Palin on SNL: Face-To-Face With Tina Fey, And Also A Moose

She was folksy. She was charming. She looked great. And yes — she was funny. Anyone who doubted that Sarah Palin would be anything other than those things obviously has not been paying attention to her over the past not-even-two months — the woman is good. And she was great on SNL last night, possibly because SNL pulled out all the stops to make her visit a memorable one, with the best and funniest episode in recent memory.

As great as it was to see Sarah Palin and Tina Fey finally cross paths on the same stage, the episode was memorable for a number of other special appearances: Alec Baldwin backstage to comically mistake Palin for the actual Tina (nice jab from Palin about how Stephen was her favorite Baldwin brother); Oliver Stone piping up from the audience during guest host Josh Brolin's monologue, whom he directed in "W."; and — Lorne Michaels in one of his guest turns backstage; and, last but not least — Mark Wahlberg, on set to punch out Andy Samberg for his imitation last week (thus establishing "Say hi to your mother for me" as a new SNL catch-phrase).

But the best part was the fourth-wall breaking of Alec Baldwin whispering in Tina Fey's ear after escorting Palin to the stage: "What?.....The real one?" Excellent.

The fact that SNL has put so many of the sketches online is indicative of that — and they still left out some great ones, like Kristen Wiig's always-funny-but-suddenly-super-relevant Suze Orman impression; and Amy Poehler's hi-larious turn as a bar harlot using her enormous pregnant belly to flirt with men. Also, Brolin was a terrific host — really into it, never seemed to be reading the cue cards, very funny across characters. Enjoy him and the rest of the show in these videos from last night — plus a backstage extra with Palin, Fey, Michaels, Baldwin and more.

Palin Cold Open: Tina Fey as Sarah Palin, Sarah Palin as Sarah Palin

Weekend Update: The Sarah Palin Rap

Mark Wahlberg Finds Samberg Backstage

Story continues below

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Engagement Surprise (aka, Kristen Wiig can't keep a secret):

MacGruber: Financial Ruin

Weekend Update: Tim Calhoun, Running For President

Weekend Update: French Comedian Jean K. Jean

NEW Backstage: Gov. Palin Visits
http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/backstage-gov-palin-visits/773882/

Comments

[sansculottiste]

"She was folksy. She was charming. She looked great. And yes — she was funny."

As in "funny" ha-ha or "funny" stooopid?

[SpeakFreely]

Don't get complacent!! McCain is gaining ground in polls and his supporters are starting to come out of the woodwork. Obama needs your help now more than ever!!! If we take victory for granted McCain and Palin will win. DON'T LET THAT HAPPEN!

Vote Early then go volunteer for Obama!

[BluebirdofUnhappiness]

Well she was better than Michael Phelps. Not sure why that qualifies as great.

[tsand19151]

"...... the woman is good. And she was great on SNL last night, possibly because SNL pulled out all the stops to make her visit a memorable one, with the best and funniest episode in recent memory...." Wow, Rachel, did we see the same show? Is there a web version that we don't know about? Did you actually see the show or did someone (Hannity) tell you about it? Just curious......

[luvobama6]

Let's be honest--the whole show sucked! They couldn' make themselves funny, either! Anybody catch the skit about the proposal in the Japanese restaurant?--I had to turn it off at that point--maybe the most incoherent, awful routine ever. SNL has become essentially a group of talentless losers, proven by the point that they had to bring back Tina Fey to add anything to the show. If you've got game, you move on to bigger and better things--always! The show has had its moments, but the real talent of Dan Ackroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, and Gilda Radner is, of course, gone forever.

[tsand19151]

yes, the whole show was kinda weak.

[JonRaymond]

Yup. Palin pooped on that party.

[plooger]

Wow, I'm not sure where Rachel Sklar watched SNL on Saturday night, but she must have seen a different broadcast than the program aired here in Chicago.

Palin's presence hindered both the skits in which she was involved. (How many people were annoyed that the Fey-as-Palin screentime was cut, in place of Palin-as-m­annequin?)

And, as for Baldwin, he's a comic genius, in both timing and delivery, but even he seemed off his game, reading his lines off the cue cards with little emotion. (Compare his performance on Saturday with Schwetty Balls.) I'm left wondering whether Baldwin sandbagged his performance, or if he simply didn't have enough rehearsal time (and, if so, for what reason).

Epic fail... on Saturday night, live, and with the post from Sklar.

[luvobama6]

You're right--he definitely sandbagged it. He was much more genuine when he told off his 14-year-old daughter on the answering machine.

[JonRaymond]

He looked pissed.

[water57]

Best anyone can say about Sarah appearances on SNL, she gave a full throated endorsement in denouncing and rejecting herself.

[lovintheconstitution]

Palin was lame...and the ridiculous skit with the proposal in the Japanese restaurant was so dumb I actually got confused...I miss the good ole days of SNL...*sigh*

On the other hand, Mark Wahlberg is still one of the hottest guys around....and HIS appearance was actually funny!!

[stevea66]

Oh, my God. I don't think she was funny at all. How many words did she speak? She wasn't funny at all. I don't get what anyone thought was funny. Some cast members around her were funny. The final segment had her essentially hand the ball off to the cast for a stupid eskimo dance while she did what any of my high school students could do without rehearsal. I don't get what was funny about her. Anywho...

[mattro53]

You all are discussing a television show like it's actually important, as if it really matters. Please!

[Pacojam]

She can go face-to-face with Tina Fey, but she can't face the nation.

[stevea66]

She didn't go face-to-face with anyone on that show. Seriously. I'm an acting teacher and the first thing that needs to happen for it not to remain just a vaudeville skit is some type of connection. She had none with anyone. She was in the middle of hell. I've seen it a thousand times from actors who are struggling badly. But it's okay. I do think they could've given her a script to work with. She could've at least had some lines that were funny no matter who spoke them. It's not all her fault.

[plooger]

Good and valid thoughts. I have to wonder, though, how much SNL/Michaels could risk on Palin, if she wasn't going to be around to rehearse.

[hejira33]

Sarah Palin was not funny. In fact she was like one of those people who goes to a party, is the butt of everyone's joke, and doesn't know when to leave. If she was really smart she would have kept her appearance short and sweet. Staying until the end when the cast and crew all said goodnight together on the stage was awkward and made her seem like she was trying too hard to fit in. Has any other politician who has appeared on SNL stayed for the final farewell? I'm not sure, but in any case her appearance on the show only revealed how she really lacks charm and a sense of humor.

[plooger]

Yeah, you'd the campaign would want it to appear as though she has other, more important things to do. Though I could see her sticking around, if they'd gone for a humorous reversal with Fey... dressing Palin in Fey's casual clothing, and Fey in Palin's dominitrix boots etc, just for the final wave goodnight.

As it happened, Palin seemed to be standing out on the stage all alone, with only the one cast member jumping forward to give her a hug. Awwwkwaard.

[pppullen]

itis really scary how scary Sara Palin is

[luvobama6]

Let me get this straight--if it absolutely blasts Obama and/ or Palin, it has credibility and if it doesn't, it's shoddy, crappy journalism. Do I have it straight?

[stevea66]

No. She just wasn't funny. It was unique. And the pressure was on. And you could feel the pressure on her. She was not relaxed (except for a few moment while chair dancing); she was not enjoying herself; she looked awkward as if she were performing in a vacuum. She just wasn't funny. That's all. Not crappy reporting, just wrong reporting. She wasn't funny just as Alec Baldwin wasn't funny.

[AMonkey]

I agree. SP looked VERY uncomfortable almost the entire time. Her voice sounded much different that I've ever heard - it was much lower than ususal. She seemed to relax during the chair dance segment - but all-in-all it was ackward.

McCain is a natural comic - he missed his calling. Obama is a smart comic - but he's definitely not going to take Letterman's place anytime soon. Palin supposedly has TV experience, and now 6 weeks of campaigning in front of a live audience, but clearly wasn't in her element. Was it because she was on TV show versus a vice-presidential debate (she was plenty snarky and mavericky that time), or around people she knew couldn't stand her?

[plooger]

Re: Alec Baldwin.... exactly. The man has probably done many of the funniest SNL skits, but he came across as though he was just stiffly reading his lines off the cue card on Saturday.

[meede]

I think with reading all the comments -- a whopping 17 and this story was posted almost 12 hours ago -- Huffington Report will see that the person who authored this piece seemed to have written it from hearsay of a biased Repug. I think Huffington will clearly think twice before adding further pieces from Rachel Sklar as credibility is an issue here -- Sklar's. This article would receive an abundance of support -- on a right wing blog board -- not here. If there had been truth to it, the participants of Huffington are truthful and supportive. Huffington participants have the ability to look outside the box as they are not closed-minded. The have the ability to discuss both sides of an issue. It's not a "my way or the highway" mentality.

[Rossetti4President2016]

yeah i agree, it was more awkward than anything..­.definatel­y not the laugh-riot described above...
maybe if Palin would have actually said something...it was a dud...

[tsand19151]

the moose was actually funnier than Palin, and the moose didn't say anything and had less screen time!!!!!

[tsand19151]

I agree. She was not funny. I don't know what Rachel Sklar was looking at. The rap skit on Weekend Update was funny but not Sarah. If Sarah wanted to impress someone, she should have done the rap herself.....now THAT would have been hilarious. But coming from her apparently isolated world in Wasilla, she's probably never heard of rap before.

[plooger]

Sklar's questionable perception has produced more dreck than just this one post. I can dimly recall at least one other egregious post from a few months back, but don't have the energy to try to focus and remember the exact topic. (may have been calling someone sexist, but I can't recall)

[luvobama6]

You said it--Alec Baldwin, so angry (even at his teenage daughter) can't even realize that people can have a genuine difference in opinion and still work together--no, the tolerant left wing just can't even be pleasant for a minute The actors and actresses on SNL, if they chose to diss Sarah are classless idiots--she has done nothing to them---she is an elected official who came on the show in good humor--you idiots can't appreciate that because you have none--hey, let's invite Obama on and do a skit about ACORN registering second graders and dead people and watch him smile Admit it, you guys can't control Sarah, Americans are fascinated by her, and you can't stop her. Did anyone hear she had the HIGHEST RATINGS IN 14 YEARS and it's not because of the talentless losers who make up the cast. I'll tell you, I had to turn it off after the first half because the writing sucked--wow, that guy proposing to his girlfriend in the Japanese restaurant was really great! Bring back Ackroyd, Chevy Chase...anyone but these idiots HIGHEST RATINGS IN 14 YEARS!!--way to go Sarah!

[retrocozayshin]

You should get your period key fixed. Oh and she's done plenty to "them". She clearly insinuated that New York (as well as the west coast etc..) is not a pro-America part of the country. What a horrible thing to imply. Unforgivable.