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

[Mahavishnu]

Where were all these people now "disgusted" that someone on SNL endorsed Clinton ...while when in front of many millions more people on the Grammys, Barack was informally endorsed by several artists and then much more formally by Herbie Hancock at the end of the show? They were nowhere. Endorse Barack -GOOD. Endorse Clinton- EVIL. Speaking of that, why are they not disgusted every single night watching television as the networks are all in the bag for Obama. The skit had it right on. I am not so much worried about Obama getting elected. But as a proud lifetime liberal, I am afraid of some of his over-the-top missionary supporters running around afterward.

[gayleg]

NBC and MSNBC have been so far up Obama's ass the last few months, we'll need forceps to pry them out. "Tingle up my leg," indeed.

It's nice to see at least a few people at NBC entertainment get it and aren't afraid to make fun of it.

Good on them.

[raker]

I love the Obamamaniacs' humorlessness. If you rib them for their cultish devotion as Tina Fey did, their anger and vitriol are boundless. You know. Like cultists. It's a hoot.

[byteb]

I think Tina Fey sounded like she was drinking the Hillary Sisterhood of the TravelingPants Kool Aid herself. Her rationale seems to be: vote for Hillary because she's a b**ch and she's like a nasty nun you end up hating. Plus, I'm a b**ch and too cool for school. Gee, those are great reasons, Tina.

[KarenZipdrive]

Raker, no kidding. They remind me of Clay Aiken's Claymates.
...Or that kid who did the YouTube freakout about people dissing Britney Spears.
Tina Fey marches out of lockstep with them and suddenly she's an "out of control egotist."
Hint to Obamanistas: SNL may become too rude about your wonderkind (I dare not say wonderboy) for your dainty sensibilities. Better switch over to C-Span.
Bwahahahahaha!

[ACunningham]

Gosh, you sound as crude, vulgar and trashy as your leader Lady Macbeth does. I guess it is all in the company one keeps.

[ParadiseDiva]

Oh, you have GOT to be kidding!

[Naugatuck73]

The incredibly lame Tina Fey endorsing Hilary was just so inappropriate and then wrapping it up in some kind of fake african-american salute was so wrong - calling her a 'bitch' - how clever and cutting edge -

The entire writing staff did not come with their a-game and they mailed it in - the incredibly lame sketches that go on and on forever with no real purpose or joke (Trump sketch, the Bret Michaels spoof) - the entire crowd barely laughed

Armisen's opening sketch wasn't even funny - while i think he whill do a better job - his Obama totally sucks - the only thing he has down is his hand gestures - maybe if he had time to practice

Why does SNL prop up comedians who haven't been funny in a lifetime (Steve Martin and those lame guys from Monthy Python)

[ParadiseDiva]

I'll borrow a pointy little phrase from one of the regular Obama supporters here at HuffPo...

Bitter much?

[pdxuser]

Yes you are.

[sideways74]

Satire only works when it is rooted in truth. I loved the Obama-pology and Obama girl. Classic!

[samtaylor1]

The first skit was great for the reason you said it was rooted in truth. The second was just so sad. As a Black guy I have always sorta questioned SNL one minority at a time rule, but it just seemed to be extreme with the week Obama impersonation next to the Hiliary endorsement.

Personally I don't think it is wrong that she endorsed CLinton. More people should be public about their politics. She just happens to be wrong :).

[RavagesOfTime]

I guess I'm not the only one who thought Mike Huckabee "hanging around" was a whole lot funnier than anything Tina Fey did.

[xcrunner77]

Huckabee was great. They should add him to the cast after he drops out. Maybe as an occasionally recurring guest spot on the theme of "Mike's still hanging out here."

The Obama impression wasn't funny. It was boring. He didn't have the voice or any mannerisms down. I'm an Obama fan and I could do a better Barack spoof than that. Also, ears! They could put big ones on him. How hard is that? (They did it with kucinich.)

The whole show was really lame, esp. after being gone for so long. This is the best you can come up with after a 4 month vacation?? (really an 8 month vacation, if you count the summer.) Talk about a show that is dead in the water and doesn't know it. Kinda like huckabee's campaign, come to think of it. i guess they were made for each other!

[Mikey2U]

Thank God Tina Fey is back.
Thank you for Supporting Hillary.

[dwilkerson]

What self-obsessed white woman wouldn't support Hillary?

[shinybear]

They want a candidate who looks like THEM and don't question them!

[Myrrhis]

OMG!!!!!11!!1!1

This was SOOOOOOO important.

[Aladdinc]

On the nose funny. The COO (Cult of Obama) got its due. Bravo Tina Fey and SNL.

[dwilkerson]

Tina Fey, another rich white woman, endorses Clinton. Surprise, surprise..­. it just goes to show that the people Barf-n-bagger complained about actually support Clinton. Elite, white trust fund babies who make their decisions without consideration for their effect on the country.

[loocifer]

Stop the "white" crap already you racist. That might be good for the country!

[KarenZipdrive]

Elite, white trust fund babies?
I'm neither elite nor a trust fund baby, but I support Hillary.
You can love Obama all you want, but you don't have to be a dick about it.

[raker]

Armisen was perfect as Obama last night. The dour expression, the not having anything to say, the being swept along by the adoring media determined to have their first black candidate. Problem is, the media may love McCain more. Two rotten candidates - four if you count Huckabee and Clinton - all thanks to the media and mass hypnosis. Anyway, Armisen was inspirational and transformational.

[poppaculture]

Fred Armisen is a tremendous comedy talent. - Good choice, SNL. He nailed the look and hand gestures. He was little shakey at times on the voice, but just as Obama improved so will Fred.

[nachtengel]

The only funny part of the entire sketch was the pan back to the debate host, having an orgasm.

The whole show felt like the "our writers are back" promo line, was simply that, a line.

They may have been back, but I doubt if anyone was writing.

[Blurp]

Armisen's not that funny.

[sa]

armisen's not that funny,
is like robert redford is
not that handsome.

[TheDebbieDee]

But, Robert Redford isn't handsome. Not anymore.

[Virago55]

Mad TV's Keegan-Michael Key will probably do Obama and do it better than Fred. I'm on the west coast so nothing has started yet.

[FeloniouslyAnnoying]

Well obama is half white, so I'm sorry race baiters but it makes just as much since for a white guy to play him; if you're going to judge the merits of comedy in such a way.

Even SNL must be turned into a race war apparently, just so certain people can pretend to be journalists.

[EngineerBill]

Is it just me or does he look like La. Governor Bobby Jindal.