On SNL: another post I'm likely to regret

After a 15-year-long hot and cold romance with the program, I think I'm finally at the point where I might have to stop watching Saturday Night Live.  This is not an easy decision for me because I really have always loved the show.  Some of my fondest teenage memories are of staying up late with my dad to watch the mock Bill Clinton and Ross Perot debates. 

You know, back when the show was actually funny.

For many years now, Dave and I have noticed that we almost never laugh at SNL.  At least not out loud.  And when we do actually laugh, it's just because someone in the cast loses it and starts cracking up in the middle of skit.  It's a sad state of affairs when the only funny they can muster is the funny that wasn't supposed to happen.

But it's not the lack of funny OR the fact that I virtually never recognize the musical guests anymore, it's the politics that are going to make me stop watching.

I have thoroughly enjoyed SNL's political humor in the past.  As far as I'm concerned they didn't mock George Bush ENOUGH.  (or at least not CLEVERLY enough).  There's plenty of fodder for hilarity when it comes to politics, but this season the show is so skewed to the left that if I didn't know better, I would assume that Obama's campaign was just writing a check for the entire 90 minute production.

I could stand several minutes of complete and utter Republican bashing (Tina Fey's Sarah Palin is DEAD ON) and I might even LAUGH at it, but why can't they devote at least SOME time to mocking the Democrats??  It especially bothers me that when they mock Democrats, they mock their personalities (like mocking Hillary as a boner shrinker and her husband as a womanizer), but when they mock the Republicans, they include the policies.  They attempt to undermine candidates. 

Last night they went ON and ON about Palin's lack of foreign policy experience, but they'd never in a million years mock Obama's lack of executive experience or voting history.  During the debate skit they made sure to get in some of Obama's talking points (like 95% of people getting a tax break and that McCain voted with Bush 90% of the time).  Meanwhile, they make up fake porkbarrel spending policies and pie eating contests for McCain.  The funny was 100% at Republican expense.  And just think of all the hilarious fodder they're passing up by not doing at least ONE SKIT on Obama's pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright.  Apparently everything except Obama's big ears is off limits!

Why should the show be funny to only HALF the population?  It makes no sense at all.  It's almost as if they don't WANT me to watch anymore.  Why do they have to make their political agenda so obvious?  And most importantly, where is their political counterpart?  Where is the Fox News of late night comedy?

Comments

[Mom24@4evermom]

I have to say, I'm the complete opposite. This year is the first year I am enjoying it in a long, long time. I don't know if it's as much a political agenda. The Katie Couric interview was horrible, I think they would have been foolish to ignore it. Unfortunately, many of the words they used were her words. I have seen them mock Barack Obama and Bill Clinton as well.

[simplysandi]

I totally agree with you. I have been watching SNL since the 70's - with Belushi, Akroyd, Radner, and then during Mike Myers, Adam Sandler, Chris Farley. I was excited to start watching again when Michael Phelps was going to host. I missed the beginning and didn't see Tina Fey. I watched it for about 20 minutes all the while thinking, wow, are they really taking the democratic slant? I turned it off, and have no desire to watch it again. I did see Tina's "Sarah", and it was good, but the show isn't. I am glad I am not the only one who has noticed.

[Grace]

I have to say that I am probably one of the few people that also sees the entire scope of the matter that there is a one-sided take that many entertainment outlets are taking. I can definitely see certain station's slant on how they convey information to the public - and it's mighty disappointing. Especially when its a news outlet. SNL? They're supposed to be funny...but you'd hope that they'd evenly disperse skits between BOTH parties. [sigh]

[KMC]

On this I have to agree with you. Not since they mocked the media all being completely in love with Obama during the democratic primary election, have I seen any humor at the expense democrats. And now they are taking it too far making their personal political views very clear. We get it, we all know who you are voting for, now stop campaigning for him.

[alison]

I don't watch it so I can't offer an opinion, but I did see Tina Fey do Sarah Palin and it was so right on I almost couldn't watch it.

[Jen Boisvert, New Boston, NH]

couldn't agree with you more. say it like it is, sistah. don't regret speaking truth, either. that's all you're doing.

[Don't Understand.]

You have to look objectively at this whole mess we are calling an electoral race. You may be complaining about the republicans getting bashed on, but they are not saying anything conclusive, and beating around the bush on many topics. So of course people are going to make fun of them! If they were actually going to change anything and not just carry on the Bush legacy and ruin our economy even further, than maybe there would be a chance. McCain is old, and Palin very inexperienced. Neither have strong leadership skills. People need to vote for someone who is going to pull us out of the growing financial crisis. You probably won't listen to any of this, but when you find out what McCain's real policies are let me know.

[Kelly from Almost Frugal]

Uh oh, another political post! I thought you weren't going to go there...

I haven't watched SNL in donkeys' years (or elephants', if you prefer), but I never thought it was that funny.

[ginger]

No, I noticed it too... there are plenty of ways they could make fun of Obama too, but they haven't taken advantage of them much. I'm also with you on the musical guests - I never know who they are or recognize anything they do. But I guess that comes with age!

[David]

"People need to vote for someone who is going to pull us out of the growing financial crisis."

By voting for the party primarily responsible for putting us in this financial mess? A novel approach.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxgSubmiGt8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMnSp4qEXNM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MGT_cSi7Rs

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/record.xpd?id=109-s20060525-16

[cindy w]

I haven't watched SNL in ages either - saw the Tina Fey/Sarah Palin thing online, but that was it. It hasn't been funny for a looong time, I don't think it has much to do with politics. Although maybe I'm not seeing it from your angle, since I'm about a 180-degree opposite of you politically. I.e., you mentioned that you like Sarah Palin, and every time I hear her bungle her way through an interview, I want to stick a fork in my eye. (Also, I grew up in the deep South surrounded by all that self-righteous born-again Christian crap, and it makes me sick to my stomach.) That's not to say that I think Obama poops rose petals and rainbows, but still. You can probably guess where my vote is going.

A couple of weeks ago on "The Daily Show," Jon Stewart made a joke at Obama's expense and the audience was dead silent. He stopped his little shpiel and said, "You know, it's okay to laugh at him." I think the problem is that most Democrats (um, like me) are so terrified of the idea of having 4 more years of basically a continued Bush administration that it's hard to find humor in the guy who might actually fix the mess we're in. (At least from the way I see it, I know you have a different point of view, and that's fine.) But that being said, whoever is in power ends up the target of ridicule. So we had Clinton jokes, we had Bush jokes, and if Obama wins, I'm sure that eventually even his most ardent supporters will eventually come around and make fun of him a little bit too.

[melissa]

I lean Democratic politically, but I totally agree. I looked at my husband and said, "Well, the writers have certainly made up their minds, haven't they?"

It seemed really one sided and unfair.

[Nancy R]

Politics aside, I agree that they haven't been that funny for years. You can see them TRYING to be funny and that immediately makes it not so.

[pookahs]

Yah, SNL hasn't been funny enough to watch in years, but I keep watching. Except a few shining moments, such as the Justin Timberlake episode. Mostly, I feel like I can catch the actual funny stuff online, if I so desire. It makes me yearn for the funny years though.

I do see the slant that you see as well, I see it as a little less offensive though for a few reasons. I think everyone should be fair game on SNL and get equal coverage. (For full disclosures sake, I do have different political views than you do, but also I don't see why anyone should be nasty towards you for expressing political views on your own blog, especially when you are talking about SNL! :)

I think that that Obama and Biden have offered less stuff to make fun of in the past couple weeks. I mean, McCain lied to Letterman about why he had cancel his appearence and Palin was evasive in the Couric interview, for example. BUT more than that, I think SNL has had a fair bit of trouble finding a good Obama impersonation within the cast of the show.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V8aeTx2ltc

Obama doesn't really seem to have funny quirks or an accent or mannerisms that lend towards a dead on impression, which has led to boring skits that SNL has done with Obama in the past . Aside, from Braxcula, and Fauxbama. Fauxbama drew a lot of criticism for its racial implications as well...

Also there were some jabs about Obama in the skit last night. The line about like 95% of people getting a tax break and that McCain voted with Bush 90% of the time, was actually a joke because Obama got those figures wrong in the presidential debate on Friday. Those aren't the actually numbers. And I did think "Bill Clinton" in weekend update was pretty funny, and he was making fun of democrats and the Clintons.

And I just wrote a book on your blog so I will stop now.... But SNL should make fun of everyone, not just the political view the writers or cast generally hold although they have done that in the past as well.

[KUchick]

"By voting for the party primarily responsible for putting us in this financial mess? A novel approach."

That's what's wrong with voters today. We vote for parties, not people. Red, blue, us, them, my team, your team.

SNL hasn't been funny since the early '90s! I don't know anyone who watches it.

[g-mom]

We stopped in the era of John Belushi, Gilda Radner. After they were "gone" it just wasn't funny to us any more. Unfortunately, I never did understand how South Park was funny either. Guess we're old. LOL

[Ceece]

I totally agree that SNL has been hit or miss for a while now, but then wow this Saturdays episode was just...bleack, I didn't even crack a smile through the whole episode.

I never really paid attention to what they were making fun of, I knew they made fun of both sides and thats all I "kept track of".

Perhaps it has to do with the shows target market audience, as sad as it is, there's probably a lot of money and time spent on finding out what the writers should write about.

[Catherine]

Cindy W is dead on. SNL may very well skew towards mocking the right this year, but come on. The Republic ticket this year is so ripe for the picking, comedy wise, it would be malpractice not to mess with them if you are a late night comedy show or comedian.

Not that there is nothing to poke fun of with the Democrats. There is, but Cindy is right, we're all so terrified of losing this election and dealing with 4 years of McCain-Palin (seriously, I simply think about the cancer and a death in office and her administration and I shudder) that the ability to laugh at ourselves flies out the window. Sad, but that's my truth.

[Alias Mother]

I don't watch SNL because I am old and go to bed at, like, 8, so I can't speak to this specifically. However, I do believe you and it is a shame that they are so one-sided when there are certainly PLENTY of comedic pickings available in this crazy election.

That said, I do agree that there's just more easy fodder on the Republican side right now. Perhaps they aren't being malicious, just...lazy? I am (David, look away) a Bill Clinton fan and during the late 90s I kind of felt like he and his policies were just getting destroyed. And rightfully so, because that man is a walking caricature. Some people and policies are just lower-hanging fruit, and when you've got churn out a show a week, I imagine pushing yourself to reach higher takes discipline.

(Also, stop apologizing for these political posts! I kept hoping that Jennsylvania would do some so I could get a Republican viewpoint from a smart, interesting, but mostly non-political blogger. I enjoy hearing what real people think, especially when those people come at things from a different angle than I do. We can always learn from each other, doncha think?)

[midlife mommy]

I guess I wouldn't have expected anything different, with Al Franken providing the material.

I have a blog post that I'm kind of hesitant to put up about the hatred lately in the blogosphere. I read a lot of blogs in specific subject areas, but they aren't supposed to be political (I don't read any political blogs, even though I'm a news junkie). I admit that I've been quietly removing people from my bloglines because of all the vitriol (though I'm sure they don't care). I have to say it has been one sided, i.e., slamming the Republicans. I just really don't want to hear how old and stupid someone thinks Sen. McCain is, and how terribly unqualified they think Gov. Palin is. I get that most of the bloggers I read don't like them. So don't vote for them, mmmkay? Now please, let's get back to your beautiful children, your infertility treatments, the best kids' shopping deals, or whatever.

I can't countenance the haters on either side -- regardless of who wins, all this (and everything else) does is make us so polarized that we can't possibly work together on November 5th. (BTW, I don't categorize you as one of the haters.)

Honestly, November 5th can't come soon enough for me.

[Chris]

We should not be ashamed of our politics, nor should we avoid engagement. Perhaps our reluctance to exchange our ideas in this country has contributed to our general apathy towards government. That and this black and white mentality that one team is right and the other, by default, is wrong. I don't condemn finger pointing, especially when it is backed by evidence. I do condemn failure to accept responsibility, however.

It's laughable that conservatives like David want to blame Clinton, and Carter 3 terms before him, for the current financial crisis without accepting one ounce of responsibility for this mess. While the Community Reinvestment Act likely played a role, it is not solely responsible for this mess. Republican economic policy has ruled our banking system for the past eight years. The same policy of deregulation and questionable banking practices that led to the Great Depression and championed by Republicans, including John McCain, contributed directly to our financial crisis. Even Secretary Paulson admits as much. It's time to own up, but instead Republicans are running away from their own party policies. And that is funny.

You are right, SNL usually focuses on parodying personalities and not policies. But when policies are as ridiculous as they have been, they are ripe for the picking.

Whether you agree with me or not, let's not be afraid to exchange ideas. And, let's be civil.

[Stacy]

Seriously, nothing to make fun of the Democrats for? How about Joe Biden saying that Pres. Roosevelt went on TV in 1929 when the market crashed...a)no tv in 1929 b) Hoover was President. Come on, that is funny no matter who you support.

[Janie]

McCain picked a ludicrous VP candidate who's fantastic fodder for comedians. No one else on either ticket comes close. SNL goes where the laughs are, and the Republicans have been eminently laughable for quite some time.

[Missie]

I didn't read everyone's comments, so someone may have already said what I am going to say.

I don't watch SNL and haven't in a long time, simply because it hasn't been funny. Now, I won't watch it because of the blatant political one-sidedness of the show. I feel like there should be a voice over at the end of certain skits saying,"I am Barack Obama and I approved this message."

Please tell me that no one actually thinks that had McCain spent 20 years (heck, even 20 minutes!) in a church headed by a blatant race-bater, that SNL wouldn't be all over that. SNL also seems to have forgotten that Palin is NOT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT! Have they made this much fun of Biden? And believe me, there is plenty of fodder there--or did no one else see him telling a paralyzed state senator to stand up?

If they were equal in their lampooning, then maybe I would watch.

p.s. I miss ClubMom, where I could catch you and all the other mombloggers in one place. Like one-stop blog reading.

[cindy w]

Stacy makes a good point: Biden is probably pretty easy to make fun of, if they put their minds to it. I wonder if maybe they just don't have anyone on the cast who can do a good impression of him?