Derek Zoolander and Hansel make surprise appearance on SNL and confuse candidate Ted Cruz with Hollywood star Tom Cruise

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Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson made a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live – as their Zoolander characters – to critique the Republican candidates' fashion sense.

The pair, who have reprised the roles of male models Derek Zoolander and Hansel for a sequel to the 2001 hit movie, struggled to keep straight faces during their cameo as talking heads on the Weekend Update segment with Colin Jost and Michael Che.

After comparing Hilary Clinton's style to Kim Jong-un's, slamming Bernie Sanders' choice of suit and getting confused between Ted Cruz and Tom Cruise, they turned their attention to Donald Trump.

Male models: Owen Wilson as Hansel and Ben Stiller as Derek Zoolander made a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live during the show's Weekend Update segment

'We love him,' Zoolander said. 'Donny's just like us. He has the classic male model looks.'

Referring to their signature poses, Jost asked: 'Like Blue Steel?'

'Exactly,' Zoolander said. 'But Donny has ''Orange Mocha Crapaccino''.'

Signature pose: Zoolander said that 'Donny' has his own signature pose

Fashion critique: Colin Jost asked Hansel and Zoolander about the fashion sense of the candidates

As a series of unflattering photos of Trump appeared on the screen, he added: 'This one's ‘'hot mess''. And finally, after Iowa, he's got a new signature look – ‘'second place''.'

Stiller and Wilson were greeted with huge cheers as their made their surprise entrance during the faux news segment as the dim-witted male models who will appear in Zoolander No. 2 opening on Friday.

Asked about Clinton's fashion sense, Hansel said: 'Hilary's from the 90s, which are very hot right now. They re-made the X-Files and Full House and – I don't know if you saw this on the news on Tuesday – but OJ Simpson killed again.'

Hot again: Zoolander noted that the 90s are 'very hot right now'

Zoolander added: 'Hilary's style reminds me of one of my all-time fashion icons – Kim Jong-un. Not to name drop, but I'm pretty good friends with his sister Kim Kardashi-un.'

Sanders, who also was a guest on the show, did not escape unscathed as the Zoolander stars made jibes about his campaign attire.

'Bernie's a champion of the 99 percent,' Zoolander declared. 'Apparently the 99 percent off at JC Penney.'

Good one: Bernie Sanders was singled out by Hansel and Zoolander

'Yeah, look at that suit,' Hansel quipped. 'Chernobyl called. They want their disaster back.'

When a photo of Cruz flashed up on viewers' screens, Zoolander announced: 'Next we've got Tom Cruise. He's totally let himself go. This is a real mission impossible for his stylist.'

'Makes me want to keep my eyes wide shut,' Hansel joked.

Kind of confused: Colin pointed out that Ted Cruz was running for president and not Tom Cruise

Live musical: Cast newcomer Jon Rudnitsky shared his hilarious tryout for Dirty Dancing: Live

Zoolander responded: 'He should take his top gun and do some risky business with a cocktail.'

Wilson could barely keep in character as Zoolander after a pause added, 'Jerry Maguire.' 

When Jost, who was seated next to co-anchor Che, pointed out the photo was, in fact, of Ted Cruz, Stiller complained: 'Why don't you pop a Xanax and chill like your buddy Lester Holt.'

The show was hosted by 68-year-old comedian Larry David, who warned viewers that they were about to be 'disappointed' at the start of his opening monologue and dismissed the idea that he was a 'host'.

Opening monologue: Larry David hosted the show and started off the show by dismissing the idea he was a 'host'

'I'm not a host. I'm a guest,' he protested. 'I don't host things. No one's ever even been to my house. If they did go they'd find it extremely unpleasant. I don't put out snacks or dip. I can't remember the last time I had dip in my house. I have a dip-less house.'

The New Yorker also branded himself a 'rich prick' and claimed he could not wait to go home after the show.

'Now I'm here and I'm hosting and it's all well and good, but honestly? I can't wait to leave,' he said.

Being honest: The comedian said he couldn't wait to leave

'I would say that's one of the great pleasures of my life – leaving anywhere I am.

'Wherever I am I want to get the hell out of there. Anywhere I am it's like I just had sex. I must go. I must vacate the area.'

David, who split from wife Laurie in 2007, also joked about his dating life and said he had no problem with potential girlfriends going after him for fame and cash.

'Why else would she go out with me? Of course that's why she's going out with me. That's one of the benefits. That's why I did this in the first place.

Not a fat pig: Larry said the only sin he doesn't commit is gluttony

Alien eyes: The Curb Your Enthusiasm star took part in a skit that parodied The X-Files

Pizza rolls: Vanessa Bayer tried serving up Totino's pizza rolls to her hungry guys in The X-Files spoof

'What, do you think she has a penchant for old bald men? She's supposed to like me for myself? I don't even like me for myself. I'm not a good person. I commit six of the seven daily sins on a daily basis. The only sin I don't commit is gluttony, so the nicest thing you could say about me is I'm not a fat pig,' David said.

Introducing the show in a typically unenthusiastic fashion, the comedian said: 'Here's the part where I'm supposed to say ‘'we have a great show for you tonight''. I can't say that. I don't know if it's a great show. Secondly, why raise expectations? What I should be saying is ‘'the show's so-so''.'

David appeared in sketches playing the part of a target at an FBI firearms training session, a possessed football fan in a spoof advert for The X-Files and a student struggling to master the art of rhyming in a song writing class.

Training session: Kenan Thompson and Cecily Strong took part in a gun training session with Larry

Lyrics lesson: Larry's character Ross had a hard time making a simple rhyme in another skit

He also reprised the role of Bernie Sanders in an election campaign skit, before he was joined by Sanders himself for another sketch.

David played a man aboard a sinking ship who was angry that the women and children were being taken off in lifeboats first and claimed he should be saved because he comes from a wealthy family.

Sanders, dressed as a fellow passenger, appeared from behind him to huge cheers and said: 'Hold on, hold on. I'm so sick of the one percent getting this preferential treatment. Enough is enough. We need to unite and work together if we're all going to get through this.'

Special guest: Bernie Sanders appeared in a skit with Larry aboard a sinking ship

Campaign video: Larry also portrayed Bernie in a skit explaining his close loss in Iowa

Introducing himself, he joked: 'I am Bernie Sanders-Whitski, but we're going to change it when we get to America so it doesn't sound quite so Jewish.'

SNL's musical guests were The 1975, who performed rousing renditions of The Sound and Love Me – two songs from their new album.

Frontman Matthew Healy, whose mother is British TV star Denise Welch, thrusted around the stage in a pair of leather trousers with his chest bare underneath a black jacket.

Musical guest: The 1975 performed The Sound and Love Me

SNL's final sketch saw David playing a patron at a bar who was flirting – badly but successfully - with show regular Kate McKinnon.

David told her: 'When I first saw you I thought ‘'I'd have to put a paper bag over her head''. Now I'm like '‘I'll just put her in a shadow''.

'You had me at ‘'paper bag on my head'',' McKinnon whispered.

'Looks like we both just bought a ticket to the Kiss concert,' she said, before planting a lengthy kiss on his lips – and then on his bald head.

Bar romance: Larry and Kate McKinnon played bar patrons who get flirty with each other