Basking in the success of its endorsement of Sen. Hillary Clinton's candidacy for the Democratic nomination for president, NBC's late night warhorse Saturday Night Live announced today that it would abandon comedy to embrace its new role as a political kingmaker.
Lorne Michaels, executive producer of the venerable late night show, said that the election returns from Tuesday night were enough to convince him that the show should stay away from comedy altogether and focus its energies on making political endorsements.
"We want to be able to do one thing well," Mr. Michaels said. "And if it's a choice between doing comedy and choosing the next President of the United States, we're going to drop the comedy part."
Mr. Michaels said that the decision to get out of the comedy business and move towards full-time political endorsing should come as no surprise to its viewers: "We've been gradually moving away from comedy for years."
The Emmy-winning producer added that NBC viewers who are disappointed by his show's format change and want to look elsewhere for laughs "can always watch Tim Russert."
Arguing that fans of the show will ultimately be "delighted" by its new mission, the late night pioneer touted what he called "a really exciting" lineup of future guest hosts leading up to the Pennsylvania primary: Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, and musical guest George S. Clinton.
Elsewhere, presumptive GOP nominee John McCain accepted a congratulatory call from former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and then immediately changed his phone number.
Andy Borowitz is a comedian and writer whose work appears in The New Yorker and The New York Times, and at his award-winning humor site, BorowitzReport.com. He is the host of "Countdown to '08" at the 92nd Street Y on Tuesday, May 13 at 8 PM with his special guests Susie Essman (HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm) and Jeffrey Toobin (CNN, bestselling author of The Nine. For tickets, go to 92y.org.
Follow Andy Borowitz on Twitter: www.twitter.com/BorowitzReport
In Texas and elsewhere, the result was pretty much as expected, although I do believe that Rush Limbaugh's endorsement of Hillary had an impact. You see, this guy actually has a huge audience of devoted followers hanging on his every word. So I wonder if Obama might have won if it hadn't been for that Hillary endorsement.
Great piece, Andy. Except you spelled "whorehouse" wrong.
Dear Mr. Russert,
Questions I hope you and other respected journalists will ask of Senator Clinton as well as research yourself:
1) Please give specific examples of your participation in a) Peace talks in Northern Ireland b) the Kosovo refugee crisis--how did you influence the outcomes of these events? In what official capacity did you act at these events and what specific actions did you take, decisions did you participate in that can help Americans assess your foreign policy /national security experience and expertise over and beyond that of Senator Obama's?
2) How does your speech on women's rights in China substantiate your claim to foreign policy experience or your readiness to respond with sound judgment to an international
crisis as you suggest in your red phone ad?
3) Please give us examples of your work on the Senate Armed Services Committee and instances of how your superior judgment was tested and employed in that work.
4) What do you say to those who argue that in the most crucial test of judgment bearing on your potential to exercise sound judgment on foreign policy and in behalf of national security interests, you failed to demonstrate
a thorough enough consideration of all the evidence at hand so as to come to a decision you, and many other Americans, would not later regret-i.e. your vote to authorize the president to go to war with Iraq?
I believe that they should stick to comedy and remain neutral.
For an entire year Hillary was treated as the “Chosen one" by the media. In debates it was as if the other contenders needn’t have bothered showing up. She stood center stage a proud peacock ready to strut her stuff.
I’m sure Hillary enjoyed being considered the only' viable' candidate for the Democratic nomination. There was no hue and cry by the other nominees.
Suddenly, Barack Obama surged ahead with a unifying message. Seemingly No one paid attention. No one that is, except the citizens of this country.
They desperately took hold of the ideas long abandoned after the last two farcical elections that we can change the direction of this country.
A movement began.
People are coming out in droves with the belief that we are united and all of us matter.
Only when the apathetic have become motivated to act, did Hillary look around from her campaign plateau with “it's about me" tune playing in her ears and realize that the country’s focus has shifted towards a collective us?
Not only does she try to stem the tide, she cries poor me and the media rushes to her aid?!
We don’t need to have another source killing the inspiration that has motivated democrats to get out and vote and feel once again like our votes matter.
If Saturday Night Live takes this “endorsement stance ultimately they will lose more viewers than they will “entertain†in Obama Bashing.
_______________________________________________
Gradually?
As a side note, the comments in this blog continue to prove the old saying that "satire is lost on the dimwitted".
The viewers have been gradually moving away from watching SNL.
One must ask: Who do the Clintons know at GE that they could use SNL as part of their campaign strategy? Don't forget Hillary is just part of the Washington lobby controlled in crowd just like John McCain and George W. GE wants those defense contracts and the known DLC sold out quality these insiders bring to the table.