle said.

Chappelle, a first-time host on SNL, revived several characters, including fan-favorite “Chappelle Show” drug addict Tyrone Biggum. Chappelle abruptly abandoned his “Comedy Central” gig in 2005 and retreated to South Africa for some peace and quiet.

More than a decade later, Chappelle was joined by fellow comic Chris Rock in a sketch re-enacting election night heartbreak with Clinton supporters. The revelers, expecting a historic night with Clinton clinching the presidency, were catatonic as the Associated Press called the race for Trump.

One party-goer, floored by the upset, said, “I think America is racist.”

Chappelle retorted: “I remember my great-grandfather told me something like that. He was like a slave or something."

SNL cast member Kate McKinnon began the episode solo with a heartfelt goodbye to her Clinton persona, and wordsmith Leonard Cohen, who died Thursday at age 82. McKinnon crooned the late singer’s anguished lyrics from “Hallelujah” during the rarely serious cold open.

“I’m not giving up and neither should you,” McKinnon finally said, as Clinton.

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