Jon Hamm Plays Against Type on “SNL”

John F. Kennedy, a campy lounge singer, Robin Williams, a crying dad and a highway officer—characters that one wouldn’t expect dashing actor Jon Hamm to play.

But that’s what the Mad Men actor did last night in his return as guest host on Saturday Night Live. Shedding the image of the always dressed and cool Don Draper, Hamm turned on the comedic charm for "SNL" in a variety of skits.

Adapting a Boston accent, Hamm played Senator John F. Kennedy, one of Vincent Price’s (Bill Hader) guests on the latter’s 1960 Halloween special, along with Judy Garland (Kristen Wiig) and Liberace (Fred Armisen).

In a commercial for the "Back to the Future" 25th Anniversary DVD, Hamm portrayed Robin Williams doing a screen test for the film, along with other actors who didn’t make the movie's final cut such as Eddie Murphy, Al Pacino, Pee Wee Herman, Jennifer Tilly and Prince. Later in the program, Hamm played Barney, one half of a bickering lounge music duo with Darlique (Wiig)

Two skits in particular presented the actor in very un-Don Draper-like situations. As a guest on the talk show “I Didn’t Ask for This,” Hamm was a father whose bizarre crying ends up being the joke on the Internet. And on “Highway Cops,” a parody of ‘70s police shows, the actor played Randy,  a clueless officer who later plants an open-mouth kiss on his partner (Jason Sudeikis).

Rihanna was the musical guest and was rocking it with her long reddish hair and sultry outfits. She also appeared in the SNL Digtial Short--a music video "Ronnie and Clyde"-- playing a cool and confident bank robber whose partner-in-crime is a clumsy and meek coward (Andy Samberg).

Guests on Weekend Update were political strategist James Carville (Hader) talking about the midterm elections, and the out of tune musical duo Garth and Kat (Armisen and Wiig).

The next new episode of "SNL" will be on Nov. 16 with host Scarlett Johansson and musical guest Arcade Fire.

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