'SNL' Political Secrets Revealed: Hillary's "Entitlement," the Sketch Obama Killed, etc.

Hollywood Reporter ^ | 8/20/14 | Tom Shales and James Miller

[LRoggy]

In an exclusive book excerpt, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and even Sarah Palin recount the inner battle between the left and right

This story first appeared in the Aug. 29 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine.

From Chevy Chase's bumbling commander in chief to Tina Fey's dim-witted veep wannabe, political satire always has been a part of Saturday Night Live. And over its 39 seasons, actual politicians have clamored to be in on the joke. President Ford, running for a second term against a peanut farmer named Jimmy Carter, appeared on the show's very first season, in April 1976, to deliver the cold open ("Live from New York, it's Saturday night!"). Since then, presidents, first ladies and candidates of all stripes have made campaign stops at Studio 8H.

For a time, after 9/11, the cast and writers gave politics a rest. As Amy Poehler recalls, "The news was so bad [we] could barely do anything political." But political humor made a roaring comeback with the 2008 election. That political cycle's most bizarre media meta-moment had to have been Sarah Palin appearing on SNL on Oct. 18, 2008, alongside Fey impersonating Palin (the segment helped the show draw its largest audience in 14 years with 14 million viewers).

[LRoggy]

Very interesting insight into SNL's thinking on politics. And Horatio Sanz comes across as an A** . . .

[eizverson22]

I hope the media overstatement out some political insider.

[dfwgator]

I will say that when Farrell did Bush vs. Darrell Hammond’s Al Gore, it hurt Gore a lot more than it did Bush.

Farrell had to hate that.

My favorite though was Norm MacDonald’s Bob Dole, especially when they spoofed him on “The Real World” (’No one eats Bob Dole’s peanut butter’)

[wbarmy]

I think most of them come off as an A** after reading the whole thing. They were specifically trying to hurt Bush and Palin, admitting it, and admitting they failed.

It isn’t comedy to them, it is political speech. Maybe there is a lawsuit in there.

[detective]

“the last couple seasons of the show were the only two in the show’s history where we were totally like every other comedy show: basically, an arm of the Hollywood Democratic establishment. [Jon] Stewart was more nuanced. We just stopped doing anything which could even be misinterpreted as a criticism of Obama.”

SNL’s head writer describes the show in the Obama era.

It is no longer comedy. It is just partisan political propaganda. Even the writers of SNL say this.

[detective]

“They were specifically trying to hurt Bush and Palin, admitting it, and admitting they failed.”

When Sarah Palin went on the show it had the highest rating ever. She helped the people who portrayed her as an idiot.

Sarah said when she was forced to appear with Alec Baldwin she wanted to say “I thought you promised you would leave the country”.

The SNL people would not allow her to say that. They made her say something bland and let others attack her as Caribou Barbie etc.

[SevenofNine]

Actually I prefer Sinatra group with Phil Hartman that was funny skit

I do remember that Real world skit

[SevenofNine]

Alec even said on the skit to Palin
You are hotter in person LOL!

[SevenofNine]

Have you see Mad tv skit on Bush and Kerry

I don’t know who comedian who play John Kerry they did trading spouses that was funny skit

I miss Mad tv especially Bobby Lee doing skit on Kim Jong 11

[Robert DeLong]

James Downey, producer-writer: If I had to describe Obama as a comedy project, I would say, "Degree of difficulty, 10 point 10." It's like being a rock climber looking up at a thousand-foot-high face of solid obsidian, polished and oiled. There's not a single thing to grab onto — certainly not a flaw or hook that you can caricature. [Al] Gore had these "handles," so did Bush, and Sarah Palin, and even Hillary had them. But with Obama, it was the phenomenon — less about him and more about the effect he had on other people and the way he changed their behavior. So that's the way I wrote him.

You obviously weren't trying very hard James Downey, as I can think of a number of ways to make comedy (read - ridicule) out of him. Not that what does does is funny, but he truly is an idiot.

[SevenofNine]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8XZcYmibRk

[SevenofNine]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37mRspXHXT0

[dfwgator]

Speaking of Hartman his portrayal of Reagan in the “Mastermind” sketch was brilliant

[1010RD]

It’s live isn’t it? She should have just said it. It would be a million dollar clip.

[SevenofNine]

OH I remember that skit

Ronnie was picture with girl scout he plan Iran Contra affair next LOL!

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

You are right - Horatio is a total douche

[dfwgator]

Then he’s on the phone speaking in Arabic to the Saudis.

[Bratch]

[dfwgator]

Here it is

https://screen.yahoo.com/president-reagan-mastermind-000000075.html

“BACK TO WORK!”

[wideawake]

Horatio Sanz

What's he doing these days?

Is he still alive?