SNL's Political Sketches: Goal To Be Funny But Fair

New York Times:

For the staff of a comedy show, the people behind "Saturday Night Live" certainly care a lot about fairness.

Speaking at a Manhattan event sponsored by the Museum of the Moving Image on Monday night, the cast members Seth Meyers and Amy Poehler answered questions about their much discussed sketch, broadcast by NBC on Saturday, that featured Ms. Poehler as Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, the former Democratic presidential candidate, and Tina Fey as Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential candidate.

"The trick with all of these people is to try to come out as fair and evenhanded as possible," said Mr. Meyers, also the head writer for "SNL." He added that the inclusion of Ms. Poehler's Clinton character "made it safer to mention things about Sarah Palin without making it seem like an attack piece."

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[raker]

It's not satire's job to be "fair." If it's even-handed and fair and treats every side of every issue equally, it isn't satire, it's NPR.

[getoffthecross]

I agree with a lot of what's being said here. Forget being fair, just so long as it's funny...

http://www.jokerzinternetradio.com/phpmotion/play.php?vid=106

[pc51]

The skit was hysterical, but to pretend that it was not a hit piece on Palin is blatently disingenuous.

[RobinSeattle]

Carl Reiner did an interview with McCain and you can hear the Arizona Senator's age reflected in it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmnB3T00ZuU

[Manx]

The writers at SNL are so worried about being fair that they forgot to be funny.
Satire should have a nip or a bite. It's not about fairness. A large majority of Americans feel the country is headed in the wrong direction and that George W. Bush is a failure. Is it fair to the American people NOT to satirize Bush and his enablers like McCain?

[Helzapoppin]

Fair and even-handed? This is why SNL hasn't had any teeth since the original cast in the 70s. No edge.

[ajax2]

SNL, you had a cartoon character in the WH for seven years and you didn't get it.

[CoulterIsASuccubus]

Here's some news SNL: IT'S NOT YOUR JOB TO BE FAIR. Is Fox News fair? What about talk radio? If you do three McCain jokes, do you have to do three Obamas? That's idiotic. Why don't you try just being funny for a change?

I would like to see a picture of Sarah Palin dressed up as Tiny Fey. What would that costume entail? I bet she was quite the hit at the Wasilla VFW Halloween party.

[bayside]

Time Warner is as conservative as they come. This is ridiculous..If they do and start being like fox they will just lose everything. They need us we dont need them..

[wagonjak]

Please just shoot me now!

First the Corporate media has to be "fair and balanced" (A Faux Noise invention) even if it means letting one side spout lies and misrepresentations without any blowback...

A now a comedy show that used to have an edgy disregard for being mainstream now claims it "tries" to be fair and balanced! SCREW FAIR AND BALANCED, JUST GIVE US SOMETHING TO LAUGH ABOUT KIDS!!!!

SNL has gotten so juvenile and stupid for the most part that I can't watch it anymore!

[Durango]

That is what I like about the Daily Show and the Colbert report. They don't even try to be fair or balanced.

See the stupidity is not equal. The Democrats are not nearly as funny as the contortions the Republicans are making. Every day for 8 years.

Stewart and Colbert are outraged by this massive stupidity. And are not afraid to confront it.And that is where the humor lies.

Which makes them my heroes.

[ezbreezer]

Can they find a comedian with a pulse to portray McCain? I'm entertaining suggestions.

[uclafan]

They should stick with Mc-Cain-Palin-Bush or their ratings will go down...

[Warmglobe]

I thought it was funny and fair....I don't expect them to lampoon Barry any time soon....I wonder why?

[johnnyjust]

No personality.

[BPCentrisAmerican]

Did SNL receive death threats or 2000,0000 form letters from the Family Research Council?

[JulieSA]

no.

[BPCentrisAmerican]

Because he's hard to lampoon, comedians have already admitted that he is difficult to satirize.