October 8th, 2008 
joel Tina Fey’s devastatingly good impression of GOP VP candidate Gov. Sarah Palin has elevated NBC’s Saturday Night Live from a live comedy sketch show to a news and agenda maker in this election cycle.
Clips of Fey-Palin, appearing in videos with caricatures of Hillary Clinton, Katie Couric, and Joe Biden are appearing in news programs from Hardball and the O’Reilly Factor to Today and Meet The Press.
It is amazing to me that reporters are embedding the comedy video into their hard news stories as legitimate political speech, and it is surreal to have pundits seriously discussing Tina Fey as Palin during the roundtable at Meet the Press.
Another big story over the last 48 hours was the SNL’s spoof of a congressional press conference after the bailout vote. The cast left no newsmaker unskewered, including Herb and Marion Sandler as predatory lenders who duped borrowers and Wachovia Bank, along with George Soros, billionaire hedge fund manager. NBC pulled the skit from their video sites for a time because it “didn’t meet their standards.” That made the blogosphere go nuts. The video is back up, having some character generator content edited out.
Again, this is a comedy/satire program, but SNL has turned into a true cultural phenomenon, impacting the country’s conversation at the highest level.
What a strange election this continues to be.
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And Barney Frank is suddenly excused in the edited version. There is a reason way NBC is held is such low esteem by so many. That they don’t care is just another example of why GE is performing so poorly overall.
It looks like SNL is taking a few pages from “The Daily Show.” I read where a lot of younger people actually watch TDS for news coverage. While it may sound weird, at least it gets their attention. Who knows, such shows could host a real debate with more humor added in order to show the candidates lighter side. Much has been said about Tina Fey’s almost dead on impersonation of Sarah Palin, but Frank Caliendo does one great John McCain over on “Mad TV” and the Fox NFL pregame show. But nothing tops his dead on impersonation of John Madden. I about died the first time I heard it because it was so good.
I haven’t laughed so hard since Matt Folley, motivational speaker crashed into a coffee table before heading to his van…DOWN BY THE RIVER!
Last week they had a story about a report who couldn’t find evidence that Todd Palin (Sarah’s husband) wasn’t having sex with his daughters. Can you imagine the outcry if they had said that about Obama and his daughters?
They have 10 jokes about Republicans to every 1 they have for a Democrat. We stopped watching a long time ago. Liberal bias in comedy is just plain sad.
And to think NBC is owned by GE!
Heavy D….
I think you meant to say, “Liberal bias in comedy is just palan sad.”
What else would you expect from the company (GE) that gives us this little gem from Chris Matthews on MSNBC: “Everytime I hear Barack Obama speak I get a tingle running up and down my leg.”
NBC stopped being objective a long time ago. I agree with HeavyD and the jokes on Saturday Night Live. I saw the skit about Todd Palin and his daughters – I was aghast that a major TV network would even suggest incest. If they did that with Obama and his daughters there would be HOLY HELL to pay! (But since the mainstream media is making Barack out to be the second coming of Jesus Christ we won’t get any cutting satire of Mr. Obama!)
Can someone PLEASE explain to me how the FOX News Channel is biased towards Republicans (which is a TERRIBLE thing in people’s minds) while it is OK for NBC, ABC, CBS, etc. to be actively promoting a potential Obama Presidency???
Oh-Bam-Me is not the second coming of Jesus Christ. That might actually be okay. He is the second coming of Jimmy Carter, and that isn’t okay.
NBC=
Nothing
But
Crap
Thank you CRANK! I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels that B.O. is just another Jimmy Carter!
By the way, does anyone think NBC should be taken to task for its curious way of “editing” the character generator during the Congressional skit?
NBC, from “Must See” to “Democrat Double Standard”
And they say there is no bias at NBC towards Democrats?!
Granted NBC is biased towards Obama, but just catch FOX AND FRIENDS any weekday morning and you won’t have to question who they are behind.
What is wrong with who FOX AND FRIENDS is behind in the election? If it is OK for CBS, NBC, ABC and MSNBC (especially) to be for Obama then no one should be able to complain about who FOX wants!
I didn’t say it was wrong, i answered your question in post #9.
My mistake post #6.
Oops! Sorry, Jimbo! It’s all good!
Tim ,I think we can both agree they are all biased in one way or another.My question to you now, is do you notice more network bias now then in previous Presidential elections?
HEAVY D Said :”They have 10 jokes about Republicans to every 1 they have for a Democrat.”
That may also mean that Republicans provide a 10:1 ratio of idiotic moments that need to be mocked.
Sarah Palin said she may not answer the questions at the debate, but she will talk to the people. Well, the people want to know the answers to her questions… Fair game for funny.
John McCain has too many to waste time writing down. I actually think my explanation of the 10:1 ratio may actually be right, the more I think about it.
If you actually watched the SNL skits, they do poke fun of the stereotypes of both parties/candidates. They will usually cater to the liberal viewpoint because they’re also an expression of the actors portraying the figures.
And wow, if you lighten up and have a sense of humor, they are FUNNY. If you’ll remember correctly, a certain well-known CONSERVATIVE commentator was behind the “Weekend Update” on SNL. Guess who? None other than Dennis Miller. He was one of my favorites. I particularly liked when Will Ferrell portrayed George W. Bush post 911. Satire about Bush’s intelligence, yes, but it still got the message out there that we weren’t backing down to terrorism. Remember the Dana Carvey sketches of George Bush, Sr. “Not gonna do it! Wouldn’t be prudent!” I don’t think it lessened the credibility of the person at hand. It made them more human; more real. If a politician can see a sketch of themself and laugh at the stereotype, then wow, they may have my vote.
From someone who has watched SNL since they were a kid (1992-ish), Daily Show (started watching in 1997), and Colbert Report from its inception, I’m happy to have a news source that makes me laugh about all the bulls*** out there. Say what you will, but laughter is the best medicine.
“My question to you now, is do you nitice more network bias now then in previous Presidential elections?”
I sure do! (How’s that for a short answer? LOL!) Especially MSNBC for the Democrats and FOX for the Republicans!
Shag: you mentioned that the people want to know the answers to their questions. That’s fair enough! However, http://www.politico.com stated that last nights debate was “the worst ever!” Apparently BOTH McCain and Obama didn’t answer any questions just tried to use their talking points – POLITICO’s commentary, not mine.
I am so happy this whole thing is almost over with. People are taking this Election WAAY TOO PERSONAL! But then again, Democrats think Republicans are pure evil and Republicans think Democrats are pure evil. Whatever happened to just being Americans??? Who cares what political party you belong to? We’re all allowed into Heaven – despite what certain Democrats or Republicans have to say on that matter. Oh Well….
Get a pocket copy of the Constitution – that’s what my wife got me for my 35th Birthday a few years ago. Best thing I ever read in my life – a real eye opener. A lot of the things going on in our country that BOTH the Democrats and Republicans did are blatantly unconstitutional!
I will now get down off my soapbox!
There is absolutely no question about bias any more, and several former news people are actually talking about what has been going on in news rooms for year. Bernie Goldberg for one. MSNBC is an absolute joke. Chris Mathews and Brian Obermann? Please. I think CNN is attempting to try and do a little more balance, with the likes of Lou Dobbs return to the airwaves a year or so ago, and the addition of Glenn Beck on their headline news network, but overall, with the exception of FOX they are in the tank for Obama, without question. As for FOX, I fail to see the republican bias. The fact that they play it straight is such a contrast to the rest of the media it just seems like bias towards the republicans. Brit Humes panel is in my opinion balanced, as the Hanity & Colmes, even if Colmes is a little light on his end, their show is still balanced in that Colmes has been given exclusive access to democrats as Hanity has been to republicans. The left screams about Hanity’s access, but never mentions Colmes. Apparently Colmes access to democrats is mainstream, while Hanity’s access to republicans is right wing extremism, because the rest of the networks don’t allow that kind of republican access, or panel discussion balance. One moderate to conservative panelist against three liberals is not balanced coverage. Nor one SNL skit against democrats, edited for content after the fact, any balance against the continual attempts at minimizing Palin.
What I find so upsetting is the absolute dishonesty among media types, like Howie Kurtz, who try to convince the public that they are being fair and balanced in their coverage. Kurtz has made a career out of making excuses for liberal bias in the media, and got his job at CNN, taking it away from Bernard Kalb, by simply being a better apologist for the media than old Bernie was.
Where are today’s David Brinkley’s who could interview a candidate from either party, ask the tough questions, with style and grace, without resorting to confrontation, or attempting to be bigger than the interviewee?
Tim & Heavy D — You are so right ! I felt the same way reading about the skit which included references to the Palin family and incest. We don’t watch NBC….haven’t for many years. This is just one more in a long line of incidents which long ago convinced me that these network/GE sleazeballs are not welcome in our home. They can peddle their crap elsewhere.
Joel — Enjoying the Press & Tower blog…..keep up the good work
How many “reporters” are fighting off grizzlies and digging through Sarah Palin’s trash in Alaska in hopes of finding some dirt?
How many “reporters” are looking in to Barack Obama’s association with the proud terrorist William Ayers? Or convicted influence peddler Tony Rezko? Or his association with ACORN and it’s role in pushing lenders to offer mortgages to unqualified borrowers? Or his hiring of Jim Johnson who helped to loot Fannie Mae?
Bias? Nooo, perish the thought.
Political satire and scathing commentary are nothing new to SNL. An earlier poster referred to Dana Carvey. Let me go back a few more years. Remember the “Three Mile Island” skit with Dan Akroyd as Jimmy Carter? In that particular skit, Jimmy Carter enters the #3 reactor to find a cleaning lady portrayed by Garrett Morris. The two announce their love and embrace. Shocking for the 70s, yes but very funny. Fast forward to 2008. The comments about Palan and incest were not funny. Lorne Michaels…time to retire! (just like Joe Paterno)
Hey now no picking on Jopa. I do agree he should get out while the gettin is good. He has built a fine organization underneith him, and if he was looking for something to do he could recruit. He has been very good at that also.
Sorry Jimbo. Jopa is a football icon. He should get out before he hits somebody (A’ la Woody Hayes).
I remember Woody. Your right, Joe does seem more cranky.