I thought it was funny. I didn't think SNL would ever hit Obama that hard but they proved me wrong.

Agreed. Last night was the first time I have observed criticism of Obama in a non-talk radio setting. I will back away from the argument that SNL or NBC is out to get only conservatives b/c I was proved wrong last night.

Yeah, it was funny and unfortunately true. The president that promised change has been a little disappointing.

The shirts were great since one of those is virtually useless now unless we are being satirical.

For some reason I agree the impersonation needs some work. I don't think he looks or speaks as much like the president as one would hope. They need to find another Tina Fey/ Palin.

Great to see SNL poking fun at the other side of the aisle. Will the President be able to laugh along like so many of the Republicans that have been portrayed? Maybe even make an appearance since he likes to be on TV.

Yes, and I agree that we have gotten "Jack & Squat" for sure!

Love it!

The sketch was right on. You expect the GOP to be dissatisfied with Obama, but everyone who supported Obama, and voted for change, have to be terribly disappointed with his administration. So much lack of accomplishment, so much continuation of Bush's miserable policies.

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I disagree. I didn't think the show last night was very funny. I thought the timing and performance of the comic that played Obama was *terrible* and the writing was uninspired in that skit and most of the others. Also the News Update was pretty lame--but it usually is.

Well it's a start. But until they attack him every week for 2 or 3 sketches and attack him as a person not his policies. Then I would say they are attacking fairly. I have watched SNL since George Carlin opened the show way back when. They have always been heavy handed when attacking the right side of the isle. From Nixon, Ford, Reagan and the Bushes all have been attacked at a personal level. But they seem to hold back on Carter, Clinton and now Obama, yes there was skits on those Presidents, but never or a personal level like there were on the others.

Political content aside, he really needs to work on his impersonation. The few times I DO watch SNL anymore I am always quickly reminded why I do not, most of the time. Weekend Update with Seth Myers stands out in quality, but everything else drags on forever, or shows up several times a season in overkill.

I thought the take-down of Obama was hilarious Saturday night when I watched it and, after watching the video clip, I really appreciate that both the writing and Fred Armiston's delivery are brillant. Isn't this what good satire is? Based on truth, on target, and not insulting or demeaning. Three cheers for SNL from this Obama fan.

it was funny, and I was surprised they would do it, I hope they keep it up and I like that they are continuing their tradition to being fair

Ha! This is proof that although Obama saved the country from the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression, Obama has not accomplished anything.

Z., I'm with you on the "fine-tuning" bit re/ the recent SNL parody of Pres. Obama by ensemble cast-member Fred Armisen. Didn't quite hit on all cylinders, for yours truly.

Being a professional caricaturist/ cartoonist for longer than I care to admit (just kidding), I'm very attuned to basic body language and physiognomy, i.e., facial charactristics. Admittedly, Armisen has more than a vague resemblance to Barack Obama. But the President's rather prominent ears are one of his diagnostic features. So maybe Armisen could have the SNL make-up crew rig up some 'appliances' that would fit behind his ears, to push them further away from his temples. Just a thought. (I'm half joshing here.)

A close facial resemblance of a particular parody-comic to his parodied celebrity- subject is kind of a fortuitous bonus, but key to any successfully convincing satirical send-up, for me, is the capturing of the verisimilitude and true cadence of the 'parodied-subject's' voice, their unique body language while speaking in public, and of course the strength of the sketch material, i.e., how funny the writing.

Last Saturday's Obama parody basically outlining his ineffectiveness in getting important things done in his (almost) first year in Office, was fairly successful, content-wise, yet Armisen didn't appear to attempt to closely mimic Obama's typical halting, measured, almost plodding delivery, w/ his characteristic "ahs", "ums" and pregnant- pauses, as he (Obama) seems to be collecting his thoughts, making sure to articulate his observations and views in the most unequivocal, precise terms possible.

Maybe since there was a lot of material to cover in the sketch, Armisen just basically put aside any attempt to capture even a semblance of Obama's speech cadence, or quirks of body language and articulation, merely forging ahead w/ the monologue.

SNL's masterful, versatile mimic, Darrel Hammond, who has hung in as one of SNL's longest-tenured cast-members, not only tends to nail the physical subtleties of most of his most memorable parodied politicians, like Bill Clinton and Dick Cheney, but he's so right-on in his SNL send-ups that ofttimes you feel like he's almost channeling these famous personages.

Comedian Dana Carvey was a genius at parodying both George Bush senior and junior (Dubya) even though he resembles neither, and never availed himself of any kind of artificial make-up 'appliance' to render himself more Bush-like.

Comic Will Ferrell does an excellent George W. Bush, and has the uncanny ability to conjure up the physical traits of our last President by furrowing his brow, squinting, and pursing his lips in such a way that you almost believe you are looking at the 'real-deal'. Ferrell's syrupy, Texas- drawl and generally doofus-like demeanor just add to a most convincing, and totally hilarious parody of George Dubya.

Back in the early, halcyon days of SNL (mid-'70s) I really enjoyed fellow Canuck, Dan Aykroyd's parody of the brooding, slightly paranoid Pres. Richard M. Nixon. Even though Aykroyd was a physically big man, well over six-feet, and Nixon was of average stature, Dan had all the nuanced body-language of 'Tricky Dick' down pat (Oops...sorry Mrs. Pat Nixon); the perpetually hunched shoulders, the nervous pacing of the Oval Office, the right-hand fused to his chin w/ the shifting, back-and-forth eyes. I always conjured up the image of a worried vulture. HA! The slicked-down, shiny, shellacked hair just added the perfect visual touch to the-almost-perfect Nixon parody. (Maybe veteran actor Frank Langella was taking notes from Aykroyd in prepping for his Nixon role in both the stage, and theatrical versions of "Frost/ Nixon".)

Now Chevy Chase's send-up of former Pres. Gerald Ford , I could never quite get my head around. Chase looked nothing remotely like Ford, and the incessant pratfall running-gag from sketch to sketch, week to week, got old very fast, for me. I don't know if Ford , a gifted natural athlete, ever was particularly fond of Chase's parodies, that made him (Ford) out like a slap-stick, accident-prone version of a young, goofy Jerry Lewis.

Billy Crystal, a gifted celebrity parodist, looks nothing like Mohammed Ali, Howard Cosell, or Sammy Davis Jr, and yet he had the basic essence of all three of these distinctive characters down pat. Crystal makes it so easy for the audience to suspend their disbelief when riffing satirical. I really believe this ability to mimic is a true gift. You either got it, or you don't. Simple as that.

So summing up, I do give some 'creds' to SNL's Fred (Armisen) on his B-grade effort (just my opinion) last Saturday night , but he better start "fine-tuning" his act, because there are at least 3 more years of potential Obama parody material just begging to be written and performed.

Say good-night, Gracie.

ALEX

ALEX,

They need to find another Tina Fey/ Palin only for President Obama. It was unbelieveable how much they looked and talked alike. I enjoyed the satire in this.

Will America survive with Ubama and the Democrat Congress in power for the next four years.

LOVE the skit SNL, you definitely got it right this time. As for Obama News Network ONN, oops I mean CNN, pleassssssssssse. The facts speak for themselves. Obama is not a leader and has shown that time and time and time again. Can't wait until the remainder of his 3.2 years are up.

Yeah, the SNL piece is spot on. I don't know if America can endure mild healthcare reforms or progressive taxation for the next 3 years.

Mmm Mmm Mmm good