In This Section
TV Guide Spotlight
Also on TVGuide.com
|
« Roush Dispatch
SNL: A Stop on the Campaign Trail
In only two weeks on the air, Saturday Night Live is back in its sweet spot, right where it wanted to be during the long strike hiatus: smack-dab in the center of today’s political dialogue. Barack Obama made a cameo in the last episode before the strike, Mike Huckabee showed up for an aw-shucks appearance in the middle of last week’s Weekend Update, and this week, in an opener that’s likely to become part of the all-time SNL archives, it was Hillary Clinton’s turn. She who inspired last week’s classic Tina Fey slogan, “Bitch is the new black,” which I’ve already bought as a T-shirt for a friend (not an endorsement, mind you, of anything but great comedy).
In a life-imitates-art moment, the real Senator Clinton gave SNL a shout-out during last Tuesday’s debate in Cleveland, in an awkward attempt to piggyback on the show’s parody of media bias favoring her rival: “I just find it curious if anybody saw Saturday Night Live, maybe we should ask Barack if he’s comfortable and needs another pillow.” The lesson there is that she should leave the satire to the experts, which is why it was so gratifying to see her show up in person for an “Editorial Response” to this week’s opening sketch, another spot-on parody of the most recent debate. Will Forte’s polished Brian Williams and Darrell Hammond’s bulldog Tim Russert played air violins when Amy Poehler’s prickly Hillary (brilliant as usual) accused them of being more hostile to her than to Fred Armisen’s Obama (a bit more caricatured this week, but still not as funny as the cartoon Obama in the Robert Smigel cartoon that would follow). Loved the bit where the anchors grilled Clinton on the names of foreign dignitaries, then fed the answers to Obama before asking him to respond.
Best moment: Poehler/Clinton exposing her strategy for taking down the special interests, by being “so annoying, so pushy, so grating, so bossy and shrill, with a personality so unpleasant, that at the end of the day the special interests will have to go, ‘Enough! We give up! Life is too short to deal with this awful woman!’” Beautiful way to spoof her persona as a “fighter, not a talker.”
Enter the real Clinton, beaming after the sketch wrapped, declaring, “I simply adore Amy Poehler’s impression of me,” which prompted Poehler to bounce into view at Clinton’s side, in an identical outfit, hysterically aping Clinton’s own booming laugh. An image no one will soon forget. While declaring “no politics,” Clinton made one last pitch to Ohio and Texas (which will be no laughing matter come this Tuesday) before throwing to the opening credits. Bravo, all.
The show, which was otherwise hit-or-miss (mostly miss) in the sketches involving guest host Ellen Page, hit one more political home run in the Weekend Update segment, with an appearance by former mayor and GOP presidential also-ran Rudolph Giuliani, who blamed his loss on his SNL appearance in drag years ago: “The dress killed me.” He also compared his recent campaign to an SNL skit: “Started strong, but didn't really have an ending.” Zing!
SNL has wasted no time in becoming a player again in this historic political season. So does this mean John McCain is getting ready for his close-up?
For more on this weekend's SNL, read Erin Fox's sketch-by-sketch recap.
|
TVGuide Links:
|
|
|
|
Mar 2, 2008 9:18 AM
|
Hillary was a really good sport, but I think it's a case of too little too late as far as the capaign goes.
The opening skit was funny but Armisan's Obama isn't there yet. I would love to see Maya Rudolph's take on Michele Obama! Amy Poehler and Darrell Hammond were terrific as always, but the real surprise was Will Forte as Brian Williams-spot on impression, IMO!
SNL is going to have to land a black actress over the summer if Rudolph isn't coming back full time since it looks likely (or at least very possible) we're going to have an African American First Lady.
|
|
Mar 2, 2008 9:54 AM
|
Copy-and-Pasting my post from Erin Fox's recap:
I was distracted by Ellen Page's cuteness throughout the episode. Man, I really need to see Juno.
Cold Opening: I take back what I said earlier about Kenan being Obama: Fred Armisten does a good job. Although I find it interesting NBC would use a Law and Order: Criminal intent reference, the show they nearly canceled. They couldn't get Jeremy Sisto or Christopher Melonii?
Monologue: Meh. I didn't see the Oscars, so I'm not sure how Diablo Cody acted after receiving her award. Wasn't too funny.
Dakota Fanning Show Sketch: I like this sketch because Amy is good at sarcasm. Her interview with the kids was funnier than Jaywalking has been on the Tonight Show for several years.
Robert Smigel Cartoon: The Obama Files: Ridiculous and over the top...just like every other Smigel Cartoon. Seriously, I scratched my head at Chuck Norris.
Office/College Sketch: It seemed to me that the sketch intended to parallel the "Marble Columns" sketch last season when Scarlett Johanenson hosted, as the context is similar and Fred Armisten had the same style of voice. Regardless, it sucked, and the attempt at self-referentialism failed.
The Other Other Boleyn Girl Sketch: It's official, the only reason Casey is on the cast is because of big boobs. Seriously, this was her ONLY role in the entire episode! (aside from a millisecond appearence in the Dakota sketch).
SNL Digital Short: Andy Samburg keeps trying to attempt fourth-wall-breaking comedy...but he keeps missing the most important part: actual wit.
Weekend Update: What was up with that completely irrelevant comedian at the end? I know it was trying to parody the fact that modern comedy is dull and devoid of punch lines (amen), but it was out of place.
Shopping with Virginiaca: It happened in a baby store, yet no reference to Juno? Interesting. Otherwise, it was a typical sketch.
Captain Hook Sketch: Is it me, or did Will Forte look exactly like Larry David? Regardless, I've always wonders why villians who has access to guns never use them. I guess Disney just likes those happy tune and love and romance and musicals, blah blah...
Going Gay at Melissa Etheridge Concert Sketch: Like Andy in the sketch, I'd go gay for Ellen Page, too.
Oh, and there was no Maya Rudolph, and this time, you can't use the Oscars as an excuse. Any theories?
|
|
Mar 2, 2008 11:58 AM
|
|
Hey Roush, what site did you order the t-shirt from?
|
|
Mar 2, 2008 3:19 PM
|
Zinger,
You really need to get a life.
Who comments on every skit on SNL??
Wow. Take a break, fella.
|
|
Mar 3, 2008 9:39 AM
|
karcher151, leave Zinger alone! I for one was very glad for the input! I missed SNL and learned a lot from Zinger. It was a great update for me, and I'm sure for others who missed it.
I didn't even realise that Maya Rudolph might not be back on, so this was good to know. I love to see her on the show.
You are given the opportunity and right to air your two cents, let Zinger be free to air his dollars worth. This is a democracy. Who said he doesn't have a life. Some people can retain more about stuff they see. Maybe he can become a serious blogger for SNL.
You rock Zinger.
|
|
Mar 3, 2008 10:55 AM
|
|
Who says the actor who plays Michele Obama has to be black? Fred Armisen isn't and he's playing Barack. Who says that actor even has to be female. Kenan Thompson often plays Oprah, and played ""Virginiaca in this week's show. I think he'd make an excellent Michele.
|
|
Mar 3, 2008 11:37 AM
|
|
Didn't McCain host SNL a few years back? Maybe they'll show a rerun of that this summer.
|
|
Mar 3, 2008 3:12 PM
|
Zinger,
You really need to get a life.
Who comments on every skit on SNL??
Wow. Take a break, fella.
Erin Fox and Matt Roush, apparently.
It's ironic whenever someone insults someone over the internet for "having no life." You are on an internet forum. And you are talking about television. Perhaps you need to look in the mirror.
Thank you for your support, raviespecial. 
|
|
Mar 3, 2008 4:12 PM
|
|
|
