‘SNL’ has fun skewering the candidates
Published Tuesday October 28th, 2008
Comedy comes in many forms.
Goofy slapstick appeals to all ages, while those with a more discerning taste crave wry political humour.
Rarely does a show excel at both ends of the spectrum, but legendary sketch comedy series “Saturday Night Live” fits the bill.
“SNL” has been revitalized, thanks to a recent spate of political sketches poking fun at the U.S. presidential campaign. So much so that NBC decided to run with a series of prime-time programs aimed at the candidates, culminating with a special edition due to air the day prior to election day in the U.S. It’s a case of good timing as the media frenzy will hit a fever pitch the next day when all the major networks begin their extensive coverage of one of the most exciting elections in American history.
Tune in to“Saturday Night Live’s Presidential Bash” on NBC and Global, Monday, Nov. 3, for a peek at the funny side of politics.
The move to prime time is a smart one.
After all, why limit the show to late night when there’s plenty of material and a wider audience hungry for some biting political satire? In fact, this year’s election sketches have given the show renewed vigor, which is exactly why producers have extended the show with“Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday,” increasing “SNL’s” audience by nearly 50 per cent.
The series has a strong history of political farce.
Several famous political figures have appeared on the show throughout the years, and even more have been lampooned by the cast.
The “SNL” special will include highlights of its most popular political bits, from Chevy Chase’s Gerald Ford to Will Ferrell’s George W. Bush.
Since its debut in the ‘70s,“Saturday Night Live” has featured many real-life politicos on the campaign trail as well. This year’s presidential special will take a look at some of those memorable appearances, including a 2000 sketch featuring Al Gore and President George W. Bush.
Despite being the butt of many jokes, today’s candidates are savvy enough to know what a show like “SNL” can do for their campaign. Some of the show’s most talked-about moments include Barack Obama’s surprise walk-on, John McCain’s stint in a Weekend Update sketch and an earlier appearance by Hillary Clinton opposite Amy Poehler, who is known for her Clinton impersonation.
It may have actually been Clinton who sparked the show’s new zing since she drew attention to a sketch about the media’s treatment of Obama (played by Fred Armisen). Suddenly, “SNL” was back on the comedy map and the ratings have been on the rise ever since.
The presidential debates have really given the show renewed vigor, thanks in part at least to some famous alums. In October, former head writerTina Fey returned to the set with a spot-on impression of McCain running mate Sarah Palin, resulting in the best ratings since 2002.
Returning alumni Chris Parnell and Bill Murray kicked off this season’s political shenanigans in “Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday.”
Parnell guest-starred as moderator Tom Brokaw, while Murray appeared as an average citizen looking for answers.
Other recent highlights include Queen Latifah as debate moderator Gwen Ifil and Poehler as Katie Couric in an interview sketch opposite Fey’s Palin.
The folks at NBC couldn’t be happier with the new exposure. In a July article in the“Ottawa Citizen,” creator and producer Lorne Michaels said the current campaign was like a breath of fresh air for the show, which had exhausted parodies of the current President Bush.
While its popularity with audiences has proven to be enduring, the show is also a critical success.
Disabled
Search Articles
More CE Network Sites & Partners:
