‘SNL’: Taraji Spoofs ‘Game Of Thrones,’ Brings ‘Empire’ To ‘Sesame Street’

Cookie Lyon runs the streets on “Empire,” but on “SNL” this weekend, she claimed some new turf – “Sesame Street.”

Taraji P. Henson spoofed her hit show when she hosted “Saturday Night Live,” bringing her beloved character to the land of children’s puppets.

“This week on ‘Sesame Street,’ The Count is making cupcakes, Elmo’s got a new backpack, and Cookie is being a real monster,” a voiceover announced at the top of the sketch, as Taraji’s Cookie appeared next to Cookie Monster.

The actress delivered some of her most famous Cookie lines, including “He’s tryna play you” (to Bert, after Ernie asked to trade an apple for half of a sandwich), and “You need to stop rappin’ like you from the streets, ’cause you not about that life” (to Snuffy).

When offered half a cookie by Cookie Monster, Taraji’s Cookie replied, “No, baby. Cookie don’t share,” before devouring the cookie in true Cookie Monster style.

And – prepare your emotions for this one – Elmo may or may not have been turned into the Lyon matriarch’s new red fur coat.

“Sesame Street” wasn’t the only show that got spoofed – “SNL” also took on “Game of Thrones,” giving the show a new, John Singleton-inspired region: South Centros.

Based on South Central Los Angeles, the region featured pit bulls, walk-by stabbings, and even a cameo by “GoT” star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (the Kingslayer) who cautioned, “Don’t hate the slayer, hate the game.”

— Erin O’Sullivan