Chevy Chase Pans Sarah Palin's SNL Appearance

Access Hollywood landed an interview with SNL alum Chevy Chase, who thinks Sarah Palin bombed on "Saturday Night Live".

"Quite frankly, it's a big mistake to let her go on," Chevy told Access Hollywood at the Give Food a Chance benefit in New York. "What was brilliant about ['SNL' chief] Lorne [Michaels] was that he had nothing written for Sarah and that apparently she cannot improvise herself out of a paper bag!...

"On 'Weekend Update,' that was her big chance," he said. "Nothing."

But Chevy was critical not only of Sarah's comedic chops, but of the political campaign of her running mate, Sen. John McCain.

"The management behind McCain's campaign has been dumb. This has only helped accentuate the problem of his judgment in choosing, in such a cynical way, a candidate like Sarah Palin for vice president. I think the last thing that they would want right about now is to have the rest of America knowing all that... to have her be seen on 'SNL,' certainly never there. If anything, you just want her to be seen just from a distance."

"I'm sure she's very bright," he added. "But so is the Butterworth woman."

But Chevy had kinder words for Tina Fey, the "30 Rock" star and "SNL" alum who has returned to the show several times this season to play Sarah, including Saturday's opening sketch.

"I think Tina Fey's in a lot of trouble," he laughed. "Because after Jerry Ford lost, I made about $80 million. Are you kidding? You're talking to the wrong guy here. Tina's great!"

See Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live

Comments

[MGhamma]

Wether you like Palin or not, and as a potential POTUS, I hate her, she did not bomb on SNL. Chevy is just sour grapes.

[patnb]

I'm no fan of Palin, I'm certainly not voting for her, but realistically,
how many guest stars on SNL, who are not professional comedians, are sent out to the SNL stage without any writing? They all certainly look like they are reading from cue cards. Isn't that whole show scripted? Granted, i don't think Palin could deliver a joke, but I am surprised they didn't write anything for her.

[RJII]

exactly she barely said or did anything. the snl crew had to pull every joke and distraction.

palin is a not funny joke

[justanotherbushhater]

I ran screaming from my own living room! It was terrifying!

[swbks]

Chevy was awesome in "Fletch". I'm not sure why his political opinion matters more than anyone else's on this site but he is certainly entitled to it. SNL got great ratings which is what they wanted. Sarah Palin is no Tina but she does have a sense of humor. There is no reason for anyone to "hate" Palin, Obama, McCain or Biden. Politics is a dirty game on both sides. Chill out. Laugh if you thought it was funny, or turn the channel.

[pkafin]

"I'm not sure why his political opinion matters more than anyone else's on this site"

Well, not "more", but he was one of the original spoof news readers on Saturday Night Live (which makes him one of the originators of the genre) and he played the First President on SNL. For those reasons, ones ears perk up when he has something to say about about Presidential politics and TV humor.

Plus, and I may be wrong about this, but I think he has, from time to time, espoused some views that would be considered somewhat conservative. And, after all, it is the week to pay attention to conservatives who are jumping like rats off the sinking ship that is the McCain campaign.

[swbks]

Not sure about the conservative views but I'm in no position to disagree with the rest of the comments.

[Bettysdad]

I'm not sure, but I think this is the "entertainment" section, which covers news and views of and about people in that field.

That could be the reason why Chase's political views are mentioned.

Oh, also he was a founding member of SNL, who created Weekend Update with Jane Curtin.

If you don't "hate" people that are going to destroy your life and our country, you have no business voting

[dollphingurl]

enough already -- celebrities are americans too. it's not that they're thought to be experts. if that was the case madonna's sapphic moments with britney and xtina woulda turned a whole lot of women gay -- COME ON!

the only thing that celebrity does is give these folks an amplifier through the media - that's all. and if you like them and they agree with you already, it makes you feel good as an admirer of them. it makes you feel like you're part of a good team.

if you like them and they don't agree with your views, then perhaps it can hurt them.

but if you're a real person with your own sense of self, you don't even think to say that any celebrity is more important. duh.

[Myshkin57]

The Daily Show bit tonight from Wasilla was awesome. The current mayor of Wasilla could not name one responsibility of the mayor's office other than signing checks.

[reallymolly]

As mayor of Wasilla, is SHE ready to be Vice President? An unequivocal YES!

That was the best!

[martinchill]

totally pwnd.

"welll................... at 10am on mondays we have a staff meeting......

........on thursdays, i have to sign checks......... i pay everyone..........."

priceless. she doesn't miss a lunch, that's for sure.

[pkafin]

That was hilarious:

"We have a staff meeting at 10am on Monday.... I sign checks on Thursday"

[harriettubman]

That was the silliest show ever. What was the point?

[othorp]

I cannot believe the good reviews and all the hype.

Palin was Palin...she stood by clapping while the Rap degraded Alaska's natives & culture, mocked her(self), McCain and their campaign. Same thing that happens everyday during her speeches...stands by while the crowds follow her lead & shout profanities at whatever slanderous thing she throws out at them.

Now she is going on the Christian Broadcasting Network to 'speak her mind' on passing legislation to stop Gay Marriage on a Federal level. We already know she wants to put women's rights back to the dark ages, drill Alaska dry, kill any animal in the way and organize a secession government......

http://mudflats.wordpress.com/2008/10/20/palin-bakes-cookies-for-the-base/

From SNL to CBN and those of you screaming that all liberals are attacking her better wake up because this 'lady' will find something in your life that needs changing.........and you'll never know because she never has a 'grown-up' interview except by the 'slobber all over her' Fox people that allow her to 'talk in circles'. I'm sure that Michele Bachmann got into office the same way since Palin is Bachmann's mirror image except Palin has the AIP backing her up.

She is a good actress because she has convinced a lot of people with her rhetoric, but just for a moment close your eyes and listen to her speeches....if you still think they lead to a better path then she should get an oscar.

[CalifroniaMark]

I agree Chevy! What a waste of space Failin' Palin is. I have no respect for McCan't and Sarah Soundbite.

[SColbert]

haha love it cali.Mark!

[macbabe]

Love it, ... ALL the "intelligent" people in the world are stepping up and voicing their opinion!! God Bless you Chevy!!!!!!

[gd7277467]

Chevy Chase !

AS useless and ignorant as Palin !

NEXT !

[writerjohnny]

If I might state the obvious Chevy isn't running to be a heartbeat away from taking over the most important position in the world from a guy who looks like he's ready to go at any moment. Plus Chevy made us laugh which Ms. Palin and you will never do.

[Elizza]

It's really special that a vice presidential candidate agrees to appear on SNL, but NOT Meet the Press, Face the Nation, or any other news worthy program. This really helps to clear things up; she sure has her priorities straight. You betcha!

[TallGrrl]

Thank you!!!
She showed her butt up at SNL, but unless she's got her script with her she can't handle a REAL PRESS CONFERENCE.
Or a REAL debate. I've never in my whole life seen anything like that hot mess.
She stood there and said her lines, and read her script. And smiled and winked like she was doing fracking Summer Stock somewhere in Alaska.
And the people who think she's great?
These people have some serious issues with raging egomania ("she's like ME!") and narcissism.
Palin is the perfect example of what my grandmother used to tell me:
"Baby, if you're white? You can be dumb as a doornob and be the President of the United States."

[deckbose]

"dumb as a doornob"?

Is that meant to be ironic?

[notb observer]

The current Mayor of Wasilla was interviewed by Jason Jones of the Daily Show tonight. He asked if she was qualified to be Vice-President. She answered "Yes" without hesitation... He then asked her about the departments she runs (Fire Dept, School, etc.). She couldn'tt name a single one. He asked her to walk him through a typical day for the Mayor. She couldn't do it. She eventually came up these examples of what she did as Mayor; Staff meeting every Monday morning, and signing cheques on Thursdays.

The people who supposedly represent "real America" are mind numbingly stupid ! Would they assume they can be brilliant authors because they can write, or that they can be a Bishop because they go to church once a week ?

The whole idea of a politician being "just like us" is the most dangerous form of arrogance to ever hit the country. I'm sure it has a lot to do with the constant bombardment of reality shows which has led too many to believe they are just as competent, skilled of qualified as the next guy to deserve a shot at the big leagues.

Palin accepted the VP nomination when only a few weeks earlier she admitted she didn't know what the VP did... Any moderately intelligent person would be wary of accepting a challenge before they knew what it involved. Even a dog does a little sniffing around before venturing into something he's unfamiliar with !

[Oregon Ivy]

I love you, Chevy! :)

[TexasMike]

Anybody notice how scary Palin actually is? On SNL, Katie Couric's interview or any where else she speaks she walks away with that look saying, "Well I knocked that one outta the park, you betcha". Meanwhile the rest of us are between scratching our heads to what she said or rolling on the floor laughing at her abject stupidity.

She is the spitting image of Dubya. They actually don't realize that they posses a total lack of knowledge about anything above a high school level. (my apologies to the kids in high school) They don't know that the don't know anything. Amazing and I'm sure, short disastrous route of human evolution. That path won't get much traction.

[vegasobserver]

She is the only national politician who makes Dubya look like an intellectual!

[njborne]

Don't kid yourself ;-)

[L0ve PEace]

ONE word and you guess the next, "Lipstick"

[deckbose]

That's so true, Mike. On Weekend Update, when Seth Myers said to her, upon her saying she wouldn't do the bit as rehearsed, "You sure? But you were so good at it," Palin's response was a snarky, "Oh, I know."

Not the typically gracious, "Oh, you think so? Thanks so much." Her response was like saying, "Of course, I was good at it. How could anyone think anything differently?"

And in that way, Palin is just like Dubya. The freedom from doubt, in matters of faith and/or opinion. Especially in matters where certitude is virtually impossible.

It's like my old football coach used to say, "If you can't make the play, at least make it look good."

[Ugonna]

All you people here pan Palin, which I agree with, but then you help give her 17 million viewers. Makes no sense to me. At least I can proudly say I didn't see a lick of this until today.

[PT6]

She made no money!

She looked like SHE HAD an "OUT-OF-BODY" experience watching her own demise!

No Harm No Foul!

[newhouse1]

If you listen, not just hear, the lyrics to Amy P's Alaska Rap, you will hear a total indictment of Palin and McCain that trust me, young people got it! Completely... and they laughed, but they got it. She did herself a great disservice to the 18-25 crowd!

[MeiLing]

Don't kid yourself! A good number of us pushing 50, "got it"!

[cindyw]

We're old, not stupid. At 61, I still have a pretty good grasp of the English language.

[Blivet]

Let's face it. most watchers in the inflated viewer audience wanted to see her do a face plant.
She didn't disappoint.

[andvoodoo2]

Did you also mute your television whenever McCain spoke during the debates?

I watched her on television. I didn't buy a ticket to hear her speak or attend one of her rallies.
She is a Vice Presidential candidate and it's a live comedy show known for it's satire of politicians. You knew it wasn't going to be a Palin-friendly show and it wasn't. I watched to see her get made fun of on live television and I wasn't disappointed. It was actually better than I thought it would be. Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey both took it MUCH further than I ever dreamed they would.

I enjoyed it.

[Myshkin57]

It's not as if she gained anything from people watching who are not going to vote for her. I don't get what your point is.