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

[joceeco]

Yeah, this chic is a drag! I need a drink to get through this interview.­...maybe a few drinks!

[Max01]

I believe her ex-hubby was thinking the same when he left her for another woman.

[Dystopic]

a bit uncalled for ... she may have had persistent feminine itch

[josefgancz]

This has a very "local" quality to it. Pointless to watch. Not of interest to people who are not in NYC.

[phlashba]

The level of sexism in the comments makes me think I am on a right wing site. Here's the test: Just say, "would I make this comment about a male". That's what I thought.

[OleLadySquawking]

When I was a kid I was fat and ugly and everyone ignored me, but then I lost weight and everyone fawned over me. Today I am a confident adult, not because of the fawning but because of the lack of it. It made me a better person all the way around. Palin is one of those people who is used to having people fall for her looks so she never has to develop much character, she may appear confident but like beauty it is only skin deep. Thus the whining when she is called on her gaffs, she has no common sense of the absurd about the things she says.

[E-MU]

"Palin is one of those people who is used to having people fall for her looks so she never has to develop much character.­.."

So many of the posts delve into Palin's psychology and some characterization of her formative years to explain the HuffPost crowd's distaste for her: it's her religion, its her looks, she's never had to work for anything. How do you know any of this? Its absurd.

If she was liberal you would be scratching through her past to explain her gritty determination, her relentless pursuit of her college degree, her common touch that only a woman of the people, from the people and for the people could develop.

You all work too hard: if you don't like her, ignore her. If you don't that's your choice - why you can't simply walk away.

[tora]

Fred on SNL has been impersonating Marci on his "Guy with ADD reading his Newspaper" skit. She's a total ADD.

[RanceSpergl]

Why is Julie Menin a vapid bobble-head?

[zendem1]

Lorne's mistress speaks.

[phlashba]

because she is a woman??????

[212garrett]

Unlike many people here, I thought this was interesting.
Marci Klein is a TV executive--not a politician, not a spokesperson, not a model. Not sure why you're holding her to those standards.
I enjoyed hearing her take on behind-the-scenes of SNL, where she has a very major executive role. I don't always find the show especially hilarious, but I continue to be impressed with the stars they get to appear on it week after week, year after year.
Plus I think many are adding their own prejudices to Marci's Palin comment. She said she was one of the most confident people she had ever met. That's it. And in her job, Marci HAS met tons of extremely successful and famous people.

[JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin]

So it's OK for a TV executive of a major NBC show to go on an interview programme and be incredibly inarticulate, not comb her hair, and look deshevlled.

She is a professional, and they are certain standards should maintain, like everyone else in the professional world. She's awful.

[Beowoof]

C'mon! You call her awful on her lack of standards and you spelled disheveled incorrectly. Now if you're going to take issue wit her profession­alism.....­.

[Oldtt]

She isn't the CEO of ExxonMobile, she works mostly behind the scene with a bunch of comedians. Ron Howard is an award-winning director who does TV interviews dressed like a slob. Ditto Adam Sandler.

[NotMcCain]

She turned down Stephen Colbert? haha.

SNL would be 100% better if it were even 10% as funny as either TCR or TDS.

[JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin]

I wouldn't be bragging about that one if I were her.

You're right. TCR and TDS are vastly funnier than SNL is.

[KarenGeorgetown]

How do I get this job? I am funny, I understand funny... I am hard-working, detailed-oriented and 22 times more articulate than this woman. What DOES she know?

[zendem1]

She knows what Lorne likes.(win­k)

[FedupinChicago]

Maybe it's not what she knows, but who she knows. Her dad is Calvin Klein.

[JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin]

When you daddy's Calvin Klein, you can get almost any job.

[ModerateMouse]

Palin is not a victim of sexism. In fact no one has done more to harm the cause of women. She is everything we want our daughters to NOT be.

I have relatives in Afghanistan fighting religiously motivated xtremists.

Sarah Palin is a religious extremist. She also belongs to a secessionist party whose founder said, "The fires of h e l l are frozen glaciers compared to my h a t r e d for the American government­." See 1:20 mark and see if doesn't make your skin crawl.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xmt0rLtgmK0

Sarah Palin also belongs to a church that preaches that t errorists are God's punishment on I srael.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13098.html

I f ear and any person that would belong to a secessionist party and who believes God uses t e r rorist as an instrument of justice. People in the 50's were blackballed for life for any hint they belonged to a leftist organization. Palin and her husband belong to a secessionist party whose founder said, "I've got no use for America or her da mned institutio­ns." and get free passes from the MSM.

I also am not afraid to say I fear and despise anyone who raicebaits and incites mobs. To me, Sarah was reminiscent of George Wallace. Her apologist say they don't see it, but I can assure you these people did:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rTps4Iau1E

In the 50's just a rumor

[markstl3828]

how does an article about saturday night live turn into bashing palin ? get a life, the campaign is over.

[ModerateMouse]

Bashing? I prefer to call it EDUCATING. Call it a public service.

[stagebandman]

Then why is she still campaigning?

[Oldtt]

The last politician I recall being bashed over statements by his church leader was Barack Obama, and everyone argued that guilt by association wasn't fair. I guess what's okay for the gander is no good for the goose. It seems to me that all your statements about Palin being a race baiter and a riot inciter are based only on your opinion, however deeply you hold it. I do not believe she is a member of AIP and I never heard any report that she agrees with the founder's views about America. Disagreeing with you doesn't make me a Palin apologist. I think her qualifications for VP were thin at best, probably at the level of Dan Quayle or Ted Agnew, but that was for the voters to decide in November, and they did. I don't mind that Palin is criticized, but the continuous attacks on her are so mean-spirited that they degrade the conversation.

[Beowoof]

I agree. Peeling the bark off of her was counter productive. Her political views were enough to go on. It might backfire in a future campaign.

[hamchunk]

Obama wasn't guilty by association with his former church/ pastor (for political expediency) because the MSM did not want to pick up the story because they had already picked him as a favorite and for fear of appearing racist. The MSM had no such investment in Palin. Plain and simple.

[Texas4Patriots]

Why isn't the Left screeching about President BoBo's hate-America-church where he spent 20 years pretending to be a Christian?

[CitizenFarmer]

Now I know why SNL leaves Chelsea alone; they are fearful of Hill and Bill.

[Oldtt]

If Chelsea Clinton were herself running for office she would be fair game. If she is just campaigning to support a parent - like many other children of politicians - I don't think she should be fair game.

[omahadave]

I listened for a few minutes. She doesn't know if Hillary was treated unfairly? How can you not have an opinion on that? Why would I listen to someone so empty headed? Waste of time.

[OleLadySquawking]

Anybody can appear confident if they don't have a brain to realize just how stupid they are.

[finishcurve]

LOL.

[itssafetosay]

Exactly!

[Texas4Patriots]

On your level - only stupid people call others stupid.

[drec1500Madrid]

She produces a comedy show?

Seems a bit up tight for the job.