Live from New York, it's "Sarah Palin"! (Oh, and "Hillary Clinton," too)

“Saturday Night Live” kicked off its 34th season last night with a “nonpartisan message” from Sen. Hillary Clinton (SNL regular Amy Poehler) and Gov. Sarah Palin (guest Tina Fey).

As the two stood behind a lectern, flanked by American flags, "Palin" said they were “crossing party lines” for this unexpected joint appearance “to address the now very ugly role that sexism is playing in the campaign ...”

“... an issue which I am frankly surprised to hear people suddenly care about," interjected "Clinton."

And it got better from there.

“PALIN”:  "You know, Hillary and I don't agree on everything ..."

“CLINTON” (OVERLAPPING): "Anything. I believe that diplomacy should be the cornerstone of any foreign policy."

“PALIN”: "And I can see Russia from my house."

“CLINTON”: "I believe global warming is caused by man."

“PALIN”: "And I believe it's just God hugging us closer."

“CLINTON”: "I don't agree with the Bush Doctrine."

“PALIN”: "I don't know what that is."

Poehler portrayed Clinton in a number of sketches last season, including one that satirized what was seen as the media’s love affair with her opponent for the Democratic nomination, Sen. Barack Obama. Fey’s strong resemblance to Palin was noted as soon as Sen. John McCain picked the virtually unknown Alaska governor as his running mate two weeks ago. Fey played that resemblance up last night, arranging her hair in a striking updo and perfectly mimicking Palin’s flat prairie accent. 

[UPDATE: Palin was flying from Nevada to Colorado when the show was broadcast but was able to see it, thanks to the satellite TV system on her JetBlue charter. According to ABC News, there were guffaws from the sizable press pack aboard the plane -- but only silence from the front cabin, where Palin and her advisors were seated, even though flight attendants told reporters that it was on there too.]

Speaking of Obama, he had been scheduled to appear on "SNL" last night but canceled, citing the devastation in Texas resulting from Hurricane Ike.

-- Leslie Hoffecker

Comments

[Unanimous]

Palin is Great!
Hillary is Great!
Geraldine is Great!

[tvi]

As with all satire, it was funny because of the underlying truth behind the plot of the sketch. What a sad state of affairs that McCain had become so desperate and cynical that he would allow this intellectually incurious cheerleader to be next in line. What a shame that a former POW has become so power hungry that he would dishonor his country in such a despicable manner.

[jim]

What a waste of time to wait up and watch a stupid show. I liked snl back in the early days but not at all now. The audience must just be brainless.

[Ron Bannon]

Really, either side of this mess has become true reflection of why America is in serious trouble. Yes, consider this, if you're one of them, you're the problem. We need to rid our nation of these side-show acts, and I am afraid that no matter who wins this race, we're all in serious trouble.

[Thomas Bauer]

Palin jokes were great but where was the Obama satire?

[holly]

How come we don't see a skit that has Obama talking about 57 states. Oh I forgot that is real life.

Well the could extend it to include the following seven states. Germany, France, England, Iran, Lebonon, Russia, and Georgia.

Heck they all think he would be a good president.

I forgot its not just the media who is biased. it also all of the people resoponsible for entertainment in America.
Since the make "money for nothing" they can alway be shooting off their mouths.

[Spunky Tad[p;e]

Not surprising that SNL has jumped on the anti-Palin bandwagon. NBC is so blatantly pro-Obams (i.e anti-America) that they had to fire two of their cabel anchors at MSNBC at the behest of Tom Brokaw (himself no bastion of bipartisanship) who said they were obviously biased.

BTW, there is NO Bush doctrine! That is a coin termed by a pundit in 2002. This has been reahashed again.

You people should know that you are digging yourselves a deeper and deeper hole by bashing a normal strong American woman (unless you live on the coasts - in which case, she is a bible toting freak).

Get a clue... it atin't working... Your boy Obama is augering in and taking the rest of the party down with him.

Have a nice day!

[Billie B]

Funny Stuff.

[Jeff]

Never mind about bias, holly: Bush/Cheney have been incompetent. They've spent our money and our prestige and what do we have to show for it? No peace, no prosperity, and no safety. That's why their party is history come November.

[Zamo]

(Psst...Your bias is showing!)

[Tom]

I didn't find that to be a particularly good impression or a particularly funny sketch. I don't think that comedy needs to be that dumb in order for people to get the jokes. SNL needs to inject some intellect into its sketches. Lisa Nova does a great impression of Sarah Palin and puts a more realistic spin on the context.

[mm]

there are 57 delegation 'states' at the dnc.

still a gaffe. but not the way people pretend.

[Sarah]

Holly:
I'll bet that whatever apparatus you are using to watch SNL has an 'OFF' switch, button, lever, or plug. If you don't like it, you can make it go away. It's only a television show, not a death sentence.

[Ashton]

You guys are ridiculous. Anyone that disagrees with, or makes fun of a republican has a bias.

Lately it seems like everyone has a bias...

Wait...Did it ever occur to your fear mongers that it might not be a bias, but an accurate representation of how people feel? You can be pro-McCain and still think Palin is an airhead.

Grow up and realize that you might not ALWAYS be right.

[Gator-ron]

It is a joke that Palin who is lipstick on a pit bull would be considered ready for anything. She is veneer on top of veneer with street smarts and without depth or knowledge. We have had eight years of that type of intellect and could get the same quality of person by choosing the top salesman at any roofing company or the leading drug rep. of any drug company. Good people but not skilled by training to be president.

Where Obama and McCain really differ is McCain is skilled at reacting to problems but not in long range planning. Obama is a planning and has a strategy for accomplishing goals. With McCain we will wander as we have with Bush with nothing thought out and lies to cover up incompetence. Obama will tell it like it is and will tell us when there is a miscalculation because he will want us to move in a different direction.

[Jon]

Go ahead, parrot the mindless Republican mantras. Vote for Sarah, get what you deserve. No wonder people around the world laugh at us---yes, folks they really do. They only worship our freedom to make money here. Because that really is all we are about. Nothing more. Vote for Sarah and McP and get a completely out of her element backwater redneck and an admiral's son who can't remember how many houses he has. They will truly represent your interest in the gang capital of the world. No health care, no retirement, more war, destruction of the environment, science shut down, mandatory church services. Go live the Republican dream, you deserve what you ask for.

[tom]

A true represenataion of Sarah Palins intelectual capacity.
What a truly exploited woman, what shame for our country that a presidential candidate would chose a mom (who should be home taking care of her state and her fanily), solely for getting right wing votes( evangelists and the nra.) Not to mention all the women voters, he thinks he'll get.
Shame, for what our leaders and our country.

[Diana]

All this show did was make me miss Belushi, Radner, Curtin, and the rest.

[badorsey]

one of the funniest sketches I've seen. Palin is the biggest threat to this country since Osama. What a vapid excuse for a VP pick!

[Max Eggers]

This is brilliant. The comment about the Bush doctrine is so true!

[David]

Go Palin!
Go Hilary!

[Watcher]

There are many outstanding pilots in the Democratic Party: Mark Warner, Hillary Clinton, Ken Salazar...Mr. Obama is a stewardess who has always promptly delivered treats for the extreme left hate groups of the party. Can anyone argue that Hillary would have been inferior as the nominee? She was the only one talking issues from the outset, and presenting them intelligently. I was going to vote for her. Barack O. is too far left to be an American president - most of us will never submit to his extreme moral ambivalence and evident disgust for rural America. Look at his supporters, and the things they have been saying in the last few weeks!! They showcase all that is disgusting about the San Fran - Chicago - Massachusetts trifecta. I have been following Chicago politics for years, and have regular insight into the Cook County judicial system - NOOOO THANKKKS!!! Chicago is a horrendous mess under the control of pandering tyrants, with a capital T.
...And I have followed John McCain long enough not to buy into the HE IS BUSH lawyer's trick. He was a good friend of Hillary and Barack in the Senate - Bush has almost no friends in Washington, and never did. There is no doubt that the neo-cons are tyrants. If anything, McCain is an opportunist, and it could be argued that he has shown as much on some occasions (outside of this campaign). If McCain was Bush, neo-con Republicans wouldn't have fought so hard to keep him away from the nomination. Many of them HATE him. Sure, they are behind him now that it is a matter of party, but the same can be said of Mr. Obama. The fact that Barack chose Biden merely illustrates for me that he is a puppet of the aforementioned trifecta. Biden was their second favorite son. What was wrong with Evan Bayh?? Talk about a man with experience!! The party should go back, do over, make it Clinton/Bayh, and the election would already be over.
Remember when Hillary said after Kerry got reamed that the Democratic Party had lost touch with most Americans...bingo! How did they recover so many seats in '06?? Picking economically strong, working-class progressives who do not despise the American experience (or life and people in general, judging from the last two weeks). B. Obama is the last gasp of a very powerful wing of the party, and if he goes down, I think the matter will be finalized. The Democratic Party will be stronger. The elections will be less partisan. You will see real change because Americans won't be so prone to see elections as cultural wars (which, it could be argued, is why they elect guys like Bush in the first place). No, culture wars were not invented by Karl Rove, either (only graduate students can have enough pseudo-education to see the world so simply) - the phrase was used during the Dole/Clinton battle and goes back to the 70s.

[Teresa]

Best introduction to Saturday night ever!!!!! Loved it!!!

Sad thing is, there is some truth to it. Hell, I could be the governor of Alaska and I guess now Vice President. You do not even need a proper education, experience, or commonsense.

John McCain should be ashamed of himself, for possibly putting our country in a dangerous position and belittling educated women.... He does not care about the country, only his dream of being president DISGUSTING!!

[Warren]

Wonderfully entertaining! This is some of the best political satire ever aired, and I commend the actors, writers, directors and producers (and as for the "Bush Doctrine," I had to look it up myself to be sure it refers to the allowance of preemptive wars [turns out it includes some other things, too]) for educating us on the irony of the cynical choice of Gov. Palin as a running mate, coming as it did on the heels of the overly cautious choice of Sen. Biden as a running mate, rather than Sen. Clinton. But decide for yourself--the video is available on NBC's web site for Saturday Night Live.

[1228mojo]

I just don't get why the media is treating Palin like she is some kind of special creature and will melt if asked any tough questions! Hilllary Clinton, Condoleeza Rice and Michelle Obama have been SLAMMED with tough questions. Why is Palin being allowed to glide free?