Marci Klein, SNL Producer, On Sarah Palin's Handshake, Writing Hillary Clinton Sketches, Discovering Will Ferrell & More (VIDEO)

Marci Klein, senior producer of "Saturday Night Live" and executive producer of "30 Rock," recently sat down with host Julie Menin for her NBC New York show "Give and Take." Klein spoke about everything from Sarah Palin's firm handshake to Hillary Clinton's anger over sketches about Chelsea to how she discovered Will Ferrell.

In the wide-ranging interview, which airs on NBC New York as well as streams on JulieMenin.com, Klein — who recently booked her father Calvin for a guest spot on "30 Rock" — also discusses infamous moments in "SNL" history, like Sinead O'Connor ripping up the pope photo and Ashlee Simpson storming off-stage in the middle of her set.

"Give and Take," a new show about current events and women's issues, launched this week and "will provide a unique place for leading women from different disciplines to talk about their lives and the issues important to them and other women," says the host (who is also a Huffington Post blogger). In addition to Klein, upcoming guests include CNBC anchor Maria Bartiromo, Mayor Bloomberg's longtime girlfriend Diana Taylor, Tru TV anchor Jami Floyd, and Caroline Hirsch, owner and founder of the legendary Caroline's comedy club.

The interview with Klein was cut into five clips, rolled out individually this week on JulieMenin.com. Parts III and IV are below. For Part I, in which Klein talks about meeting Lorne Michaels, and Part II, in which she discusses how she knew Will Ferrell would be a star as soon as she saw him, visit JulieMenin.com.

Part III: Klein talks all about the politicians that "SNL" has hosted over the years. She says John McCain has a "great sense of humor" and that Sarah Palin was one of the most confident people she's ever met. "I actually was the first person to meet her," Klein said of Palin. "I was standing there, and I thought, 'Oh my God, she looks just like Tina!'" Klein said Palin had an "incredibly strong handshake" and that she was overwhelmed by her resemblance to Tina Fey. "A lot of people come to our show — actors, musicians — and they're nervous...she was not nervous. I thought, this is the most confident person I've ever met."

Part IV: Klein discusses the influence of "SNL" on "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report," and talks about the way the media, and "SNL" specifically, treated Hillary Clinton during the campaign. "Personally, there were moments between dress and air where I'd say, 'Can we be nice to her? Why does everyone hate her so much?'" she said. Klein added that over the years Clinton has weighed in on the show's treatment of her, in particular its treatment of Chelsea.

Comments

[Okieborn]

This Baby Boomer Thinks Marci Klein Is a Beautiful Lady and Might I add Very Talented !!!!
Keep Up The Great Work !!!!

[bassinapple]

There was always a disconnect between what the media was telling us about Gov. Palin and what we could see for ourselves. She had given plenty of interviews to local media and even C-SPan before the VP announcement, where she was completly knowledgable about issues pertaining to Alaska. All four candidates made gaffes during the election. Yet she was held to a double standard. Sexism?
Or did the Demorcrats see her as a threat? She did lift McCain it the polls.

[chopenhopper]

I think it was fear more than anything. See, most Republicans talk their "closed-minded, forget the little guy, don't pay attention to science game, but palin acutally BELIEVES it. Very Scary. Yes they all made gaffes, but she couldn't anser a question with any clarity, reason, or intellect. I dojn't think it ws becasue she is a woman--neither do most others.

[JKPHILLY]

Ok, so she can shake a hand......­..........­..........

[wideawakenow]

As far as Palin goes, ignorance is bliss.

[Dystopic]

Stupidity should not be confused with confidence.

[dashboard]

Its good to see SNL hires the handicapped, Ummm, Ahhh, I, I , I start to finish a sentence and then change my words. eeewww.

[dashboard]

and she looks like Amy Poehler after a very rough nite, rode hard and put away wet.

[diamonded]

I hope this lady never reads these comments and beyond that I have to wonder what's shaping the tone of the majority of them. This is really informative. This is what people in the public eye wake up to every morning. What has she said or done in this interview to piss off so many viewers? She's not snarkey, rude, overbearing, mean-spirited... wait I may have stumbled onto something. Maybe if she had embodied all of the above, she could have escaped all this vitriol.

Luckily, with all her natural beauty, professional successes, financial independence, and overall command of her universe, she has no need of respect, appreciation, understanding, or anything else from this audience, and that's as it should be.

[E-MU]

Thank you! Your first paragraph says what needs to be said about this and so many other sites.

[JKPHILLY]

I think that anytime you have Palin in the subject line....folks will be automatically incensed....

[psmarc93]

Ummm... are you talking about Gov. Palin? Whatever her self-motivated qualites may be, remember, she went on the show. She went on. She said, I'll go on, and she went on SNL. She may not need that audience's appreciation, but she sought it, and failed.

[Steve Frank]

Man i'm the only one to think this woman is a babe? Love her expressions...
She's beautiful. SNL great show!!

[exile]

it's not odd that someone can be "most confident" when they sleep with god by their side, pray to destroy mere witches flying around in the sky overhead, snap their fingers and hundreds of real americans over 325 lbs and under 85 IQ points bow down and beg to kiss her feet.

[darkclouds55]

It's easy to be confident when you know, without a doubt, that GOD is on your side and has anointed you for this time and purpose. She's a person who has no trouble making ANY decision necessary that affects ANYONE else's life. Thank God they lost! (Although she seemed somewhat nervous and hesitant in front of Couric.)

[Anndoheb]

Oh Man! How long does it take to say nothing? I hate to attribute how painful this is to anything sexual. But aren't writers supposed to be articulate? I really can believe however that the SNL folks are starfu**ers enough that they just loved giving Klein's kid a title though. But then we aren't seeing her do her actual job, so maybe we just aren't getting a good impression by this interview.

[chigirl 1]

I completely agree with how frustrating that was to watch her stumble painfully through each empty answer, but I don't see why that has anything to do with her gender? She's not a professional interviewee, she's not a writer, she's a comedy show producer. While, for SNL's sake, I'd keep her from doing interviews on behalf of the show without a little more training - her downfall here doesn't seem to be attributed to anything other than she's a poor speaker - regardless of if she's a chick or Calvin Klein's daughter.

[rob2007]

Dishes? The SNL producer did not "dish" on handshakes or anything else. She could barely express herself.

[JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin]

Just need to say something to Tina Fey....

Marci mentioned that Tina Fey thought Sarah Palin was better looking than she was.

Tina, you are BETTER looking than Sarah.

Tina probably won't believe me, but I needed to say it anyway.

[Skyhawk]

She works hard for the money. *wink*

[NewYorkMike]

Calvin Klein has made women look beautiful and sophisticated for decades and his daughter has not learned a thing about a public image from him? Take some lessons from your ex step mom Kelly if you can. Clearly this woman should stay behind the cameras. Makes you question the whole idea of the appeal and validity of a meritocracy.