# SNL's political skits **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 21, 2008, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snls-political-skits/464598 "2008-09-21T23:31:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snls-political-skits/464598/21 "2008-09-22T16:02:43Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > He didn’t write the sketch. He didn’t even suggest it. > > [Politico](http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13684.html) > > Franken had nothing to do with the sketch. This whole new meme that Franke “wrote” the sketch (or had any involvement at all) is a result of one of Matt Drudge’s typically misleading headlines. Interesting - five statements, four of which are demonstrably false. Let’s take them in order [ul][li]Franken didn’t write the sketch. **True** [\*]Franken didn’t suggest it. **False** [/li][quote] … he blurred the lines between the two roles by suggesting an idea that was turned into an anti-John McCain opening sketch for Saturday’s show. [/quote] [Cite](http://www.twincities.com/ci_10525474?source=most_viewed).[li]Franken had nothing to do with the sketch. **False** -[/li][quote] Franken was credited on the script, along with the current “SNL” writer. [/quote] [li]That this all started with Drudge - **False**. See above.[/ul][/li] I’m **Shodan** , and I approved this post. The idea of a comedian using his show to push attack ads at his oppoents - not so much. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snls-political-skits/464598/22 "2008-09-22T16:08:46Z")
[quote=“Shodan, post:21, topic:464598”] Interesting - five statements, four of which are demonstrably false. Let’s take them in order [ul][li]Franken didn’t write the sketch. **True** [_]Franken didn’t suggest it. **False** [Cite](http://www.twincities.com/ci_10525474?source=most_viewed).[_]Franken had nothing to do with the sketch. **False** -[\*]That this all started with Drudge - **False**. See above.[/ul][/li][/QUOTE] Read my cite again, will you. Michaels just took something Franken had said outside the context of any show discussion and suggested that Meyers write a sketch about it. Franken had nothing to do with it. It’s not his fault they gave him a credit for it. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snls-political-skits/464598/23 "2008-09-22T16:10:31Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I’m **Shodan** , and I approved this post. The idea of a comedian using his show to push attack ads at his oppoents - not so much. Too bad there isn’t some sort of doctrine about fairness in the airwaves; oh, wait, the pubs got rid of that one. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snls-political-skits/464598/24 "2008-09-22T16:15:44Z")
When did McCain become Al Franken’s opponent? When did Franken become the producer of SNL? ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snls-political-skits/464598/25 "2008-09-22T16:49:01Z")
How bizarre this is even an issue. Are people forgetting that it’s a sketch comedy show? Is the fake news they do so convincing that people are confusing it with actual news? Why would they, or any non-news TV show, have any obligation whatsoever to making sure they are balanced? ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snls-political-skits/464598/26 "2008-09-22T16:54:18Z")
I would say with respect to political humor, if nobody is complaining about it then you are doing it wrong. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snls-political-skits/464598/27 "2008-09-22T17:06:32Z")
They should work on balancing it. Right now there is an imbalance toward not being funny at all. They need to balance it with more funny stuff to skew it more toward the funny demographic. That McCain sketch was stupid. The delivery was terrible, particularly the sarcastic guy. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snls-political-skits/464598/28 "2008-09-22T18:58:41Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > I would say with respect to political humor, if nobody is complaining about it then you are doing it wrong. I recall an editorial cartoon from the first year of George H.W. Bush’s Administration. He’s sitting at his desk with his chin in his hands wearing a sulky look. One aide says to another: “Find out why comedians aren’t **imitating** him!” ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snls-political-skits/464598/29 "2008-09-22T22:52:16Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I recall an editorial cartoon from the first year of George H.W. Bush’s Administration. He’s sitting at his desk with his chin in his hands wearing a sulky look. One aide says to another: “Find out why comedians aren’t **imitating** him!” And then came Dana Carvey! ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snls-political-skits/464598/30 "2008-09-22T23:16:17Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > That McCain sketch was stupid. The delivery was terrible, particularly the sarcastic guy. I thought he was _fantastic_. Probably the _best_ SNL sketch of all time. Truly _stupendous_ and worthy of an _Emmy_. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snls-political-skits/464598/31 "2008-09-22T23:40:55Z")
> [@DanBlather](#): > > I thought he was _fantastic_. Probably the _best_ SNL sketch of all time. Truly _stupendous_ and worthy of an _Emmy_. My friend, is that true? ---
**Author:** ![Superfreaknduper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Superfreaknduper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfreaknduper)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snls-political-skits/464598/32 "2008-09-23T04:01:50Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > [QUOTE=DanBlather] > I thought he was fantastic. Probably the best SNL sketch of all time. Truly stupendous and worthy of an Emmy. My friend, is that true? [/QUOTE] Well, I’m sure one person somewhere liked it, and “The Amazing Race” has one 6 emmy’s, I mean who can’t win one of those, so yea that opinion is true. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snls-political-skits/464598/33 "2008-09-23T04:47:08Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > … a result of one of Matt Drudge’s typically misleading headlines. > He’s got another one right now that says “‘SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE’ skit suggests Sarah’s husband guilty of incest…” Another complete distortion since that sketch was about mocking liberal, New York reporters. Yeah I heard this being “discussed” on the radio (POTUS) tonight. Attacking the show’s mocking the media for their charges against her by parodying the process to an absurd extreme … as if that absurd extreme was somehow meant seriously? That’s just dumb. That sketch was the GOP talking point on the media! They should love it. ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snls-political-skits/464598/34 "2008-09-23T16:14:48Z")
> [@Superfreaknduper](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Originally Posted by Gangster Octopus > > > > > [@](#): > > > > > > Originally Posted by DanBlather > > > _I thought he was fantastic. Probably the best SNL sketch of all time. Truly stupendous and worthy of an Emmy._ > > > > _My friend, is that true?_ > > Well, I’m sure one person somewhere liked it, and “The Amazing Race” has one 6 emmy’s, I mean who can’t win one of those, so yea that opinion is true. Hey, works for me. My name is shantih, and I approve of this post. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snls-political-skits/464598/35 "2008-09-23T16:28:13Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > The idea of a comedian using his show to push attack ads at his oppoents - not so much. So I assume you’ll be contacting Limbaugh to express your outrage. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snls-political-skits/464598/36 "2008-09-23T16:37:48Z")
Ah, but Rush has carefully exploited a loophole by never being funny. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snls-political-skits/464598/37 "2008-09-23T16:43:39Z")
This is just another example of the GOP operatives trying to “work the refs.” By whining “Unfair!” they hope to bully SNL into producing skits that make fun of Obama or Biden. Here’s hoping SNL just ignores them. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snls-political-skits/464598/38 "2008-09-23T17:08:39Z")
Make fun of what? His totally adorable children? His smokin’ hot wife? His ears? They guy is a total policy wonk, there \*isn’t \*anything funny. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snls-political-skits/464598/39 "2008-09-23T17:18:38Z")
Y’see that’s the thing. They tried to be even-handed and their attempt got attacked. Not too great of a way to get them to work harder. You gotta go where the material is. I can’t see them buying the Right’s talking points just to try to make a joke that evens the books. Any more than they did with the Palin skit this Saturday. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snls-political-skits/464598/40 "2008-09-23T17:19:17Z")
I thought the Palin/Clinton skit was hysterical. “I didn’t just want a woman in the White House, I WANTED IN THE WHITE HOUSE!” As I mentioned on a far right wing site who complained that the skit was too harsh on Palin, it seemed to me that they took the stereotypes of each of those two woman and brilliantly lampooned them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snls-political-skits/464598.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snls-political-skits/464598.md?page=3)