Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg and WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange get the ‘SNL’ treatment
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Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, characters that have captivated the tech world in recent weeks, were recently deemed worthy of an even higher honor: being skewered by ‘Saturday Night Live.’
The comics over at ‘SNL’ used part of their Dec. 18 show to jab Zuckerberg, who last week was named Person of the Year by Time magazine.
Starting about 10 minutes in, Andy Samberg plays the young billionaire who dweebishly thanks Facebook users for catapulting him to Time’s cover. But soon, the television signal seems to warp, and Samberg/Zuckerberg is replaced by Bill Hader as a bitter Assange.
Sitting in a leather armchair and looking like an evil ‘Masterpiece Theater’ host, faux-Assange whines about being overlooked by the publication. Assange, who is facing allegations of sex crimes, was released on bail last week.
‘Time magazine ... Always on the cutting edge,’ he sneers. ‘Discovering Facebook only weeks after your grandmother.’
[Cue malevolent laughter.]
‘I give you private information on corporations for free, and I’m a villain,’ he continues. ‘Mark Zuckerberg gives your private information to corporations for money, and he’s Man of the Year.’
Supporters of Assange’s work releasing sensitive documents have harangued Time for bypassing him. Which makes us wonder whether Brad Pitt and George Clooney ever get snippy with each over People’s ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ cover.
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-- Tiffany Hsu
