PBS cuts Sarah Palin jokes from Tina Fey special

Watch the full episode. See more Mark Twain Prize.

 

On Nov. 9, Tina Fey was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor during a made-for-TV ceremony at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. But when PBS broadcast the event the following Sunday, part of Fey's acceptance speech was missing -- specifically, the part where Fey made fun of her favorite "Saturday Night Live" target, Sarah Palin. The following remarks were cut from the broadcast:

"And, you know, politics aside, the success of Sarah Palin and women like her is good for all women — except, of course, those who will end up, you know, like, paying for their own rape kit ’n’ stuff. But for everybody else, it’s a win-win. Unless you’re a gay woman who wants to marry your partner of 20 years — whatever. But for most women, the success of conservative women is good for all of us. Unless you believe in evolution. You know what? Actually, I take it back. The whole thing’s a disaster."

Earlier in the night, Fey credited Palin for helping her win the prize. "I would be a liar and an idiot if I didn't thank Sarah Palin for helping get me here tonight," she said. "My partial resemblance and her crazy voice are the two luckiest things that have ever happened to me." Those comments made their way into the broadcast, but many of Fey's Palin jokes did not.

PBS claims the decision was made not for political reasons, but purely due to time constraints. “We had zero problems with anything she said," executive producer Peter Kaminsky told the Washington Post. "We snipped from everyone.” 

The full, unedited version of Fey’s acceptance speech can be viewed above.

-- Melissa Maerz

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Thanks, Sarah Palin! Tina Fey gets the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor

Comments

[Proxeda]

Why is PBS playing favorites? Do they cut jokes about other people? This woman (SP) insists on sticking her face in front of any camera that's on; then she can just face the repercussions. I'm tired of her whining about how her 'privacy' is being invaded, when she imposes herself into every issue. She parades her kids on the public stage, then castigates people for looking at them.

If this is what PBS is stooping to, then I will no longer be a viewer/listener/member. I hope you enjoy pandering to her minions. Once you drive all the others off, that is all you will have and they have NO intention of listening to you.

[az66]

To quote Christopher Walken, "Likely story. That's crap. Boo." I'm not buying it. If they had to clip something simply out of time considerations, why did they clip the part that was both A.) funniest and most entertaining/interesting AND B.) most controversial? Are we supposed to think that's just a convenient coincidence for them? Yeah, sure. For PBS to say this was done out of time considerations is basically to thumb their noses at us and say, "Don't worry about it. It's none of your business. Just shut up and watch it." If they told the truth (that they cut the potentially controversial parts out to avoid offending conservatives) they would be admitting to their own political censorship. "Darn PBS and the liberal media at it again", huh? Oh well, what do you expect? PBS has sucked for about twenty years now anyway.

[Belle]

Doesn't pass the smell test, PBS. Mark Twain would not have made the same choice, you know.

If pressed for time, you can cut something else from the awards ceremony.

What Tina Fey had to say should stand in the full broadcast.

[tw]

stop giving to PBS....

[Becky]

No slide but Tina Fey has never been funny on any level considering the history of SNL players and we all know who they are. Fey just mocked Sarah Palin for humor and ended up cashing in on the politics. Fey should never go to New Orleans for example if she's looking for a ethnic put down. There's nothing funny about her and Fey receiving this Mark Twain Prize is an embarrassment for all true comedians.

[LAMom]

Elmo would say "Don't Lie".

[Kittybarfola]

Of course PBS' decision was political, and it was censorship too. At least I know PBS is a supporter of Republicans.

[Gee]

Outrageous.

Although it was very interesting, at the end of (and just prior) to the segment that KPBS cut, you could hear a pin drop in the auditorium. Ms. Fey is a very courageous woman, and that's one reason she's a star.

PBS make a really big mistake cutting this material. They've diminished everyone by doing so. And their heavy-handed treatment of KCET in Los Angeles is unforgivable.

Time to cut the losses and assume PBS is not what it once was. Sad.

[markiejoe]

"PBS claims the decision was made not for political reasons, but purely due to time constraints. "

OMG, how stupid does PBS think we are? I'm cancelling my annual gift to PBS.

[blil]

If it were censorship then they wouldn't have posted it on their website.

[Mark]

MarkieJoe,

How will PBS ever survive without your $20?

To put this in terms that you folks can understand - I'll use a parable.
There was once a pro basketball player named Michael Jordan, who when asked why he wouldn't publicly support his local Democrat politician, Jordan replied, "Republicans buy shoes too."

This is why PBS didn't run the Palin jokes - it would have been bad business. And bad business means no more Sesame Street.

- M

[JL]

PBS is hypocritical and disgusting for making an excuse for editing Fey's comments - almost as disgusting as Tina Fey's "intelligent" comments about Sarah Palin.

It's sickening to see Fey regularly wear the face of "the enlightened, intelligent and tolerant" person, while reveling in the pure vitriol and vilification of someone (and group of women) who thinks differently than she.

Ugly and hateful - not witty and humorous.

[Sheila]

I'm a liberal who likes SNL and Tina Fey - but, I gotta say, Fey's bit on Palin is gettin' old.

[natchos]

Did some political party recently offer to cut federal funding to PBS, after Juan Williams was fired? no, i don't "think" so

[Womensrighttoprotect]

It's because of liberal women that a woman would need a rape kit to begin with! A conservative women knows how to shoot a gun and believe in the right to use it to protect themselves. So be honest here, a liberal woman would rather have a woman raped and left for dead before she calls the police and a conservative woman would rather women shoot the rapist bast@rd before he even had a chance to touch her.

Conservative women are FAR MORE BETTER OFF and ARE SAFER than liberal women! So the next time any of you women out there think a liberal woman is out to help you, ask yourself, do you think you should have a right to shoot a rapist or do you think you should be raped and left for dead instead?

[MagicRancher]

I have no problem with PBS making edits based on time constraints. Actually I planned to send then a big check, but I guess I don't have the time...

[Clark Lee]

An award ceremony to honor Tina Fey was televised, and the part that was cut was Tina Fey's acceptance speech? "Time constraints" is a weak excuse, not to mention an insult to the honoree. PBS should have known what they were getting themselves beforehand.

[AstonishedandBemused]

@Womensrighttoprotect: Are you serious? I'm a liberal woman and I'd have no problem if a woman shot her attacker, but you are kidding yourself if you think that would really prevent a rape from happening ever! Many rapes are committed by someone known to the survivor, which can catch you off guard completely. You're assuming the woman will have her gun ON HER PERSON at ALL TIMES, which is not always feasible, and that she will have the presence of mind and the ability to get to it, which may not be applicable. Having a gun does not guarantee prevention. In the cases where it will help, shoot him! Fine! That's no problem for me. Political affiliation has nothing to do with the sick mind of a rapist, with being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Wow. Many women don't even report the trauma because the whole ordeal can be arduous, draining, and humiliating. And then you want to force this woman to PAY for her rape kit on top of it? Are you blaming the victim? Are you asking her to dole out CASH in order to be able to seek justice for this crime perpetrated against her? What if there's a serial rapist? Do you know anyone who's been raped?

How dare you use this heinous act as a political spring board.

[greg]

How did she earn the Twain award? I love 30 Rock (easily the funniest show on network TV) and her Palin impression was pretty good too. But, come on, they couldn't find anyone more worthy of the honor? This is a PC award choice, like the president's Nobel prize. Just sad. Sad and stupid. It diminishes the value of the award.

[woof-woof]

Thanks to Melissa Maerz for posting the video. It was really funny. The part that was cut, according to the text above, was one of the least funny parts of a talk that went on for almost 13 minutes. For the broadcast (http://www.pbs.org/mark-twain-prize/), they cut that 13 min down to about 4 1/2 minutes, so about 65% got edited out.

Plenty of zingers against the right remained in the final broadcast, including:
"I want to thank everyone involved at the Kennedy Center, or as it will soon be known, the Tea Party Bowling Alley and Rifle Range."
And there was a story near the end that may explain how John McCain came to choose Sarah Palin as his running mate.

Maybe the best joke starts at 7:30 above.