Fauxbama, Finally! Fred Armisen Is SNL's New Barack Obama

After nine weeks of strike darkness and a week of breathless rumors ETP can confirm: SNL regular Fred Armisen is Saturday Night Live's Barack Obama, adding the junior Senator from Illinois to the show's 33 years of political impressions.

The show had been in a bind since the beginning of the season, disadvantaged by having only one black male cast member, Kenan Thompson, whose fuller body type was inconsistent with the Senator's slim, lanky frame. Though Thompson had been rumored to be trying to lose weight for the gig - one which could well lead to a meaty recurring role playing the President of the United States - earlier this week founder/executive producer Lorne Michaels told several press outlets that the search for someone to play Obama was on, both inside and outside the current cast. The decision to cast Armisen was made on Thursday, and will be officially announced to the world tonight at 11:30 ET when the live broadcast kicks off.

Expect to see some controversy from this decision: Though Armisen has played an ethnically diverse range of characters before - including Iranian dictator Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Prince - the minority of black faces on SNL has been noted in the past, and the chance to give this plum role to a non-black player will surly generate debate (never mind resuscitating the old "Is Obama black enough?" question). Still, there is precedent: Darrell Hammond's impression of Jesse Jackson, Horatio Sanz as Aaron Neville, Maya Rudolph as Liza Minelli — on SNL, if you can play the part and be funny doing it, that's enough. The verdict from the dress rehearsal audience was generally enthusiastic ("Very funny!" said one audience member who approved of the Armisen decision; "Hilarious!" agreed two other young men wearing Hillary stickers, both of whom felt SNL had been more than fair to their candidate). "Funny" should blunt controversy somewhat, since that is the raison d'etre of the show (agree/disagree in comments).

Steve Martin is also set to make a cameo, along with Mike Huckebee, who is set to do a campaign-appropriate bit for "Weekend Update." There's also a walk-on by Obama Girl - the actual Obama Girl, Amber Lee Ettinger. Also debuting tonight is new cast member Casey Wilson.

Previous coverage here.

Comments

[SeaOats]

SNL's Fauxbama has a long way to go to measure up to the FauxPresidents/Candidates they've produced in the past. This guy wasn't even close.

[finally]

so lame - where was the humor? He sounded nothing like him. Compared to Bush sr, Bill, even their Hillary, this was a total bust.

[apresdeluge]

Fauxbama. That's a good one. Kind of sums up his whole persona. Thanks Rachel for coining a new campaign slogan. PS: SNL had it exactly right.

[sideways74]

Some seem out of sorts that SNL endorsed a candidate. MSNBC, CNN, this website, major news papers have endorsed Senator Obama whether openly or not. Why is it wrong for SNL to endorse or comment?

[KyleCope]

Fred's great, just needs more practice and more lines as O. Hard to do, as last night's ENTIRE episode was Tina Fey's love letter to Hillary.

THIS Hillary spoof is funnier than any of those:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGMgxFE6bms

[sjl106]

SNL IS BACK!!
http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/2/24/1161/99305
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzJjvWA0Vuc
http://youtube.com/watch?v=XLZ18U1Txnc


E-mail to send to Texas Republicans
Sat, 02/16/2008 - 10:49pm -- afnighthawk

http://republicansforobama.org/?q=node/3 59
Attention All Texas Republicans and Independents!!

On March 4th, Texas Republicans and Independents will have an opportunity to end Hillary Clinton's (and Bill's) presidential ambitions once and for all!

Since Texas has on open primary, Republicans and Independents should sign in at their polling place and request a Democratic ballot. They should then vote for Barack Obama. Even James Carville admits that if Hillary loses Texas, "she's done!" Republicans can help make this a reality!!! Just think, no more Clintons in the White House!

Voting Democratic this one time will have NO effect on your ability to vote in the next Republican primary or obviously on your vote in November. Since John McCain has the Republican nomination locked up, voting for McCain or Huckabee at this point will have no effect on the outcome on the Republican side.

After you vote during early voting or on March 4th, you ARE NOT done! Report back to your regular polling place at 7PM on March 4th to sign the Barack Obama list for caucus delegates. In a little known Texas voting quirk, 67 delegates to the Democratic convention will be seated because of these caucuses. This is a full one-third of the total number of Texas delegates. For Hillary to lose, she has to lose the primary votes AND the caucus votes.

I urge you to vote against Hillary Clinton by voting for Barack Obama. Please forward this e-mail to all your Texas Republican and Independent friends so that we can help ensure the Clinton's defeat on March 4th!!!

[mix2007]

I just watched the clip on YouTube:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=jOwStKiGOIA

I don't think SNL is political. Just lighthearted superficial stuff.

(The real problem is they are not all that funny anymore.)

My opinion: The Obama impression was not really that good. I think they need more practice. Hillary's was not bad, but not great either. They did a better job back in the day with both Bushes and Bush Clinton.

[longislandlol]

White Armisen matched white Obama; as for Fey's deference to Hillary- yes- she's right- it's a patriarchal world out there.

[Naugatuck73]

He's not white. he's Venezulan and Japanese - OK-

[dbusch72]

I did not know that snl was still on. Good for them. Good luck with staying on with that crap.

[KarenZipdrive]

To those who are condemning Tina Fey because she prefers Hillary over Obama: I guess if by some chance Hillary squeaks by and wins the Democratic nomination, you'll be voting for McCain?
And any celebrity who fails to endorse Obama will lose their fanbase?
Are you guys insane?
From the sound of it, politics is a very new interest for some of you. Enjoy.

[mix2007]

"They don't get the zeitgeist at all and that's supposed to be what SNL is all about. They should be riding the Obama wave instead of dissing it."

I don't think they are dissing it. Typically SNL avoids politics and takes a lighthearted approach. I guess we'll have to wait and see. I don't expect some anti-Obama nastiness.

But I do hope that the Obama media hype is taken down a notch. Beyond the hype, he has real substance, a first class intellect and a first class temperment -- a rarity in politics, to say the least. He's the real deal. This Obama Girl stuff, etc. is somehow disrespectful of such a solid candidate. Clear away the glib media hype, and he's frankly better off.

[Zuni]

Funny in real life, Campbell Brown who was the female host of the debate, is married to Dan Senor, apologist for the Bush administration. She is hardly an Obama fan.

[Mikey2U]

Barack Hussein Obama is more dud than stud.
Go Hillary Go!

[ParadiseDiva]

You realize you come off as an asshole with the 'Hussein' bit, right?

[RyanK111]

No, the "Hussein" bit doesn't make him come off as an asshole. It makes him an asshole.

[Mikey2U]

If I refered to JFK as John Fitzgerald Kennedy would that make me an asshole? If you don't like the name Barack Hussein Obama I suggest you take it up with Barack's parents.

[ACunningham]

Bill Clinton PROFITED $146,000,000.00 by making a deal with Kazakhstan's MUSLIM DICTATOR... against America's foreign policy.

...And, Billary Supporters have the audacity to accuse Obama of being a muslim???

[shinybear]

Really bad.

They don't get the zeitgeist at all and that's supposed to be what SNL is all about. They should be riding the Obama wave instead of dissing it.

They are insulting the vast majority of their viewers who support Obama with their Clinton loving nonsense.

So stupid of them.

Where will they be in two weeks?

[quidnuncjournal]

I thought Armisen was a very credible Obama - the ears were terrific! Part of the joy of SNL is that the actors aren't really supposed to be identical - the fact that they can make an absurd caricature of the celebrity is the best part....remember John Goodman as Linda Tripp? Will Ferrell as Janet Reno?? Amy Poehler as Dennis Kucinich? priceless....... The Digital Short and commercials were perfect.... Welcome back SNL..........
Krista at quidnuncjournal.blogspot.com

[quidnuncjournal]

I thought Armisen was a very credible Obama - the ears were terrific! Part of the joy of SNL is that the actors aren't really supposed to be identical - the fact that they can make an absurd caricature of the celebrity is the best part....remember John Goodman as Linda Tripp? Will Ferrell as Janet Reno?? Amy Poehler as Dennis Kucinich? priceless....... The Digital Short and commercials were perfect.... Welcome back SNL..........
Krista at quidnuncjournal.blogspot.com

[Naugatuck73]

Fey's plug for Hillary was just out of control ego. feel guilty you're not supporting strong women - and the talking down to the audience did not help - oh, guess what? b*tches rule, look i am a b*tch and i am successful ". when is this ball of insecurity aka tina fey going to stop being so angry?

All successful women have to be bit%^es - c'mon - nice job playing to the stereotypes, people

The period piece was another example of again playing to the stereotype as was the slapping scene with Steve Martin. Brilliant