Comedy tin: SNL dumps on the GOP
posted at 8:00 pm on February 15, 2009 by Allahpundit
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Starts off as a goof on inaction as a political strategy during a crisis — which isn’t a fair characterization of the GOP’s alternative stimulus plans, but good luck convincing public opinion of that — before veering off into painfully broad satire of obstructionism and general conservative out-of-touch-ness. A target this big, with help from Aykroyd and Darrell Hammond no less, and they still couldn’t hit it?
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Just not relevant anymore. SNL was at its best when it was edgy and did stuff you simply couldn’t see before 11:30pm on Saturday nights. Not the case anymore and the writers aren’t clever enough to figure out ways to make things funny without all the taboos of the past.
highhopes on February 15, 2009 at 10:16 PM
That was to stupid. SNL will never be funny again.
sheebe on February 15, 2009 at 10:23 PM
I prefer to be a political rebel, conservative, yet I don’t align myself with the GOP. I would say a hawkish libertarian. I believe that much of the decisions in this country should be left to the states, and voters. I vote with my morals in mind and rationality, so most liberal programs and legislation would be voted against by me, such as abortion, and the death penalty. BTW, tattoos are so overrated because everyone pretty much has one. To be rational is to be rebellious.
theboss on February 15, 2009 at 10:25 PM
They (The Democrats because this is who most of these people are) don’t want a fair characterization of the GOP. They want THEIR vision of truth. When the stimulus fails now they’ll blame the GOP because they wanted to do MORE but couldn’t because they kowtowed to the GOP. (Yeah, I know they didn’t… But when the legend becomes fact…)
They’re taking a page out of Chavez’ playbook here.
Skywise on February 15, 2009 at 10:31 PM
Again? That suggests the program has been funny anytime in this century.
highhopes on February 15, 2009 at 10:33 PM
Just as South Park has made The Simpsons irrelevant, The Onion has neutered SNL.
SNL was at its best when every cast member was zoomed out on Coke and booze, much like our two most recent Presidents. )))
Maybe Lorne Michaels could start a crank lab in Studio 8H
and get the performers maniacally hopped up and the writing up to par. ))))
Mister Ghost on February 15, 2009 at 10:44 PM
lamé
Mark_Tampa on February 15, 2009 at 10:55 PM
That’s interesting I hadn’t considered that before. Surely it wasn’t just South Park, but come to think of it satire like that makes the Simpsons look like M*A*S*H.
Dr. Manhattan on February 15, 2009 at 10:57 PM
SNL was rarely really funny to begin with. Now they are making fun of conservatism AND THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND IT. They never have. So it won’t be funny, except perhaps to a few other people whose lack of understanding resembles their own.
njcommuter on February 15, 2009 at 10:59 PM
That was terrible. I think they need to hire some new SNL writers.
SoulGlo on February 15, 2009 at 11:28 PM
You mean SNL is still on the air?
Kjeil on February 15, 2009 at 11:35 PM
When “biting political satire” does nothing but halfheartedly gum the 0bama Administration, political satire will fall out of fashion, and low-information voters will consume something else.
Sekhmet on February 15, 2009 at 11:40 PM
Kjeil,
lol!
jerrytbg on February 15, 2009 at 11:46 PM
partisan comedy. it’s just not funny.
Metro on February 16, 2009 at 12:36 AM
Typical liberal idiocy. They take the pettiness they engage in on a daily basis and project it onto conservatives. Just like that liberal slut on “24″…what’s her name…..she understands that liberals are psychologically damaged and thinks it can apply to anyone that doesn’t agree with her.
csdeven on February 16, 2009 at 1:24 AM
But I swear man, that beneath it all: These dudes had the funny.
At a point. In things.
ChipDWood on February 16, 2009 at 1:31 AM
I’m actually surprised it’s still on the air. Is Soros funding NBC? Yes of course he is. What a silly question. Sorry.
long_cat on February 16, 2009 at 1:55 AM
Can someone remind me of the period in time between Jan 2001 and Jan 2009 when the Dims were rooting for President Bush to succeed in doing something? Yeah, I can’t remember it either. What I do remember is DUh and the Kos morons hoping for a Great Depression 2 after the Republicans kicked butt in 2002 and 2004.
Speedwagon82 on February 16, 2009 at 2:13 AM
Even my non-conservative friends didn’t find this particularly funny, and if the absence of applause from the audience is any indication, neither did they. With a few exceptions, none of their political satire has been all that amusing of late. When they were ridiculing the Cuda on a weekly basis they weren’t getting a lot of laughs either. Out of touch indeed. As with most of television nowadays, it’s as if the showrunners write in a vacuum for their own personal gratification instead of considering the wants and needs of their consumers.
I thought the show was pretty good while Tina Fey was headwriter, but prior to her, I think the last time SNL was really relevant was about 1990. Nowadays I find myself FFing through most of it. It’s a shame, really. Used to be must-see-TV. Just part and parcel of the rotting corpse that is now the National Broadcasting Company.
NoLeftTurn on February 16, 2009 at 3:25 AM
WOW! To make Dan not funny is hard! He once ruled Saturday Night Live! Just WOW!
sabbott on February 16, 2009 at 3:55 AM
If only Obama had done anything this past week that could have been parodied. Like, I dunno, making campaign stops after he’s already won, with stupid people asking him for a handout. But they know best.
Jim Treacher on February 16, 2009 at 4:22 AM
They really don’t even need it to be funny. It’s propaganda for the left and Obama.
hawkdriver on February 16, 2009 at 6:05 AM
SNL just is not what it used to be.
As for GOP inaction, I think some people on the right really did believe that letting things work themselves out was better. But that does not mean the GOP felt that way. They endorsed tax cuts at the very least.
Terrye on February 16, 2009 at 6:18 AM
He’s a fat, unfunny leftist.
hawkdriver on February 16, 2009 at 6:18 AM
This isn’t the Saturday Night Live I knew.
IlikedAUH2O on February 16, 2009 at 6:42 AM
I don’t mind comedy that cuts both ways, but that skit was just dumb and dull. Some intellectual honesty would have been nice, but I suspect that would be asking too much from the writers.
At least last season had its golden moments. Until they get it right again, I will be reaching for the DVDs and the YouTube memories.
itzWicks on February 16, 2009 at 7:40 AM
they have to do this because there is NOTHING funny about Obama and the Democrats……….Nothing at all, nope nothing……
Do you hear me? THERE IS NOTHING FUNNY ABOUT OBAMA!!!!!
Dpet on February 16, 2009 at 7:50 AM
also, there is not much funny about SNL….
I have been watching for years, and there are many weeks where there is not even one chuckle
Dpet on February 16, 2009 at 8:01 AM
That’s right,Mr. 57 states is as smooth and cool as they come with nothing what-so-ever happening in his administration that warrants someone to stop and think
“do these people know what they are doing?”:
Sen. Roland Burris in hot water: GOP demands resignation, perjury probe; Update: Burris blames questioner for not asking him about Rob Blago; Reporters laugh at Burris
By Michelle Malkin • February 15, 2009 04:20 PM
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/02/15/sen-roland-burris-in-hot-water-gop-demands-resignation-perjury-probe/
Obama’s treasury secretary comes out to announce his “no plan” and the market tanks.
Obama is having to drop cabinet posts left and right due to corruption.
Obama thinks spending billions of dollars on golf carts,field mice,and art of dogs doing what dogs do is going to stimulate the economy and create jobs.
No,besides Obama making a total A$$ clown out of himself and being regulated to “salesman and chief”,nothing to see here at all.
Baxter Greene on February 16, 2009 at 8:14 AM
Zzzzzzzzzzz…
petefrt on February 16, 2009 at 8:32 AM
Well, If Akoroyd hadn’t attached himself to John Belushi like a parasite we wouldn’t know who he is…not funny.
Same as Belushi’s brother. If John wouldn’t have OD’d Jim would be just another Blago patronage worker.
LtE126 on February 16, 2009 at 8:34 AM
Dan Aykroyd has never been funny. He’s pretty much been the straight man for Belushi and Murray. Hell, he was even the straight man for Kim Basinger(My Stepmother is an Alien.) And SNL hasn’t been funny in years. Satire has to be fair and truthful to be funny, SNL’s is neither.
Then there was Eddie Murphy as Buckwheat….wonder how that would play today?
Deanna on February 16, 2009 at 8:36 AM
what potential. what a dud.
jimmer on February 16, 2009 at 8:36 AM
You don’t remember “Jane you ignorant slut”? His parodies of the Ronco commercials? He was the best in the first SNL’s
sabbott on February 16, 2009 at 8:50 AM
I guess this is why South Park has always had a prime spot on Sunday night when everyone is home watching TV? Because everyone knows South Park hasn’t been buried in a 10:00 PM Wednesday night slot for years or anything, right? Because they always put stuff that people want to see on at Wednesday night at 10:00 PM, right?
South Park is ridiculously stupid, poorly drawn, and has bad voiceovers. All of the characters on the show are idiotic and immature, as opposed to The Simpsons or Family guy where there are at least 2 or 3 intelligent characters.
One thing I’ve noticed about conservative South Park fans is that if The Simpsons take a shot at the McCain/Palin ticket, it’s an outrage! HOW DARE THEY!!! Yet when Trey Parker or Matt Stone push their liberal bias and smear conservatives all day long in South Park (aside from the constant immature vulgarity, give it a rest every now and again and start making some actual content), the praise flows!
leetpriest on February 16, 2009 at 9:08 AM
“…good luck convincing public opinion of that…”
Hmmmm… ???
Let me see if I get the gist of what you mean by this AllahPundit: Are WE conservatives supposed to be upset or concerned that the PUBLIC sees US as obstructionists to a $800 billion bill that has such things as Gun Control tucked in it, amongst Lord knows what seeing that none of the politicians have read it, because somehow, someway, conservatives are actually WRONG when it comes to fiscally conservative principals and this gigantic ‘crap sandwich’ ( as you’ve put it a few times ) is going to actually improve our way of life and make the COUNTRY more economically sound and robust?
Thanks AP, BUT I’d rather be known as an obstructionist against The One & This Bill. It’s not the GOP that’s out of touch, it’s SNL. You either believe and KNOW this FACT or you are destine to flounder in a state of confusion brought on by a long line of opinion polls that are based on the ebb and flow of the tide and as a composite make about as much sense as Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis except for your low self esteem that makes you feel you need to constantly look at poll after poll to make sure you’re looking alright.
Sultry Beauty on February 16, 2009 at 9:14 AM
Watching SNL is like watching poo being flushed..why bother, you know where its going.
lasertex on February 16, 2009 at 9:49 AM
I’ve stayed with SNL over the years, –even the admittedly humor-free lean ones–as there have always been at least a few comic nuggets that pop up. But I have to say that cold open Saturday night was the worst I’ve ever seen. Combine humor-free “comedy” with incompetence, incorrect assumptions, and blind naked partisanship, and you have yourself the worst sketch in SNL history.
Seriously. I expect SNL to rip on Republicans. Its what they do. But I damn well expect them to at least be funny.
AttilaTheHun on February 16, 2009 at 9:52 AM
That was weak. They’ve got at least two comedic heavyweights there, and that’s the best they could do? I raise my eyebrows in pity.
LimeyGeek on February 16, 2009 at 9:54 AM
Use this as a barometer. Measuring the popularity of the GOP. Or rather unpopularity. What hit home and hurt to the bone? The depiction of lack of any genuine enthusiasm and the absolute cluelessness of GOP operatives these days. The GOP deserves this. They’ve driven the true leaders out of the party. They’ve made their bed now they’re having to lay in it. DD
Darvin Dowdy on February 16, 2009 at 10:03 AM
how lame was this ? so lame that even it’s liberal audience could not get to laugh along…(for the most part)
There are’nt a whole lot of good/funny/imaginative writers on the show. and it shows.
nagee76 on February 16, 2009 at 10:56 AM
Before anyone thinks that our opinions here are jaded, listen to the lack of audience reaction. Dead silence or minor snicker.
It was so bad, I though Al Franken was writing for them again.
When Republicans are in charge, make fun of Republicans.
When Democrats are in charge, make fun of Republicans.
Can’t make fun of obama? Just unimaginative.
kurtzz3 on February 16, 2009 at 11:01 AM
The audience said (or lack of it) how bad it was.
casey92 on February 16, 2009 at 11:07 AM
What’s SNL? Really, I stopped watching that show about 10 years ago. They will be using a laugh track soon.
RobertJ78704 on February 16, 2009 at 11:48 AM
I used to only watch for Weekend Update, but even that’s tanking a lot lately. Why make such an effort to alienate half of your viewers?
CLaFarge on February 16, 2009 at 11:58 AM
It looks like the SNL writers were taking time off.
The dialogue in this skit appeared to come straight from the commenters on our Hot Air message boards.
Seemed that way to me.
asc85 on February 16, 2009 at 12:07 PM
Nailed it.
4shoes on February 16, 2009 at 12:15 PM
The skit was the biggest failure of non sequitur humor ever because nothing in that skit followed from anything real. We can give it another name “non humor”.
It gave me the creeps to watch this apologia pro Obama. In light of the fact that the senate had just voted to pass a package that they did not even read and even Democrats had every sensible reason to scrutinize and they chose to mock the minority party?
But what else can they do? All these funny types got their hands dirty in the election. Seth Myers and Jon Stewart were the ones chanting “McCain is just four more years of Bush.”
The irony? Obama displays all the same personality traits that liberals bashed Bush for: inflexibility, power-hungry, polarizing, politicizing, and self-righteous.
What is a court jester to do but tow the party line?
StubbleSpark on February 16, 2009 at 1:09 PM
The irony:
Richard Dreyfus, actor, plays a cigar smoking evil Republican in The American President, directed by
“meathead” Rob Reiner.
The West Wing, Mr. “Barbara Streisand” plays the dumb Republican candidate running against Charlie Sheen, the genius democrat President.
There are so many other examples of the most liberal left wing actors portraying republicans as dumb, evil, corrupt, well you name it. Why should SNL be any different.
afotia on February 16, 2009 at 3:28 PM
SNL………Saturday Night Lame
whyyeseyec on February 16, 2009 at 3:46 PM
Cheap shot implying the right would go after the Pres. kids. Gutless .
cfineart on February 16, 2009 at 10:10 PM
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