After a lengthy hiatus due to the Hollywood writers' strike, NBC's "Saturday Night Live" returned to the airwaves last evening, and began with a skit deliciously mocking CNN's recent debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
SNLer Kristen Wiig I believe, apparently impersonating CNN's Campbell Brown who hosted the debate -- although looking much more like Suzanne Malveaux -- introduced the festivities by comically and quite accurately stating (h/t Tim Graham):
Like nearly everyone in the news media, the three of us are totally in the tank for Senator Obama. Now let's meet the candidates. Just four years ago, Barack Obama was known only as a brilliant, charismatic and universally admired member of the Illinois State Senate. Today he is one of our nation's truly visionary leaders. And soon, knock on wood, the first black president of the United States.
Thus began a roughly three-minute segment of mock-CNNers gushing adoringly over Obama in a fashion guaranteed to put huge smiles on the faces of those willing to recognize just how partial today's media are to the junior senator from Illinois.
Bravo, SNL! Bravo!
*****Update: As a post facto thought, was NBC mocking the news media for being so in the tank for Obama, or not being in the tank for Hillary? Bear in mind that this show emanates from her "home" state where she did well in the primaries. As such, if you watch this again, is this more of a smack at CNN for not getting on Hillary's bandwagon than so obviously being pro-Obama?
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters.
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Imagine...
February 24, 2008 - 12:39 ET by dervishthe millions of viewers who picked up their remotes during this skit and tried to change the channel back to NBC.
Too Realistic
February 24, 2008 - 19:43 ET by allanfNothing like this has been seen since the Sopranos faded to black. It was just too realistic. I'm sure people wondered if they had mistuned the channel.
Funny how easily they
February 24, 2008 - 12:42 ET by JerryFunny how easily they recognize the bias when it is one liberal favored over another liberal. When it is far more blatant during a liberal/conservative battle, the liberal "gushing" is just balanced and objective reporting.
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that and President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
In the tank
February 24, 2008 - 12:45 ET by iveseenitallAnd why not? B.O. is a first-class, absolute America-Hating lefty! So are the media and Michelle. "Change America; it stinks" -- that's our motto. Yes We Can, Yes We Can !
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
→ I'm missing the point Noel
February 24, 2008 - 12:47 ET by Cool ArrowI watched the clip and it looked like everyday MSM fare to me.
I'm just wondering why they felt like they needed comedians to play the part journalists.
This was too real to be comedy.
♣ a seal
i'm proud to say i haven't watched SNL in decades
February 24, 2008 - 12:57 ET by lunaticcringeradiothe show isn't funny
in fact i haven't watched any network tv in almost 10 years. there's just nothing of value on regular tv.
lunaticcringeradio
You haven't watched SNL in
February 24, 2008 - 17:58 ET by MikeknaJYou haven't watched SNL in decades? Then how do you know whether or not it's funny???
I thought it was pretty solid last night. The Obama impersonation on the cold open needs some work but the sketch itself was great. Huckabee on Weekend Update cracked me up, with his willingness to poke fun at himself.
The best sketch of the night was the "I Drink Your Milkshake" parody of There Will Be Blood. Bill Hader has Daniel Day Lewis down cold.
"The shadow proves the sunshine" - Switchfoot
http://www.xanga.com/mikeknaj
Update Improvement
February 24, 2008 - 18:55 ET by Intellectual HonestyI didn't see the show but all I know is that Tina Fey, who is certainly talented, had drawn the show too far to the left. Hollywood will always have a pull to the left but the greatest comedians that take on political issues need to play both sides as much as possible. Comedic equal opportunity is the way to go.
Fey (and Jimmy Fallon not willing to buck Fey's "bitch is the new black" attitude) as head writer and Update co-host simply got to the point of amusing herself more than the general audience.
The new Amy and Seth Update should be alot better. They are both genuinely funny and Seth I always saw as doing this role. And Amy is as hot as she is funny.
I think SNL has a strategy of moving a little more back to the middle to their previous glory of the 2000 debates. They literally were a must-see during that campaign even if they did play the typical "the Republican is a dummy" card per usual. Wait till they do McCain.
Noel -You won't see this kind of comedy in the General election
February 24, 2008 - 12:58 ET by Dee Bunkand they are only making fun here because it's not going to make a difference. Obama is still going to win. I'm sure at least half if not more of the Sat Night Live writers and performers are in the tank for Obama also
Very Astute Observation, Dee
February 24, 2008 - 13:26 ET by iveseenitallIt's really mocking those who mock how they truly feel themselves. Don't trust them.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
Iveseen - I should add
February 24, 2008 - 14:31 ET by Dee BunkI think they also see how such extreme bias in the media is not good for the country and unfortunately they only recognize the bias because it's two Dems involved. When the other candidate is a Republican - well that is pure evil so you have to be biased against pure evil right?
Hillary has been praised for so long that the unfair treatment she is getting is noticed by them. She's really not even being treated unfairly she is just being treated like every candidate should be - with skepticism. Obama is treated with no skepticism and the Republicans are treated with over the top skepticism.
Better since Tina Fey left
February 24, 2008 - 12:59 ET by Shaner5000SNL isn't as hardcore lefty since Tina Fey left. She took her crap with her to 30 Rock, where she can rip on Republicans on a weekly basis.
Two other political things
February 24, 2008 - 14:29 ET by balboaTwo other political things of note from this episode: Mike Huckabee appeared on the Weekend Update, and Tina was on the news pulling for Hillary.
Huckabee was pretty funny, very good natured.
Yucks for Huck
February 24, 2008 - 14:54 ET by ThisnThat"Huckabee was pretty funny, very good natured." And that's where his future should be -- he's certainly not presidential material.
___________________________________
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
I was a bit surprised
February 24, 2008 - 13:54 ET by Ryan Mc.I was a bit surprised because SNL used to have one cardinal rule, and that was that all political skits had to have a Republican who was dumb. I guess in the primaries its ok to not have one. They can make up for it between now and November.
Gerald Fold- so stupid he fell all over everything
Ronald Reagan- so dumb he forgot what he was saying mid sentence and took naps.
Bush 41- repeated slogans because he couldn't think beyond them.
GWB- do I really need to go there?
Jimmy Carter- Brilliant, maybe even too smart. Mondale- Brilliant, Dukakis- Brilliant if dull, Gore- Brilliant if a little dull and robotic, Kerry- brilliant, if only by comparison to Bush. See any patterns?
The AP concurs
February 24, 2008 - 15:13 ET by Shaner5000Here is an snippet from an AP article about Huckabee's appearance:
SNL, known for its political humor, has been on the sidelines for nearly four months because of the Writers Guild of America strike. The political landscape has changed a great deal since then, with easy targets for the show's satire, like Fred Thompson, Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney, dropping out of the Republican race, and Barack Obama overtaking Hillary Rodham Clinton on the Democratic side.
Only Republicans are easy targets? And what makes those three easier targets than any Democrat in the field?
Too Clever By Half
February 24, 2008 - 14:13 ET by rammingspeedIf SNL was slyly criticizing the MSM for not being the tank for Hillary, they missed their mark. SNL's audience wouldn't figure that one out; they'd need something explicit.
Sometimes things are as they appear to be.
Wiig would have looked more
February 24, 2008 - 14:31 ET by Damian GWiig would have looked more like Brown had they powdered her skin rather than bronzed it. Campbell is so pale, she looks like a ghost!
Also, "Obama" sounded authentic except for every so often when he forgot to stay bass.
I saw Weekend Update, and Fey gave an unfunny monologue that shamelessly shilled for Hillary. She even mocked Ronald Reagan. The audience did not like it.
She concluded her spiel with "bitch is the new black!"
Is it me or is there a major
February 24, 2008 - 15:13 ET by bigtimerIs it me or is there a major portion of this blog missing, like where to click to view the SNL segment?
Help me out here someone....lol, I need to know if it is my computer.
Nope.
February 24, 2008 - 15:19 ET by dervishStay broke.
(The "NewsBusters" link is missing, too.)
BT
February 24, 2008 - 15:22 ET by Noel SheppardBT,
Matt's working on it as we speak. ns
Thank you Noel... I am
February 24, 2008 - 15:23 ET by bigtimerThank you Noel...
I am relieved.
Oh I am laughing so hard at
February 24, 2008 - 17:16 ET by bigtimerOh I am laughing so hard at this video...I don't know if SNL was slamming CNN or not...all I know is the got it right down to a tee regarding the msm!
This was definately worth the wait for this to come back up for...
Poor Hill...poor Bill...the msm is no longer in their pockets..they jumped ship!
crosspost from open thread.
February 25, 2008 - 09:35 ET by JWFmy thoughts on Obama and the gaffes the MSM overlooks.
No. It is Obama's problem with the military that is scary. He is making Kerry look like a true patriot. His gaffes when it comes to the flag and military are laughable.
1. The flag pin: he removed his flag pin because it is a substitute for true patriotism? Honoring the flag is the highest form of patriotism. It is the symbol of our country. It flies at every embassy & military installation around the world. The United States flag is the last thing a veteran receives before he is put in the ground.
2. Hand over his heart: there is a picture of him failing to place his hand over his heart during the playing national anthem whilst the flag is displayed. Another issue of patriotism? Uh, IT'S THE LAW! The flag code is part of the laws of this country.
3. He says we are "air raiding villages and killing civilians": apparently his knowledge of the military stops at WWII. We have made amazing strides in precision guided munitions. I have been retired six years and I am amazed. They are getting so good that there are efforts to make them smaller now. So our troops can be acrosss the street when a house with insurgents is hit, for example. They can be closer and therefore able to rush in and mop up. This country takes extreme efforts to minimize civilian casualties. The only reason civilians are killed, I suspect, is because the enemy takes cover by mixing in with them.
4. He wants to invade our friends (Pakistan) and talk to our enemies (Iran) : Do I need to expound on that?
5. His latest gaffe. "And as a consequence, they didn't have enough ammunition, they didn't have enough humvees. They were actually capturing Taliban weapons, because it was easier to get Taliban weapons than it was for them to get properly equipped by our current commander in chief." : For one thing, an army never has enough vehicles, ships & planes. Congress pays for those, not the CinC. Scrounging weapons off the enemy dead? That borders on a lie. He is the only one on the planet making this extraordinary claim. Why is he not being called to back this up?
The president is the man in charge of the military. This guy is not ready to be an entry level enlisted boot.
→ Flag pin - too funny
February 25, 2008 - 09:40 ET by Cool ArrowWow, I forgot all about the flag pin. That's just too funny considering today's Drudgereport has a picture of Obama dressed as a Muslim.
Guess some statements are more important than others.
♣ a seal
today's Drudgereport has a
February 25, 2008 - 09:56 ET by JasonCtoday's Drudgereport has a picture of Obama dressed as a Muslim.
Drudge's hard-hitting brand of expose-journalism hasn't lost its touch, I see...
As to the above comments about the flag (the posters first remark), while I agree with your statement, I have to admit that I've always found the wearing of a flag lapel pin to be a bit of a cheap substitution for patriotism myself. Obama certainly should have properly honored the flag with his hand over his heart, sure, but requiring our politicians to wear a $3 trinket on their suit jacket in order to properly demonstrate their love of country seems silly. All it does is weed out those who are less willing to pander to their potential constituency. I could go out and buy a flag lapel pin across the street right now, it wouldn't change a thing regarding my thoughts on national policy or ideology.
→ Not a requirement Jason
February 25, 2008 - 10:04 ET by Cool ArrowWhat you forget, perhaps, is that Obama called attention to the fact he no longer wore the lapel pin. In doing so, Obama made the flag pin an issue.
So "Hey look at me, I'm not wearing the pin anymore" is fair game when it comes to joking about him dressing up as a Muslim.
Maybe he can release a statement saying he was wearing that turban on his head to say "turban is the new flag pin"
I'm getting my jollies from both of the Democrat Libbies on this one. Just too much hypocrisy to post on in one sitting.
♣ a seal
$3 trinket?
February 25, 2008 - 10:09 ET by general companybut requiring our politicians to wear a $3 trinket on their suit jacket
Who is requiring him to wear it? Wear it or dont, but maybe he shouldnt make up some stupid analogy that insults everyone who does wear one. Is it that hard to just leave the topic alone, he sure leaves at lot of other topics alone, his voting record is proof of that.
"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astonish the rest". Mark Twain
missed the point there junior
February 25, 2008 - 10:19 ET by JWFObama - "The truth is that right after 9/11 I had a pin. Shortly after 9/11, particularly because as we're talking about the Iraq war, that became a substitute for I think true patriotism, which is speaking out on issues that are of importance to our national security."
As I said, Honoring the flag is the highest form of patriotism. It is not a "substitute", that constitutes patriotism. This is not something a man the is running for the highest office of this country should be saying.
I did indeed miss the
February 25, 2008 - 12:20 ET by JasonCI did indeed miss the point, in that I thought the issue was simply that he didn't wear one; I had forgotten about his remarks, or, as Cool Arrown rightly put it, that HE (Obama) made it an issue.
That said, I do not equate said $3 trinket with "honoring" the flag. Didn't wearing a representation of the Stars and Stripes used to be considered on par with burning it?