SNL: Hillary Clinton Meest 2008 Version of Herself (and Special Guest)

It would be almost unthinkable to have Amy Poehler and Tina Fey back to host Saturday Night Live without revisiting one of their funniest sketches. Back during the 2008 campaign, Sarah Palin had been added to John McCain's GOP ticket, and Barack Obama won a brutal primary against Hillary Clinton. The SNL version of this eventuality was a classic, that lives on as a highlight in SNL history.

Eight years later, with Hillary running again, SNL finds her dreaming about meeting her former self. . .and her former competition!

And just for fun, here's the classic bit.

SNL: Latest GOP Debate Skewered

Image from SaturdayNightLive.com

Amy Poehler and Tina Fey cohosted this weekend's Saturday Night Live, and it was frankly one of the best episodes of the past several seasons. SNL continues to attract nay-sayers, people who are fond of saying "Saturday Night DEAD," or that it hasn't been funny in decades. Of course, they've been accusing it of being cursed with suck since John Belushi left. As a regular watcher, through thick and thin, I think the cast has gelled, and is currently very good. And when they've got stellar guest hosts, they get a dynamite show.

The cold opening actually followed a real Democratic presidential debate, by spoofing the most recent Republican one. And it was a hoot. Darrell Hammond was back as Donald Trump, since current "leading man" Taran Killam was serving as Ted Cruz. That's unfortunate, because Killam's Trump is better than his Cruz. Otherwise, the bit was a home run.

Adam Scott & Amy Poehler Recreate Hart to Hart Opening

It has to be a small sliver of people who are tickled to death by the oddball humor contained in remaking a classic 70s/80s television opening sequence, and the behind-the-scenes mockumentary of its making. I am part of that sliver. I loved the recreation of Simon & Simon that Jon Hamm did with Adam Scott last year, and I love the Hart to Hart remake from last night's Greatest Event in Television History (again) on Adult Swim. I loved both original shows also, and was one of those weird kids who really dug the music and editing in these classic openings.

It doesn't hurt that Scott, Poehler (and Hamm, Paul Rudd, Jeff Probst, Horatio Sanz and everyone else involved in both sequences) have a warped, dry sense of humor, and chemistry with each other. I can't imagine what you'd call this subgenre of comedy, but it hits my pop culture sweet-spot with a bull's eye.

And here's the whole mockumentary behind the clip.

SNL: One More Really!?! With Seth & Amy

Seth Meyers is leaving Saturday Night Live to take over Late Night (whose star, Jimmy Fallon, is taking over The Tonight Show with Jay Leno), and this weekend's show was his last. I would argue that this is a good thing, since he was head writer of Saturday Night Live. The show has frankly gotten a bit stale, and pretty much everybody thinks the writing is the biggest part of the problem. That's not to say that Meyers' tenure as host and writer of Weekend Update hasn't been great. It's usually the best part of the show.

Though Weekend Update has been the linchpin of SNL for most of its run, it has been since 2000 that it's had its most successful (and longest) stretch. It began with Tina Fey and Jimmy Fallon replacing the brusque Colin Quinn (who replaced the way too deadpan Norm Macdonald), totally rejuvenating the bit. When Fallon left, he handed off to Amy Poehler, who was arguably even more popular. When Fey left, Seth Meyers seamlessly filled in,  and then finally flew solo. Meyers could sometimes seem adrift solo, but it was still a 13-year stretch with a lot of continuity.

Poehler came back for Meyers' swan song, for a reprise of their popular bit, Really!?! With Seth & Amy.


And Meyers put a button on a long-running bit with the Bill Hader (who is also leaving SNL) "Stefan" character. It was one of a series of gay-related skits in the Ben Affleck-hosted finale, a subject Meyers is often criticized for using gratuitously. These were mostly benign and funny though, I have to admit.

My Favorite 2013 Super Bowl Ad: Amy Poehler for Best Buy

Best Buy may be a company on life support, but they couldn't have done better than hiring Amy Poehler to give them some buzz. Apparently, Amy can make anything funny. I really want to know why Parks and Recreation isn't a bigger hit!

SNL: "Really!?! With Seth & Amy" on Birth Control

Amy Poehler came back along with her friend and host, Maya Rudolph. So, viewers were lucky to have a reunion of the old Weekend Update team, Seth Meyers and Poehler. Their  Really?!? segment was one of their best, and this new one is no exception. Hilarious.

Really With Seth & Amy; Dueling Governor Pattersons (SNL)

SNL Kicks Off 36th Season with Amy Poehler

Image from Pop Culture Feministas

I've been a regular viewer of Saturday Night Live since (literally) the very beginning. But I'll admit, it's had its strong years and bad years, and lately it's been more bad than good.  It has always been rare for any show to be funny all the way through. If the "cold open," the monologue and Weekend Update are funny (or 2 out of 3), then it was a good show.  The musical guest, and anything after WU are given a pass if those other elements are good.  Last season, they sometimes weren't even hitting 2 out of 3.

If last night's show is any indication, they've done something to fix things.  Traditionally, the first show of the year is a disappointment, considering how much has happened over the summer, and how much material they have to work with. This year broke that streak with the strongest debut I can remember since the triumphant beginning of the Dana Carvey/Phil Hartman/Jon Lovitz/Jan Hooks/Dennis Miller era in 1986. That show--with guest host Sigourney Weaver--is one of the few examples of an SNL that was good all the way through.  On Saturday, guest host Amy Poehler helped pull off the same feat.

This is a clip from the cold open, with an excellent use of a topic that popped up while the show was on break. Kudos to the writers, and Kristin Wiig, who did a great job as CO'D.

Betty White to Co-host Saturday Night Live?

Image from source, Popeater

Though I had to read portions of the post excerpted below a couple of times to get it, apparently Betty White--the object of a Facebook campaign to host Saturday Night Live--will at least get to co-host the show. Which is probably better than White hosting it solo. I mean at 88, and given the rigors of the show. . .well. . .read on.

[Excerpt]

Why Betty White Shouldn't Host a Full 'SNL'

The word on the street is that Betty White will, at least partially, be on 'Saturday Night Live' ... though not in the hosting role that many had hoped. With a major Facebook push to thank, the concept of Betty White hosting 'SNL' is a great one on paper, but the logistics of it actually happening are a little more complicated. While we're confident she's enough of a consummate pro to pull off a full show -- and she's certainly funny/cool/hip enough, as well -- it's just better off that she isn't hosting a full episode. . .

Read more at: Popeater

SNL: "Really?!? With Seth & Amy" on Wall Street

Amy Poehler made a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live, joining Seth Meyers for Really?!? With Seth & Amy. The subject was Wall Street getting H1N1 swine flu shots before others. Great stuff.

SNL Skewers FOX "News"

Saturday Night Live is as uneven as it ever was, comedy wise. Even the glory days of the "Not Ready for Prime-Time Players" had spotty episodes more often than not, we've just colored them with heavy doses of nostalgia. But the rule that still holds from the early days, is if they have a strong cold opening, monologue, first skit and Weekend Update, the episode feels more solid. Last night, the cold opening skewering of FOX "News" was hilarious. Weekend Update was strong, with a surprise appearance by Amy Poehler, and the other two bits were above average. So, great show, SNL!

SNL's Weekend Update Gets Its Own Show

Image from Weblo

This is good news. For many, many years, the gauge of a good Saturday Night Live episode depended upon three things: a good "cold open," a good monologue, and a good Weekend Update segment. If they miss on one or more of those, the episode stinks, by and large.

So, expanding Weekend Update into prime time could be a real shot in the arm to the 34-year old show. Or, it could stretch the writers too far, and ensure a bad show on Saturday night. Who knows? Unfortunately, this announcement comes at a time when Amy Poehler has her own sitcom, as does Tina Fey. Seth Meyers is good as the anchor, but the format works much better as a team: Tina Fey and Jimmy Fallon, Fey and Poehler, Poehler and Meyers. It always feels like Meyers is waiting for the hand off for his jokes.

Anyway, as a fan, I'll look forward to the new Weekend Update episodes. And then, as usual, I'll probably offer my savage review (and watch anyway).

[Excerpt]

NBC’s ‘Weekend Update’ to Expand

“Weekend Update,” the satirical television news segment, worked during the presidential election year, and now NBC will again try to capitalize on interest in the news by producing it as half-hour specials during its next prime-time season, as well as the usual segments in “Saturday Night Live. . .”

Read more at: New York Times

SNL "Really?!?" With Seth & Amy (Blagojevich)

I had an extremely lazy weekend, and blogged almost nothing after Friday evening. It was a nice break, but leaves the blog a little empty. So, since I won't be able to write anything until this evening, here are a couple of quickies. The first is from Saturday Night Live from this weekend, which featured the last appearance of Amy Poehler.  There were more good bits, and solid skits this episode, which featured host Hugh Laurie.  You can check out the entire episode at SaturdayNightLive.com.

Amy Poehler Returns to SNL as Hillary Clinton

Last night's Saturday Night Live wasn't the best or worst episode of the season, but it wasn't great either. Still, the return of Amy Poehler--however short-lived it turns out to be--was welcome. There are a few other female cast members, but other than Kristin Wiig, none have really burst out as identifiable talents. Maybe Amy can help school them before she goes.

Amy got to perform as Hillary Clinton one more time, here to comment on the Secretary of State appointment. And Darrell Hammond as Bill Clinton is hands down the best Presidential impression in all of SNL history, in my opinion, no matter what the skit is.

Amy Poehler Has Baby; Misses Saturday Night Live

Photo from Chicago Improv Festival

Amy Poehler, one of the funniest cast members of Saturday Night Live, missed tonight's episode (except for a filmed segment) due to the birth of her son, Archie. She couldn't have missed a better night, because the show just wasn't very funny. I know, it's a constant criticism, but to be fair, there are usually one or two funny skits, and you can depend upon the cold open and Weekend Update for solid laughs.

But not last night. The opening skit, about Jack Murtha and Joe Biden's gaffes this week was deeply "inside politics," and probably only appealed to right-wingers desperate for a game changer. WU was fine with the fake news, but the "robo call" segment was bad, and the Nicholas Fein bit--once funny--is out of gas.

I say this as a fan who has watched since episode 1 in 1975, who has seen every rise and fall of the show. I don't think it's Saturday Night Dead yet, as it always bounces back. And back again, sometimes in the same season. The sad part is, Poehler won't be back. But maybe Amy will make some guest spots, like Maya Rudolph made last night, which was one of the brighter spots in a flat show.

In any event, congratulations to her and her husband, Will Arnett.

[Except]

Amy Poehler baby causes mom to miss 'Saturday Night Live'

Poehler, who is married to actor Will Arnett ("Arrested Development"), gave birth to Archie Arnett earlier Saturday in New York, according to a post-show NBC statement.

The network said the baby weighed in at 8 pounds, 1 ounce, and that mother, child and father were all healthy and resting comfortably. . .

Read more at: Chicago Tribune

Sarah Palin Visits Saturday Night Live

I am not a fan of Sarah Palin. That has been made abundantly clear on this blog. And I really wanted to say that Palin bombed on Saturday Night Live. She didn't.

Of course, she really wasn't required to do much, as most of the action and lines swirled around her. But both skits she was in were funny, and she handled herself well. I found Amy Poehler's rap song scathingly funny, and am a little surprised Palin wanted to participate in that skit. But the newsdesk really is Palin's element, having been a sportscaster in the past. She was a natural on camera, as we've come to expect.

Mike Huckabee has landed a show on FOX "News," so maybe when (oh please, oh please) John McCain loses this election, instead of going back to Alaska, Sarah Palin can head for New York for her own show?

Tina Fey Back as Sarah Palin on SNL

Tina Fey turned in another great performance as Sarah Palin last night on Saturday Night Live. It wasn't quite as funny as the Palin-Hillary Clinton skit, mostly because Amy Poehler was playing Katie Couric, which didn't offer her a very meaty role. Still, pretty funny stuff.

Amy Poehler Leaving Saturday Night Live

After scoring big with her Hillary Clinton impersonation, teamed with former Saturday Night Live castmember, Tina Fey as Sarah Palin, Amy Poehler is getting ready to leave SNL. After Fey's departure, Poehler was one of the few bright lights left on the show (another being Kristin Wiig). I'll be sorry to see her go.


SNL has always been spotty, even in the best years. The original cast had its classic moments--many of them--but the complaints heard about the show today were evident then as well, but overshadowed by the good stuff. I've watched since the very first episode, when I was nine, and only skipped out on it during the abysmal Saturday Night '80 season.



SNL was really good again when Fey began as head writer, and co-anchor of Weekend Update with Jimmy Fallon. I was wary, when Fallon left, of Poehler as the new WU co-anchor. But she very quickly blended right in, and when Fey left, seemingly taught Seth Myers the ropes. Now that she's leaving, I wonder how many episodes it will take to absorb the loss. At least she says she may come back--like Fey and other past castmembers like Horatio Sanz and Jon Lovitz--for special appearances.


[Excerpt]

Poehler Gets Ready to Leave SNL

This weekend’s season opener for Saturday Night Live had comedians Tina Fey and Amy Poehler teaming up in a political skit parodying Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton, and begins a count down to Poehler’s leaving the show, reports USAtoday.com. . .

Read more at: Celebrity Cafe

Tina Fey's Sarah Palin Impression: Hilarious!

As I've said a few times, I'm playing catch-up after a weekend away. So, sadly I missed the premiere of Saturday Night Live. I've heard a few snippets about the show, and they weren't on the whole very good, except for the opener with Tina Fey as Sarah Palin, and Amy Poehler as Hillary Clinton! Fabulous, fantastic, hilarious. . .but what are they going to do about casting when Tina Fey goes back to 30 Rock?

SNL: Obama & Clinton - There Can Be Only One