SNL Mocks Governor Paterson (VIDEO, POLL)

SNL's Weekend Update targeted Governor Paterson again last night, this time over his being asked to step aside in the 2010 governor's race.

In the comedy bit, Fred Armisen as Paterson likens his accidental ascension to governor to "finding one of those magical monkey paws that grants wishes -- I was psyched to get it but then horrible things started happening right away."

For those who feel that Armisen's portrayal of Paterson has been offensive to the blind, last night won't change any minds. Paterson is mocked throughout for his sight-deficiency, including the idea that when in DC, he would try to stick his "ATM card into the Vietnam Memorial."

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Comments

[fya]

LMAO. New Jerseyyyyy­yyyyyyyyyy­yyyyy

[Flavor]

Comedians, do what they do and that is make fun of any situation, but this is the way I look at some things if I speak about someone to get a laugh and know it would hurt the person and their already sensitive I probably would not do it. We also have to realize that when your a public figure your bound to get hit by comedians so you have to not take it personal. Eddie Murphy, did a good elvis presley and he was a fan of his but he was not trying to degrade him but I think to get a joke on someone and their eyesight I don't know if I would do that.

[mtrav]

Did they go too far? You betcha. It was disgusting, it made my stomach turn, at the very end when they had him looking directly toward the camera, that was beyond the pale.

[Alarmist]

someone needs to lighten up, huh? Have you ever been to a comedy club? Everyone and everything is made fun of, and those people who are being targeted..laugh at themselves too! If you think this went too far, then you better never watch SNL, or Jay Leno, or Conan, or even Everybody Loves Raymond...who knows, there might be a joke in there somewhere!

And, politicians are open to ridicule in any form.

[dillydawg]

The world has had enough of the New Jersey jokes.

[gabberwok]

No. It really has not.

[McGuinness]

hahaha.

I agree.

and no one even asks to fix it.

haha. It's Jersey.

[Peter Bury]

The blind jokes are in poor taste to be sure, but the NJ jokes are a riot, It's not that there is any truth in them but that they imbue the Patterson character with such contempt for the state.

SNL once had an sketch with Rat Charles where they donating a painting to be auctioned off for the blind. The painting turned out to be a note in big letters that said, " PLEASE DON"T TELL HIM" It was funny because Ray Charles was in on the joke.

[McGuinness]

That wasn't Rat Charles, that was Ray...with Tom Snyder...and you can correct my spelling on that.

Now Mr Charles, why Ray the musician, not "Ray the watchmaker"

Ray also told Tom his hair was about 6 different colors.

I liked the one with Stevie Wonder using his Canon Canera...

that was funny. come on people...I know blind guys....they ain't as depressed as I get.

[McGuinness]

Time to take another look at those NSFW pics....

[McGuinness]

The way I see it...first off, David Patterson himself is a funny witty guy. He inherited a quagmire. I just like him a lot. I think Fred's impression of him is funny, the "New Jersey" hook is great, and I really think if Gov. Patterson watched close, he would like the sketches.
Yes, I feel sorry for his handicap, but Gov. Patterson doesn't. Heck, I could work at McDonalds....this guy was LT gov. God Bless him, I hope he wins if he runs, and I just like him.
This is a comment section, right?

[glorialovelace]

I like him, too. I like him a lot more than I like Lorne Michaels.

[argentino]

making fun of someone's handicap is funny?

sorry, not to me...

[McGuinness]

I just think that a public figure is open to all kinds of satire.

actually, I wouldn't mind Patterson as Pres. There are none so blind as those who can not see....New Jersey from the West side of Manhatten!

He's a great guy. Fred is doing a great job. That is MY take on it. And Gov. Patterson doesn't need nor want sympathy.

[Crispian]

Would be great for Patterson to run for President in 2020, a year of perfect vision.

[dreadylocks]

Offensive? Sure. Hilarious? Definitely.

It's nice to see some truly daring comedy on tv, and also comedians sticking to their guns.

[argentino]

"truly daring comedy"

you're kidding - right?

[glorialovelace]

I don't think it's "daring."

I think it's "putzy."

[dreadylocks]

Making fun of someone for being blind takes guts. Guts that most comedians these days don't have. Sorry.

[MzzJames]

There goes SNL again taking down a political figure. Paterson can't catch a break and it's certainly b/c he's a blind man and black. I'm someone who never uses the race card but in Paterson's case it's as clear as daylight.

[JoyceBains]

I think the fact that SNL chooses to have a white man portraying black characters says it all.

(Cue for ARMISEN IS 1/88TH HISPANIC in 5...4...3...2...)

[4KixAfter6]

Whats his deal with Jersey?

[MC71]

He's been there. He knows Jersey. Me too. Most corrupt state in the union. Quick, name three Atlantic City Mayors and 10 Pleasantivlle politicians who have NOT been indicted in the past 20 years... And that's for starters.

[scottowego]

New York is just a corrupt as New Jersey. I know. I was born and raised in Jersey and I worked in New York for twenty five years

[argentino]

don't forget union city and jersey city...

[scottowego]

It's tradition.

[Arrech]

Indeed.

[mcmutter]

David Paterson has lived a mockable life.

[sassafra]

here's where i part from most progressives; i find stereotypes at face value to be patently ludicrous, and as such they are fine parody and therefore funny.

[Lizzle]

It's satire, stop polling about it, it's nonsense. I mean, Patterson didn't see it, did he?

[Jorge Al-Subbad]

It's humor and Paterson is a somewhat whimsical figure himself so it's not being made up out of whole cloth. I think the first time they did the sketch there were multiple shots of Paterson(Armisen) stumbling around the set or sliding his chair around that might have been taken as a general rip on being blind and that was what was complained about. Otherwise... Paterson can take a joke and is known to be quite funny if not outright weird in his behavior. Armisen has honed the imitation so well and mined it for maximum comic effect. Paterson as part of his personal story has taken none of the preparations that the blind often undergo to exist independently... no physical training, learning braille or training with seeing eye dogs or canes. He therefore exists somewhat in denial but has achieved significant things despite this. The downside is that he is rather awkward, doesn't make any effort to cover his eyes, and has the odd demeanor that Armisen captures flawlessly . and like ALL New York politicians with a New York City address he is ripe for lampooning. Then the KILLER move where Armisen suddenly opens eyes wide and focuses LASERLIKE at the camera... "NEW JERSEY".. pure old school vaudeville.

[mtrav]

Did you?

[jnatch]

wow deja vu

didnt they do this a year ago and didnt HP ask that quesiotn then