'Saturday Night Live' sinks teeth into underdog McCain
You have to admit that it was inspired and surreal even by the standards of this remarkable election -- John McCain, the real Republican presidential candidate, teaming up with Tina Fey, the actress you plays GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live, to do a shopping channel infomercial.
Some analysts will surely see it as a moment of debasement by a desperate McCain, but it did give him a chance to embrace the poor-me underdog mantle he has wrapped himself in for the last few days -- and to reach a larger audience with it than he could ever hope to garner on his own.
For SNL, it gave them one more big gulp of record ratings and another night at ground zero of the hot spot in American popular culture where politics and TV meet in this once-in-lifetime election. (The overnight ratings were second only to the episode in which Palin appeared -- and the difference was only two-tenths of a ratings point.)
One other thing, to all those McCain and Palin supporters who whine bitterly to this blog about how SNL and Jon Stewart and all the "elite liberal press" never make jokes about the Democrats as they do about the Republicans, read on. Here are bites of the two sketches in which McCain appeared, complete with plenty of shots at Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN – "Good evening, my fellow Americans, I'm John McCain.
TINA FEY AS GOV. SARAH PALIN – "And, you know, I'm just Sarah Palin."
MCCAIN – "The final days of any election are the most essential. This past Wednesday, Barack Obama purchased airtime on three major networks. We, however, can only afford QVC."
FEY AS PALIN – "These campaigns sure are expensive." (She strokes the rich fabric of her jacket's lapel -- a reference to the $150,000 in GOP that she spent on clothing and accessories for her and her family.)
MCCAIN – "They sure are. So tonight, we come before you to give you some final remarks on our campaign."
FEY AS PALIN – "And, as part of our agreement with the QVC folks, we're gonna try and sell you some stuff."
MCCAIN – "This has been an historic campaign, so why not remember it with our line of collectible products. Such as ten commemorative plates that celebrates the ten Town Hall debates between Senator Obama and myself. They're blank, he wouldn't agree to those debates. Too bad. They're still nice plates.
FEY AS PALIN – "And who wouldn't want the complete set of limited edition 'Joe' action figures? There's 'Joe the Plumber,' 'Joe Six-Pack,' and my personal favorite, 'Joe Biden.' If you pull this cord, he talks for forty-five minutes.
(SHE pulls cord)
JASON SUDEIKIS AS SEN. JOE BIDEN (O.C.) -- "I take the Amtrak to work every day. Then -- after work -- I take it home. Let me tell you something about Joe Biden..."
MCCAIN – "It's great if you want to clear out a party."
FEY AS PALIN – "Or keep deer out of your yard."
MCCAIN – "But we're not just here to sell products. We're here with a message. We are at a crossroads in American history. The leadership of the next four years will have many challenges and I believe my experience and my leadership will make a difference.
FEY AS PALIN – "Also too – sorry -- I need to remind you that there are just two minutes left in our 'Washington outsider jewelry extravaganza.'"
MCCAIN – "Are you someone who likes fine jewelry and also respects a politician who can reach across the aisle? If so, you can't go wrong with McCain Fine Gold.
(CINDY MCCAIN displays the "McCain Fine Gold" like a game show model)
MCCAIN (CONT'D) – "It commemorates the McCain Feingold Act -- and also looks great with evening wear. Thank you, Cindy."
FEY AS PALIN – "And what busy hockey mom wouldn't want to freshen up her home with Sarah Palin's 'Ayers Fresheners.' You plug these into the wall when something doesn't quite smell quite right. Also too, it's good because it reminds people about William Ayers."
MCCAIN – "Having trouble cutting through a tough piece of pork? Not anymore, with John McCain's complete set of pork knives. 'They Cut The Pork Out!'"
FEY AS PALIN – "So instead of going to one of those elite department stores with their liberal agendas and over-priced items and their gotcha return policies that violate your First Amendment rights, why not do your holiday shopping with us? (SHE turns to a different camera) Okay, listen up everybody, I am goin' rogue right now so keep your voices down. Available now, we got a buncha' these 'Palin in 2012' T-shirts. Just try and wait until after Tuesday to wear 'em okay? Because I'm not goin' anywhere. And I'm certainly not goin' back to Alaska. If I'm not goin' to the White House, I'm either runnin' in four years or I'm gonna be a white Oprah so, you know, I'm good either way."
MCCAIN – "What's going on over there, Sarah?"
FEY AS PALIN – "Oh...just talkin' about taxes." (SHE winks)
MCCAIN – "Look, would I rather be on three major networks? Of course, but I'm a true maverick -- a Republican without money. And I'm not like my opponent; my only showbiz connections are Jon Voight and Heidi from 'The Hills.' So, I'm here on QVC, and like QVC, this campaign promises you three things: quality, value and convenience."
FEY AS PALIN – "And great deals on juicers."
MCCAIN – "So when you go to the polls on Tuesday remember, 'Country First,' as a reminder all undergarments are non-refundable and Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!!!
A "Weekend Update" sketch with anchorman Seth Meyers interviewing McCain on last second strategies was more embarrassing for the candidate in my opinion.
MEYERS – "With the election only three days away, most polls show Barack Obama leading John McCain by a slight margin. Here to comment on his campaign strategy, Senator John McCain."
MCCAIN – "Thank you Seth. You know, a lot can happen in three days. And while I am confident that we will emerge victorious, I'm also considering a few radical last-minute strategies."
MEYERS – "New strategies, like what?
MCCAIN – "Well you know how people call me "the maverick"
MEYERS – "Yeah."
MCCAIN – "Well, I thought I'd try a strategy called the 'Reverse Maverick.' That's where I do whatever anybody tells me. I don't ask questions – I just go with the flow. If that doesn't work, I go to the 'Double Maverick.' That's where I go totally berserker and just freak everybody out. Even the regular mavericks."
MEYERS – "That doesn't sound like the best strategy."
MCCAIN – "It isn't. And here's another bad one. It's called 'The Sad Grandpa.' That's where I get on TV and go, 'C'mon, Obama's gonna have plenty of chances to be President! It's my turn! Vote for me!'"
MEYERS – "Yeah, I don't know if I'd do that."
MCCAIN – "OK, then here's a good one. It's called 'The Charleston.' That's where I only campaign in Charleston, South Carolina. Really lock it down. Meet every single resident three or four times. Or how about 'The Forrest Gump.' That's where I just start jogging across America and eventually everything works out.
MEYERS – That might work.
MCCAIN – "Or maybe 'The Rocky IV.' I live alone in the wilderness and pull a sled through the snow until I'm in peak physical condition."
MEYERS – "How would that help you win an election?"
MCCAIN – "It won't. But if I ever have to fight Vladimir Putin, I'll be ready."
MEYERS – "Alright, well if you had to choose one strategy in the remaining days, what would it be?"
MCCAIN – "Seth, my basic strategy is the one I've stuck with since I started this campaign: connect with the voters, talk with them honestly about the issues, and stand by my record of service to this great country."
MEYERS – "And if that doesn't work?"
MCCAIN – "Probably the 'Double Maverick."
And it wasn't all McCain satire. Host Ben Affleck was brilliant in sketch ridiculing the pompous, over-the-top, self-absorbed MSNBC host Keith Olbermann -- a frequent target on this blog because of my concern about the direction MSNBC has taken as management caves to Olbermann's narcissism.
Affleck also did a funny piece as Alec Baldwin doing a guest appearance on The View.
But ultimately, all roads led back to McCain Saturday -- with even Affleck, a long-time Democratic supporter, offering a mock endorsement of the Republican candidate.
The evening never had the electricity of the season premiere when Fey first appeared as Palin. But it was a fitting end to an incredible run by SNL, which raised the bar forever on political satire for television.
Above: NBC Photo by Dana Edelson
Comments
That opening skit was hilarious (McCain Fine Gold). Even if McCain loses, it's still nice to see his sense of humor.
As for the so-called "whiny people" on this blog who talk about the liberal media never satirizing the democrats...doesn't SNL make fun of both parties? Remember how much they made fun of Bill Clinton? I do! And I was only 10!
Posted by: Alex | November 2, 2008 6:04 PM
Fxxx the Republcans. They deserve no mercy or respect until they can educate themselves.
Posted by: King | November 3, 2008 6:50 AM
The Biden action figure keeps "elk" out of the yard. Not deer.
Hello, the script that NBC sent out says "deer," but on the show, Fey said elk. She must have ad libbed -- and elk is funnier. But the "official" NBC script of the show says "deer." Think of this as a footnote in a Ph.D. dissertation explaining the discrepancy. I'm kidding. Thanks for the comment. I am sure I will get others. After five comments, I am changing the copy to "elk." Z
Posted by: Jeannette Belliveau | November 3, 2008 9:08 AM
Hey, Z-man! Thanks for the shout-out to bitter whiners!
I can't believe you are suggesting that a few skits makes up for a relentless drumbeat that has gone on for months. The fairly recent Daily Show segment mocking the Berkeley anti-Marines protestors was brilliant, but it is as obvious-as-an-acme-anvil-to-the-head that the Stewart-Colbert crowd's satire comes almost entirely from one worldview.
I don't believe in the so-called fairness doctrine, so I think SNL and other outlets have a right to be as one-sided as they want. People who'd like to see the other side mocked, however, have the same right to complain and whine and hope for a day when they are given better fare than "An American Carol."
Hello fellspointsosfan: I had to smile at the "bitter whiners" opening shot. It was a good one. But where are the bitter whiners? Are they in hiding already? I have not yet heard from the gang. I'm missing them already. But seriously, I think there is a tilt in one direction to most satire this season, but I think that is as attributable to who is in power as it is to an inherent bias. When the Clintons were in power (or expected to be in power in Hillary's case), they got hammered with an anvil pretty regularly. Thanks. And you don't sound bitter at all, so I suspect you are not truly a bitter whiner. kidding. Z
Posted by: fellspointosfan | November 3, 2008 3:04 PM
hi fellspointfan,
Settle down, Beavis.
The Olbermann skit was great, because he is a pompous blowhard, and the skit exaggerated that to a ridiculous degree, which is what comedy is all about.
Put your comedic thinking cvap on: is nothing in this world funnier than Sarah Palin as Vice Presidential candidate? Hell, Fey recited actual Palin lines and got laughs...Wake up.
It's not bias to make fun of things that are unbeleivably stupid. It's comedy.
Posted by: Adam Annapolis | November 4, 2008 2:54 PM