Letters to the Editor
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@Xrandadu
The choice of Fred Armison to "be" Obama had me scratching my head too. Although truthfully, most comedians would get at least 50% of Obama wrong, being that he is of mixed descent. He's just not impersonating him well - Daryl Hammond (who does a dead-on Jesse Jackson) should take him aside for a few days and whip him into shape. Farrell (of course) did the best Bush, (Forte just makes me want to whip something at the TV) but it was all about attitude, and nothing about how much he physically resembled Bush. Poehler does a fine Hillary. Forgive me if I don't want to see it for another 4+ years (along with Hammond's BC)
As far as where they're finding their talent: Poehler was a founding member of UCB and I'm sure Lorne Michaels visits all the requisite young comedy troupes searching for talent. His waning taste, plus the fact that their best writer (Fey) and straight man (Parnell) just left the show last season, they might have to get into the swing of things for this truncated season. Maybe longer. The best stuff from last season was Andy Samberg's stuff, but thanks to "Hot Rod" we've seen how his 3 minute gags lose steam real fast!!
I also wonder about this blatant pro-Hillary stance that just has to be coming from Michaels. Smeigel always been "that way" (Hell-o, "Ambiguously Gay Duo" anyone?) although I'd love to see Triumph's take on Hillary... for me to poop on!
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"Well, that happened"
And what a non-happener it was. The Hillary hype has gone down the pipe.
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Actually...
...HRC said, "Live, from New York, it is Saturday Night!"
It is.
The first time in SNL history?
Just like someone's mother would say it trying to be hip like all the kids. Ick.
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@Brunswick
Well, that depends on what your definition of "it is" is.
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Winner and Still Champion
Of all the political impersonations done by SNLers over the years, NONE of them will ever top Dana Carvey's take on Bush Sr. Think about it...when you think of "41" what comes to mind: the ex-pres or Carvey's impersonation? His shtick was more "real" than the real deal.
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I thought she was funny
and she looked like Shirley Jones circa Partridge Family, which is a good thing.
The "it is" was for emphasis. I got it.
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Barack's cameo on SNL was funnier
For some reason, the video is no longer on YouTube - but Obama's cameo in the opening sketch of the Halloween 2007 SNL episode was excellent. He showed up to the Democrat candidates' costume ball wearing his own caricature mask, and gently poked fun at (Amy Poehler's) Hilary for not being true to herself. Made me laugh, anyways...
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Although Considerably Improved Since Tina Fey Toddled Off to Trade Quips With Alec Baldwin
Saturday Night Live still has a loooooong way to go before it is consistently funny again, let alone relevant. Many of the young folks watching the show today may be unaware that in the late 80s/early 90s the show was absolutely electrifying, not to mention hysterically funny. But I understand it will take a while to undo the damage wrought by the ghastly likes of Chris Kattan, Will Ferrel, Fey and Tracy Morgan (nice of her to get him a gig on her new show, wasn't it? ugh).
As for HRC, she did ok.
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One More Thing
SNL started its loooong slide downhill after Sandler, Spade and Farley left the show in '93. Phil Hartman, Tim Meadows and Ana Gasteyer were the only decent comic actors left, but they were soon gone and then Jimmy Fallon was hired and Scarfa--er, Tina Fey was brought as Head Writer and things really went down the shitter. And it was at THAT time that the aforementioned celebrity walk-ons started, and by the way the one by DeNiro/Pesci on the occasionally amusing "Joe Pesci Show" was Godawful. Truly terrible.
Anyway, lets hope the show continues to improve. But frankly, Michaels has to go. Last year he and Paul Simon were featured in some televised hagiography of the show, and they both looked very old and very tired. The show needs new blood.
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Hillary was a hoot!
Get a grip, Hillary haters! You didn't sign a contract compelling you to object angrily about absolutely EVERYTHING Senator Clinton says and does. What a humorless bunch of snide and pretentious little swipes at a candidate having some fun, partly at her own expense.
She was bright, funny, having a good time and maybe giving us a sense of why so many people who actually know her personally, like her a lot
Try to get a little perspective--if you can
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dear lord
are all the Obama supporters here second children?
"HRC sucked. Obama was funnier. Obama redefined comedy. And by the way Tina Fey sucks. And SNL was better in the 90's."
Please go look at the Eddie Murphy-Billy Crystal-Martin Short season (85? 86?). Now that was funny, damnit!
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shut up you stupid c**nt
As a psychologist, I well know the research about the inherent and insidious bias against female power brokers in this society. To have sexist crap regurgitated in this supposed "women's blog" is the ultimate insult. Maybe you can start the black sheet or brown sheet next where blacks admit to thinking Obama is lazy and Mexicans agree they are greasy. You certainly don't speak for me or any woman I know!
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Obama as stupid
Jim Downey and Lorne Michaels decision to make their Obama a stupid empty buffoon didn't work comedically, since the portrayal had no resemblance to Obama's actual personality and foibles. The obsessive makeup turned the characterization into blackface, and not even blackface with any level of redeeming wit.
Timing is everything in comedy, and SNL obviously knows enough about the political season to realize the importance of Ohio and Texas. Repeating a joke, repeating a joke on national TV to the same audience, repeating not just a joke, but an entire sketch two weeks in a row in order to help a particular politician who is given free airtime at a crucial juncture? That's not satire, that's a political advertisement.
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The show was OK...
...like usual, it had it's ups n downs. I can't imagine it will have much impact on the voters, though. Can we presume that we'll see Obama appear in the upcomming weeks? In which case Fred Armison can appear as a black religous community leader from chicago who frequently contributes to the dialogue the church is famous for; Louis Farrakahn.
Funny, isn't it, that if Obama was going to a church that hosted a right wing xian nutjob there'd be some consternation in the congregation of Obama believers...but here? Nuthin but crickets. That is worrisome to me.