'Spicey's back': Melissa McCarthy returns as Sean Spicer and SNL guest host

In a week where U.S. President Donald Trump abruptly fired FBI director James Comey in the middle of an investigation into possible ties with Russia and Press Secretary Sean Spicer was allegedly caught hiding "among the bushes" during a White House briefing, Saturday Night Live writers had ample material to work with.

Melissa McCarthy hosted the episode and returned as "Spicey,"but the sketch opened with an impersonation of Sarah Huckabee Sanders, a political aide who filled in for Spicer a few times last week and was played by cast memberAidyBryant.

McCarthy/Spicer makesa hasty, angryentrance andsteals the podium after a reporter spotsthe White House official in the shrubbery through a window. The Washington Post had reported earlier this week that Spicer was seen huddling with staff"among the bushes" after Comey's firing was announced Tuesday.

"That's right, Spicey's back," McCarthy/Spicer announces. The character, which has appeared on SNL several times, has been popular with audiences.

"Let me put this whole Russian thing to bed," McCarthy's Spicertells the group of comedy actors playingreporters. "Trump is innocent. How do we know? Because he toldus so.Period. Then he hired lawyers to agree with him."

After his own state employment is questioned, McCarthy/Spicersets off on a motorized podium through the streets of New York City to find Trump. The exterior scenes were filmed Friday with much buzz online.

"Have you ever told me to say things that aren't true?" Spicer asksTrump after locating him.

"Only since you started working here," said Trump, played once again by Alec Baldwin.

Baldwin, whose Trump impersonation has helped SNL capturesubstantial ratings,also opened the show as the presidentbeing interviewed by NBC's Lester Holt (played by Michael Che).

Che/Holt asked Baldwin/Trump about what led to the FBI director's firing earlier this week. In reallife, the president's staff had indicated it was not because of the current investigation involving Russia but Trumpcontradicted those statements in anNBCinterview.

"I fired him because of Russia," Baldwin/Trump said. "I thought, he's investigating Russia. I don't like that. I should fire him."

"But that's obstruction of justice," Che/Holt says.

"Sure, OK."

"Wait, so did I get him? Is this all over?" says Che/Holt, taking a moment to listen to producers throughhis earpiece."Oh, no, I didn't? Nothing matters? Absolutely nothing matters anymore?"

Next week's SNL marks the season finale and will be hosted by DwayneJohnson with musical guest Katy Perry.