The Saturday Night Live Debates

[zachman]

Saturday Night Live will host its 30th season opener tomorrow. The SNL debates in 2000 arguably sunk Al Gore and helped paint the charicature image of both candidates. There will likely be a debate sketch in tomorrow's debut.

The players:
Seth Meyers- It is key to note he is from my town of Bedford NH, and a graduate of Manchester West High School (another reason to vote for John Kerry). He picked up the role of John Kerry in the Al Gore episode in 2002. In the past he has portrayed Kerry as monotone and has used light hand gestures in the role.

Chris Parnell- Played Jim Lehrer in the 2000 debates. I can see him interjecting between exchanges and hiding back angry at his lack of stardom.

George W. Bush could be played by Will Forte or by guest spots by the hilarious Will Ferrell. I expect whoever plays Bush to make a schtick out of 'mixed messages' and unnatural pauses.

There is also the Tim Calhoun factor.

What are your predictions?

[YRABNNRM]

My personal prediction is that it will be terrible. SNL has been going down the tube since Ferrell left, the political skits have sunk even lower. Everyone who has tried GWB after Ferrell has failed miserably.

It's a shame too, there could've been so much potential with the right people.

[zachman]

My personal prediction is that it will be terrible. SNL has been going down the tube since Ferrell left, the political skits have sunk even lower. Everyone who has tried GWB after Ferrell has failed miserably.

It's a shame too, there could've been so much potential with the right people.

Agreed. I also don't think Thursday's debate was particularly funny, and I'll be surprised if a debate sketch will be in par with any debates in 2000.

[Fmr. Gov. NickG]

I think Seth Meyers does a pretty good John Kerry.  Much better than Forte as Edwards.  But that doesn't necessarily mean it will be funny; you never know.  Tim Calhoun is hilarious, but he'll probably just be on weekend update....he's also played by Forte.

I wonder what percentage of Americans think Bush actually said "strategery" in 2000?

[zachman]

I wonder what percentage of Americans think Bush actually said "strategery" in 2000?

I thought he did until I read it was fake in an article just 1 month ago.

[agcatter]

It will suffer in comparison to the 2000 skits simply because those skits were so good.  They nailed both Gore and Bush.  My actual favorite was their skit on debate #2.  They showed Bush obviosly over coached on foreign policy and Gore overmedicated.  Nailed both men absolutely.

[Donovan]

I think it will bomb too. They just are not as funny as they use to be.

I don't like SNL as much as I did back in the 90's. In part because I grew up and don't view that type of comedy as funny anymore, and in part because the talent hired by SNL is not as skilled as in the 70s, 80s, and 90s.

I long for the days of Chevy Chase, Eddie Murphy, Steve Martin, Billy Crystal, and John Belushi.

They were funny, not these guys now. They are just weird to me.

[Swing low, sweet chariot. Comin' for to carry me home.]

Moderator: "Please state you name."

Bush: "Uhhh, Uhhh, Geor.., Uhhh,  Bu.., Uhhh................W"

Moderator:  "Your name is W?!"

Bush:  "Uhhh....It's not that simple....Uhhhh....I've been President, so don't question my name!"

[Wakie]

I almost expect to see something with Kerry being stoic and Bush constantly chugging water and then doing the "pee-pee dance".

[stry_cat]

i onlyl saw the clips on ABC's This Week.  What that showed was great. Almost wish I had stayed up and watched SNL

[The Duke]

It was classic.

Its hard work......workin' hard......coming in on Saturdays.......coming with two whole plans, a regular plan and a back-up plan...........it's hard............

[YRABNNRM]

Eh...I saw it...I didn't like it.

MADtv had a great skit on what it would be like if Madden commentated on the election, it was hillarious.

[??????????]

SNL has sucked since 1990

[khirkhib]

It was really funny and poked fun at both.  Later on in the show their was a funny skit about Kerry, Tereza, Carville and Clinton.  The funniest line was Clinton refering to the Kerry's he said, "Watching those two express effection is like watching two lobsters in a kung fu movie."

Clinton was in Florida to aid Hurrican victims and he said "The only thing better than Trailer Park Girls is Desperate, Wet Trailer Park Girls."

In the end they had a funny film about the Bush in Kennibuncort in the late 80s.  more conceptual

[The Vorlon]

The early to mid 80s was really the high-point of late night comedy.

When you look bach the assembly of talent of SNL, and also on the canadian show "SCTV" was a remarkable combination of talent we have not seen since.

Dana Carvey in the early 90s did an absolutely "dead on" George HW Bush, but sisnce then the talent poll has been pretty thin.

[zachman]

MADtv had a great skit on what it would be like if Madden commentated on the election, it was hillarious.

Amen.

"Boom! 500 points to Maine!

[DFLofMN]

SNL should have been cancelled about 8 years ago!

[NYGOP]

SNL should have been cancelled about 8 years ago!

8 years ago exactly I agree. That's about when Farley, Carvey, Sandler, MacDonald, etc. left the show.

[No more McShame]

The early to mid 80s was really the high-point of late night comedy.

When you look bach the assembly of talent of SNL, and also on the canadian show "SCTV" was a remarkable combination of talent we have not seen since.

Dana Carvey in the early 90s did an absolutely "dead on" George HW Bush, but sisnce then the talent poll has been pretty thin.

I always thought that Hartman's Clinton & Ferrell's Bush 43 were really good.