As I've said here repeatedly, my childhood institution Saturday Night Live definitely ain't what it used to be. Most of ya'll prolly don't even realize the show is still on, and for all intents and purposes it isn't. The show hasn't even been watchable since Will Ferrell kicked rocks a few years ago. Now, it's pretty much devolved into a bunch of godawful skits (let alone funny), B-List guest hosts, and musical acts I've never even heard of. Maybe they should just rename the entire show "D" in a Box (pictured above) and repeat that somewhat funny digital short for 90 minutes. It would definitely be better than anything they've done in a long time.
Eddie Murphy and Joe Piscopo are crying inside.
Anyways, I pretty much forgot about the show, especially after the strike and all, but lo and behold, I look at up yesterday and the Tivo's got a new episode. The kid's asleep, I've knocked out my Honey-Do list, so I figure I'll give it a look.
It's official, this show should now be off the air. Not because this episode was particularly bad (they all are), but because the show's signature political satire, something it's always hung it's hat on, took a wild turn for the worse and actually showed rank favoritism towards Hillary Clinton. Repeatedly.
Peep this terrible, and too-long parody of last week's Texas debate. I watched the debate, and I keep CNN on lock. I don't see anything particularly partial about their treatment of Obama. Apparently the fine folks at SNL do, which might could have something to do with CNN kicking MSNBC's butt in the ratings.
Ha! Ha! So funny I forgot to laugh. And just how hard is it to get a black cast member to play Obama? Keenan Thompson (of Nickelodeon's Keenan and Kel fame) is the only brother on the show now and he's a little too big in the britches to fit the role, so the privilege went to featured player Fred Armisen, who looks the part, but fails miserably everywhere else. MadTV's Keegan-Michael Key does an Obama 10 times better, and even he doesn't nail it. So, Strike One!
After some more awful sketches that I fast forwarded past, guest host Tina Fey (who used to be an SNL cast member, but now stars on 30 Rock, TV's best comedy evar!) shoots for the hills, turning Weekend Update into a Hillary-4-Prez Infomercial. Strike Two!
Bitch is the new Black? WTH!?!?
Tina Fey is certainly entitled to her opinions, and I'd have no problem with her (or any celebrity) shilling for their candidate of choice on their own time and dime. But using a not-ready-for-prime time comedy show to make your preference known to millions (thousands?) is just wrong on so many levels. I'm apparently not the only one who thought so, because both Obama and Clinton supporters are ripping her a new one on NBC's own boards, as well as Huffington Post. What's next? Is Tracy Morgan gonna endorse Alan Keyes? Sheez.
Still, even I have limits to my own rage, because TeeVee generally sucks and Fey's show is one of the few worth tuning in to. So I'm not takin' 30 Rock off my Season Pass, but man, it'll be hard to look at this chick the same way again. One show I will be taking off Season Pass... you guessed it, SNL!
At least they redeemed themselves somewhat with this other segment on Weekend Update, starring everyone's favorite uninvited guest, Mike Huckabee.
Say what you want, but a guy who can make light of his situation like that is alright by me.
Man, MadTV's never looked more appealing.
Question: Other than the blatantly conservative Fox News, do you find any cable news outlets or newspapers clearly favoring one candidate over another? Have you actually watched SNL since the Murphy Years?
[Editor's Note: Just in case you're wondering what Jump The Shark means, here ya' go.]
‘SNL’s’ return just as expected, unfortunately [MSNBC]
Monday, February 25, 2008
An AB.com MultMedia Exposé : Saturday Night Live Has Officially Jumped The Shark.
Tags Popped: AB MultiMedia Expose, Barry 4 Prez, PoliTricks as Usual, TeeVee Sux, Web Junk
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You do your research AB! Clever!
I am too the last of a fading breed. I tune in and have been anxiously awaiting the return of SNL. (In the interim, I have taken up other nasty junk food habits like TMZ...except reality shows, hate 'em).
However, I am planning on leaving the TIVO set on the season pass. (NOTICE to my spouse!) Frankly, SNL jumped the shark a long time ago. But, if "Billary" is their candidate then so be it. I mean let's be honest, the debate skit was so honest, it suprised me. Obama is the beloved, for much of the media. He was allowed to get every single answer out in its entirety AND add some! The mediators just seemed to listen, spell-bound. I was shocked at the bias. Hillary was cut off. And when they did allow her to continue after she threw a subtle tantrum, it was like, 'damn, ok, go ahead!'
That said, the opening skit was merely a set up. They intended to mock, I swear what did in fact happen during the debate. Re-watch, u'll see! It was a set up for the end (the grand endorsement). And yeah, I didn't dig it because I am a proud Obama supporter. So, what are my take-aways? As stated, SNL viewers are the last of a dying breed. In this sense, we benefit. Clinton won't get an iota of momentum from it. Plenty of people have lost a little respect for Tina and SNL for the stunt.
Lastly, grease the stick a lil' AB. You are starting to rant like a groupie. Your bias and slant towards Obama is admirable. But you sound a little "drink the kool-aid". Media is fair game for both candidates. Depending on what channel you tune in to, it can go either way. You have to admit that Obama has been heavily courted by the media. C'mon, we are talking about SNL. Really?!
Saturday night live has sucked for years. It must bring in some scratch or else NBC would have axed it a long time ago. Look, NBC has been the new Pravda for a long time. I would suppose we should be glad they continue to blatently support a Democrat. Blacks in general will take any Democrat, even Robert Byrd, so whats the problem? They didnt kiss Obama's ass? Who cares.
As for fox being blatenly conservative, Fox does make an effort to put both sides of an issue up regardless of the political leanings of its anchors.
Question: What is wrong with having a conservative on Fox News? They are number one in cable. Perhaps Fox is giving people what they want, more than one glowing endorsement of Eurostyle Socialist thinking after another.
They split the screen at least 20 times a day with both sides of an issue. I challenge MSNBC to do anything close...
Though I was too young when Eddie Murphy was on SNL but I more than made up for it in college with reruns - some of the funniest (if not the funniest) skits ever in SNL history.
I'll agree that "D" in a box was the last thing I saw after many years that made me bust out laughing. Normally, I just check out the "Weekend Update" segment and a little political satire (mostly at the beginning) and I'm done.
Great post.
Actually I don't think this blatant favoritism exists in cable news nearly as much as it does in newspapers-owing to the fact that their editorial boards are there to express opinion.
What I've found interesting in the last few weeks is watching the Clinton camp claim continue to push the "Obama is getting a free pass in the media" line. The editorial board of the New York Times,arguably the most read newspaper by democrats, seems endlessly devoted to the Clinton cause (evidently doesn't like it when their endorsed candidate starts to falter) :
- Krugman editorials disparaing Obama's Health Plan over Clinton's
- Maureen Dowd editorial on giving Clinton a break (even though she's the biggest Clinton antagonist on staff)
- David Brook's editorial criticizing Obama supporters as substance-less
- Stanley Fish articles on how irrational hating Hillary is...
and the list goes on. So if anyone is getting blatant media support, I'd say it's Hill.
AB, Hillbilly is really reaching now: She's given an interview on the 700 Club! http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2008/02/clinton-tells-7.html
Anyone who need more evidence why they shouldn't trust her should peep this:
Mark Penn's lobbying shop is headed by John McCain's top adviser
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/2/24/14518/2213/544/463202
Oh, what a tangled web we weave....
Yes, the Obama impression left a lot to be desired, especially the vocals. It sounded more like Jesse Jackson on sedatives than anything I've ever heard from Barry.
However, my take on the Tina Fey piece was entirely different. As a Republican who crossed party lines to support Barry in the VA primary, I took it as a commentary on the incredibly thin coalition that Hillary has established (and getting thinner.)
Since we won't be getting Tivo until Thursday, I couldn't replay it, but I recall the whole piece being set up with a line something like, "And now we have a new feature on SNL, here's Tina Fey with 'Women's News.'"
The implication, at least to me, was that Hillary's coalition consists of radical feminists, and that's about it. Tina Fey said as much with her repeated, collective use of the "B" word.
Just further proof to me that SNL\NBC are blind to TRUE diversity. They like to rest their hat on Eddie & Chris as if that will carry them until the end of time.
MadTV at ONE TIME had more Black people on their show than SNL- and they were FUNNIER to me during that time [if you took away Will Ferrell from SNL].
I am not saying that you NEED Black people on your show in order for it to be funny. I am saying that you can't act like you are diverse and hip with your comedy, but need White people to play Black characters...
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