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

[TrippyWeekender]

I thought the skit was perfectly balanced ... a bitter Hillary trying to keep a straight face and an air-headed Sarah reciting her talking points. The SNL writing team nailed it.

[BaltimoreSteve]

Balanced against the Murdock empire is fine with me.

[huffybike]

Fair, shmair. FUNNY: http://www.entertonement.com/clips/25878/Saturday-Night-Live/Saturday-Night-Live-Season-34/Saturday-Night-Live-Season-34x01/It-Just-Goes-to-Show-That-Anyone-Can-Be-President-Anyone

[centralandremote]

Being funny is a great goal, especially considering SNL hasn't been funny in years. It's become unwatchable.

[JulieSA]

The Nancy Pelosi "Palomino!" skit in 2006 was really funny.

[turfkiller]

Republicans are known for not "getting it" be it humor, economy, war and fielding viable candidates.

[centralandremote]

Are you saying that I'm republican because I don't SNL is funny? Now, that is funny.

[auntiecairo]

The truth is much of what Fey said is derived from actual statements from Palin. If the REpublicans don't want jokes made about them then they need to pick better candidates. To complain about the skit with our economy in crisis is ridiculous - and shows the priorities of the Republicans (i.e. haranguing about Obama at a Streisand fundraiser when McCain was at a $50,000 per plate dinner Monday night and Palin was at a fundraiser by a CEO who just laid 1000 workers).

[JulieSA]

Who's complaining about the skit? If you read the article, you'd know that Palin thought the sketch was funny.

[turfkiller]

Republicans are.... let's see ... Oh I remember that lady they just threw under the bus Carly Fiorina!

[glesslib]

Good grief, I've been watching SNL lampoon politicians since it came on the air. That's a lot of politicians and a lot of pretty tough and funny material. This little hothouse plant can't take it? Gerald Ford took it, Jimmy Carter, Nixon, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, all took it. Too bad that the big, tough moose hunder can't take it. Or is this just another right-wing, "they're all picking on her" fabrication?

[JulieSA]

You didn't read the article. Palin liked the sketch. She thought it was funny.

[ohiomark]

Don't forget what network SNL is on.

NBC's version of "fair and balanced" is Keith Olbermann.

[turfkiller]

Just remember that you Republicans voted for a candidate even you don't like. If it wasn't for the Star of Palin shining above McWorse you wouldn't have even bother to post.

Typical Republican math. They get 100 conservative talking point reporters and all they can point out is 1 who unlike all the rest doesn't pretend to be fair and balanced, Keith is just pointing out the obvious.