SNL's Campaign Trail: Fauxbama, Huckabee, And Tina Fey Endorsing Clinton

Is Bitch the New Black? If you believe Tina Fey on "Saturday Night Live" last night, then damn straight; if you don't, you may well be burning up the NBC message boards right now. Last night politics was center stage on SNL, with an epic cold open spoofing the latest CNN debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama (over 8 minutes), a supersized "Weekend Update" (11 minutes), and about as close as SNL could come to a live, on-air endorsement of Hillary Clinton by host and returning alumna Tina Fey. In a segment on Update called "Women's News" ("It's a great time to be a lady in America!") Fey celebrated the news of a woman running for president — and then (after a bitty swipe at Oprah), proceeded to take aim at a number of Hillary-hating arguments: That if elected she wouldn't be able to "control" hubby Bill Clinton and there'd be "co-presidents" in the White House ("'Cause that would be terrible, having two intelligent, qualified people working together to solve problems — why would you let Starsky talk to Hutch?"); reassuring the audience that, even though they were married, they were having "about as much sex as George Bush and Jeb Bush are" and smacking down Rush Limbaugh for his comments that "America's not ready to watch their president turn into an old lady. "Really?" asked Fey. "'Cause they didn't seem to mind when Ronald Reagan did that." But what bugged her most, said Fey, was when people said that Clinton was a bitch. "Yeah, she is," said Fey. "And so am I — and so is this one over here," gesturing at Amy Poehler. "Yeah, deal with it," said Poehler. Fey's point: Bitches got things done, yo, and that's why Hillary would be a good president. "So I'm sayin, it's not too late, Texas and Ohio, get on board! Bitch is the new black!" An exhortation of voters to the polls to vote their bitch in? Bill Clinton probably couldn't have done it more effectively. Watch it here:







Commenters are already incensed (both on the NBC chat boards and in our comments sections, so far) but to be fair, it's about equal to the Lorne Michaels endorsement of Obama, who said Obama would be hard to mock because he was a "truly heroic figure." Also, it's worth noting that many Hillary supporters are chiming in with gratitude to Fey for articulating a sentiment that had made them feel marginalized in the face of Obamania.

Speaking of which, SNL also tapped Fred Armisen to play its Obama (details here), which he did with his brow furrowed the whole time, doing a nice rendering of Obama's from-30,000 feet speechifying and penchant for scribbling during debates. The CNN debate spoof greedily hit on it all around the central conceit that the media was "totally in the tank" with Obama. Kristen Wiig was a smitten Campbell Brown, Jason Sudeikis a drooling John King, and Will Forte a dashingly handsome Jorge Ramos, whose question to Obama was "Are you comfortable? Can we get you anything?" while all three panelists ignored and insulted Amy Poehler's Clinton (by far the best example of that was when Wiig's Brown smacked down Clinton for interrupting the "randomly selected" audience questioner, Obama Girl. "I think you owe Obama Girl and all the people of this nation an Obam-apology," she deadpanned. Classic). Props to Amber Lee Ettinger, aka Obama Girl, for hitting the big time — hearing Fey thank Mike Huckabee, Steve Martin, Carrie Underwood and Obama Girl at the end of the show was really a testament to how much the advent of viral vid has changed thing. Watch the whole great segment here:

Finally, there was the aforementioned Governor Huckabee, completing the late-night talk show circuit and spoofing himself in a segment that mirrored his campaign rather well — he was charming, funny and refused to leave. Watch it below:







As long as we're rocking the full SNL YouTube thing, here's Fey's opening monologue with a guest turn by Steve Martin, who always seems to monologue about how great, wonderful and what a big star he is. I'm just sayin'. Cogent writer's strike commentary in that, too. Chekkit here:







And finally: Tina Fey wished announcer Don Pardo a very happy birthday — his 90th! — during the goodnights last night — he doesn't look it by a long shot, nor sound it. Wow. Many more, Don Pardo!

Comments

[mix2007]

This is more of the same as we had from Gloria Steinem saying that women have had it harder than minorities, which is remarkably insulting and historically inaccurate to the point of being laughable.

I think on some level, these white Boomer women have a sense of entitlement and dare I say prejudice.

They are so self-centered that they can't see how they, even as second class citizens for the longest time in America, were far better off than the third class or fourth class non-citizens that America has largely terrorized for much of its history. And white women were part and parcel of that disenfranchisement.

I just can't help but remember those horrible lynching photos showing upper class white "ladies" in their Sunday best watching a black man strung up.

So Hillary, the loser so far, offering Obama the VP slot, strikes me as asking him to be "Driving Miss Daisy". HRC and her ilk take it for granted that minorities play second fiddle.

You'll notice that black or other minority women are not chiming in with their priveleged, entitled, self-absorbed white "sisters" for Hillary.

[hnic1971]

Why is nobody remembering the 1st skit of the 2007 for SNL?

check out this blog post to jar your memory

http://inblognegro.com/blog2/2008/02/27/am-i-the-only-person-in-america-that-watched-the-2007-season-open-of-snl/

[crystalsapphire]

HA! Wonderful, Tina. Got so many Obamatrons upset because they know it's the truth, and are really trying anything to offset and argue the skit. Funny and so true!

Obamatrons in deep trouble because finally all his skeletons are coming out.

Karl Rove's plan worked initally, but is failing.

www.thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election

[hnic1971]

Why is nobody remembering the 1st skit of the 2007 for SNL?

check out this blog post to jar your memory

http://inblognegro.com/blog2/2008/02/27/am-i-the-only-person-in-america-that-watched-the-2007-season-open-of-snl/

[JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin]

It seems crystal clear (at least to this acerbic goblin) that Fey and those of her ilk simply think that the sole reason that Hillary is doing so badly is because she's a woman. This, to me, is patently absurd. The reason for her dramatic fall has to do with her arrogance (the campaign's initial "inevitability" argument), her questionable judgement of hiring consultants (Mark Penn is a disaster, yet he's still with the campaign), her appalling right wing Senate record (the vote for the Iraq war especially), her surrogates trashing "inconsequential" states (Penn again), her questionable spending (1200 for donuts?), her trashing of the Democratic base (something her and her husband do with relish and aplomb), and her lame campaign attacks (the "xerox" comment is a good example).

Essentially, the reasons for her demise are complex and numerous, and it is simplistic and childish to think that all of this is simply because she's a woman. But it's a lot easier than having to actually think about it and admit that Hillary isn't a great candidate, and will not be a great president.

[KPinSEA]

Yeah, okay, finally watched the Women's News segment by Tina.

As is so frequently the case: preachy is not the new funny. Preachy almost never works as comedy. She delivered her message with about as much subtlety as a B-52, and only a few more laughs.

Pretty classic case of a New Yorker talking about the stuff she and her New York friends talk about and expecting the whole country to nod and say "Oh gosh you New Yorkers are so WITTY, I just can't help but agree."

And then .... we don't. And they can't figure out why.

Bitch has *always* been the new, old and current black in NYC ... but it doesn't always translate well to the rest of the country Tina, sorry. If you're looking for mayor of NY or even a U.S. Senator for NY, you've made your case. Once you get out into clean air and enough room to actually drive your own car, it starts to get lost in translation.

[crystalsapphire]

I just LOVE all these posts. Your Obama is becoming clear that he is not qualified, not knowledgeable..see all the debates, always Clinton first, Obama scribbling madly, taking notes, and then giving his answer: "I agree with Sen. Clinton, but I would like to add: (looking down at his notes) blah, blah, blah.... The moderators: Great! Let's go to a break!

[thatsdebatable]

Brilliant!

Bitch, bitch, bitch all you want because you all know,
"Bitch is the new black!"

[FreedomsRoad]

I'm done with Tina Fey. She is a very talented and funny woman, but let's face it, her show on NBC was renewed not because of ratings but because she's an insider favorite, same thing with her Emmy win last year. So, for one insider to endorse another insider is no big surprise. She's been drinking too much Clinton faux-feminist Kool Aid.

[Mack1124]

Even if this was an endorsement of Hillary, doesn't Tina Fey have every right to do that; just like Oprah, Maria Shriver, Carolina Kennedy and Scarlett Johnassen?

[Opus007]

Oprah has a talk show. Tina Fey was a guest host of a comedy show- and the skits were not FUNNY. The political stuff was lopsided and dull. Tina Fey isn't funny on 30 Rock either. Alec Balwin and the supporting cast carry that show- if Tina Fey left - who would care?

The Celebrity Apprentice skit was funny.

[PoohBear]

Why is it that so many females feel they should vote for Hillary just because she is also female? If Hillary was a man instead of a woman, she'd be a Republican. Just look at her voting record and support from corporate lobbyists.

[MrFabu]

biggest SNL joke of the night....Tina Fey's endorsement.-

[darlamc]

Thanks- more for me!

you can drink Obama's Kook-aide
www.politicalamnesia.blogspot.com

[azram]

It's refreshing to see celebrities and comics poke fun at Obamatons for a change since most of the media types are not that far removed from the portrayal in the debate sketch. I think Obama is a good and decent guy, but the guy who comes to your work to teach motivational speaking isnt necessarily the right person to be CEO. If he is the nominee I will vote for him, I just hope it doesnt turn out to be the case as someone else described as Sanjaya Syndrome!!!

[anghiari]

Justwaitandsee,
You must be from the burbs...Tina Fey is trying to sell bitch, as if she has a clue how to use it or knows what it means...it's like Elvis taking blue suede shoes from Fats Domino...Tina is to Bitch...as george bush is to Dave Chappelle

[dbusch72]

SNL is still on the air?

[JavaCityGal]

After waiting for 12 weeks, I was SO disappointed! First, there wasn't anything on the entire show even remotely funny. And the "debate" was really bad -- terrible faux Obama and the skit was so poorly written and excecuted. And what's up with Tina Fey turning a once funny show into a 90 minute commerical for her favorite candidate? I watch a comedy show to be entertained, not told what to do -- that was insulting. Sad that SNL has devolved into the "Saturday Night Tina Fey Show". My advice-- fire all the writers immediately -- most especially that talentless Tina Fey. In the meantime, I'll find my political satire elsewhere.

[Eduardodelazul411]

You're hardly an underdog, Hillary. Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul had the right.

[taketheother]

tina fey is absolutely insignificant in the grand scheme - she is unfunny as a writer and is clearly outshone as is snl by daily show/colbert report - of course establishment dems would latch onto this because they have no idea what its like to actually strive for something greater than pathetic Hillary clinton and her sell out of anything that's worth the fight - its all part of the same old tired played out mainstream democrat agenda

[ibsteve2u]

Remember the great times the comedians had slamming on Gore and Kerry?

[melodgrl]

That skit was riot! And you go Tina Fey! Mr Obama, albeit likable, should not use the White House as his sight for on the job political training. As for his accomplishments, that's a bit skewed and perhaps we should focus on why he voted incorrectly numerous times in his tenor. He's chalked things up as "bonehead" mistakes. I'm sorry but the country has been through 8 years of bonehead mistakes. It's time we take back our country. Our last "great uniter" (GW Bush) was a nightmare and I'll never vote for that type of uncertainty. I suppose the Republicans will win "yet again"... the Dems have blown it. He's no JFK, that's absurd. And his media pass will end, they're saving it for the big show where he will be squelched like the muslim roots he hides. And remember your bible people, "beware of false prophet." It's one thing to make promises of hope and change, but you must follow through. I've never seen any of that from this "young" Senator from Illinois. In fact, he's not very forthcoming about anything. check it out:
http://zcommunications.org/znet/viewArticle/16601

[anghiari]

Meoldgrl,
Not sure Obama shouldn't use the White House for job training ...Hillary did...