[SNL] Where the election can't happen soon enough...

An interesting thought on SNL (and all of the satire world): There's hope that there will be material for comedic value AFTER November 4th. A Sunday morning review (and a half-paying attention background watch last night) produced more than one skit that were actually entertaining.

For example:
-"Jon Hamm's John Ham"
-"The Aholes Pitch a 1960's Advertising Company"
-"Don Draper's Tips to Picking Up Women" (also here, thanks to Hulu)



As we enter the last week of the 2008 campaigning, I had to stop and think about something. The political commentary that SNL has been contributing (the best of it being the gift that Sarah Palin looked like Tina Fey) has been mediocre at best. It took everything they had to even get a few remotely entertaining things together, and they mainly involved guests like Fey, Bill Murray and Will Ferrell. Everything from Armisen's Obama, Sudeikis's Biden and Hammond's McCain has been predictable and lazy.

Sure, campaign fatigue has hit nearly everyone, but I think an overlooked victim has been sketch comedy. Stewart, Colbert, the night time talk hosts, any other daily satirists can get away with a sound bite or content-less quote. I think that the SNL writers are getting a pretty difficult task to do sketches on (a) the most ridiculous campaign ever and (b) try to do it after everyone has made the jokes.

So, let me jump back to my original point. This cycle can't last any longer because parody isn't working when Tina isn't involved. The material is dry. I think we got a little bit of a preview of what we can expect after November 4th. The sketches this week were beginning to show were the creativity is pent up. I was psyched to see the return of Wiig/Sudeikis as the Aholes. Jon Hamm was an excellent host. Coldplay dropped three songs (instead of the usual two from the music guest) and included an old favorite in "Yellow."

I actually have hope for the future of Seth Meyer's SNL after November 4th. I think the key will be in Hader, Sedeikis, Wiig and Armisen (and less time for Forte/Moynihan).

Remember, if it feels like ham, don't wipe your ass with it.

Moments in Reputation Management History

Today is Columbus Day, and here I am writing from my desk in the office.

Editor's Note: This is no way a rant on whatever crimes Christopher Columbus committed. If you are looking for political commentary on that, you've come to the wrong place. This is meant to be completely tongue-in-cheek about ironic holidays.

There's some holiday's I just don't understand. Canadian Thanksgiving, for one. There's others that I'm thankful for, but still don't get what they are about, like, say Labor Day.

But, for the life of me I will never figure this out: whoever was in charge of Christopher Columbus's PR did a hell of a job. He was an Italian, working for the Spanish, and the guy didn't even land in America! Now it's a federal holiday on an ambiguous date in October. I, for one, wish I had that kind of reputation management skills.

I mean, it runs deeper than a holiday. We have kitschy mnemonic devices to keep our dates straight ("In 1492, Columbus sailed the Ocean Blue"). We studied the names of the ships. Who doesn't know the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria?

Once again. Didn't actually land in America. Got LOST trying to get to the Indian Ocean. National Holiday.

That, my friends, is some damn good public relations.

[Friday Morning] Live: SNL Weekend Update Thursday Edition

Wow, it may be the worst title of all time. For any fans of Bill Simmons (aka, ESPN.com's The Sports Guy), you may know that Seth Meyers was featured on a podcast (download it here) earlier this week. Why was this funny? Because even Meyers admitted that he couldn't even remember the name of the three Thursday night shows that SNL is rolling out this election season.

We've come a very long way since the 2000 election, when SNL left a lasting impression on the campaign season. Darrel Hammond as Gore with "Lockbox" and the great Will Ferrell George W. Bush impression brought us "Strategery." Meyers also mentioned on the podcast that there have been nearly five different guys who played W. since Ferrell's departure. Partly because it's impossible to fill the shoes of a guy who literally created the sub-personality of the president. Partly because culture of satire changed greatly after 9/11.

I believe that Meyers is certainly right on the first point (and he was making it to Simmons to explain why it'd be tough for anyone else other than Tina Fey to play Palin this season). I believe he's partially right on the second point. Satire doesn't become any less important in culture because of war, just more delicate. See Strangelove, Dr.

I don't think it's an excuse to get Meyers (who is also the head writer of SNL) off of the hook for lazy writing. In last night's 30 minute show, we had a nine minute debate sketch with maybe *one* really creative concept (and a great guest appearance):



Yes, mocking the Cubs is apparently the new pink. I have contributed to this, it's fine. And SNL does a good job with the "Cubs fans should find another team." I would love to call this unique, but only two days ago, Daily Show took some of its own shots at Cubs fans.



Trying to mock the debate format wasn't funny the first time (look! he said that one!). The best part of the VP debate skit was Tina Fey's aloof, "When do we get to the talent portion?" Falling into the trap of trying to rebuild the scenery is just a weak attempt at parody, and trying to use the same tricks from 2000 that gave us "Lockbox."

Things have been better this season, but it seems a lot of that has been on the strength of the guest hosts (sans Phelps, who has eight gold medals so, he can pretty much be as bad as he wants). You can't make up for lazy writing, though.

In the really, unpoetic words of a character you attempted to introduce last night: *FIX IT*.

Bill Simmons' Sports Guy World [ESPN.com]
Mocking the Cubs: America's Fun New Sport [Deadspin]

[Sunday Morning] Live: Anne Hathaway/The Killers

Yeah, it looks like Tina Fey is getting a paycheck from SNL again.

Sketch (thanks to Hulu) that is worth watching:
Mary Poppins Caught Something




Weekend Update Joke That Landed:
Seth Meyers: "Good news everyone. That house you couldn't pay for? You're paying for it."

Kristen-Wiig-Spaz-Out Rating:
It is now inevitable that Kristen Wiig will portray a character every week who is only there to be a complete and total spaz.

1 -- I appreciated the really random-ass reference to the Lawrence Welk show. Also the closest that Wiig got to her spaz moment thanks to a giant forehead and some tiny arms. Pretty tame week in terms of the Wiig out.

The Killers [Music Guest Review]:
The Killers return to the stage at which drummer Ronnie Vannucci Jr. debuted his "My Name is Earl" look while promoting their 2006 album. I liked seeing the new stuff from the album and definitely may be worth checking out.

Songs played (both off the new album, Day & Age, to be released in November):
-"Human"
-"Spaceman"

Final thoughts:
There's some instances where the host doesn't get used that much (see Phelps, Michael), but Hathaway was in nearly every skit. Thought she really threw herself into it, starting right from the monologue. This is why you get character actors to host (see Franco, James).

The keys to SNL are really getting passed over to the younger cast members (is it just me or are featured players Bobby Moynihan and Casey Wilson ending up in nearly everything?). Meyers was in nothing more than SNL, Poehler had a bit part in the Pelosi/Bush/CSpan sketch, and Armisen (even though they were hysterical impressions) had only Lawrence Welk and Barney Frank. Moynihan is providing hope for this seasos: he's like a curly-haired version of Chris Farley. There was one moment in the Mary Poppins skit where this was really clear.

The Tina Fey skits are lazy writing (go repeat what she said and be cute about it), and someone should be shot for the "Unprovacative Songs of Katy Perry." I feel optimistic, though, when stuff like Lawrence Welk is making its way into the day.

Guest Host: 7
Cast: 6
Writing: 4
Music Guest: 8

Next week: Josh Brolin / Adele

Team of Mavericks

You weren't the only one who was drinking every time Sarah Palin said "Track Record" or "Maverick."

Have to hand it to my colleague and friend Patrick for this fantastic photoshop after a great Twitter conversation from last night continually mocked the abundance of Maverick's around the McCain camp.



Check out some of his other great writing here and follow him on Twitter here.

My First and Last Political Entry [PStinnett]
Palin Bingo [Palin Bingo]

Intriguing Political Strategies

Yesterday, it was tracking the term "gotcha journalism." Today, it looks like a late afternoon interview on Hannity's radio show is leading to even more chatter against the media from McCain and Palin:

Palin, in the midst of preparations for her Thursday night debate with Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden, called into conservative talk radio host Sean Hannity’s show late Wednesday.

In a back-and-forth with Hannity about recent media portrayals of her, Palin said she feels the press "censors" her comments. Palin has given few media interviews and critics have panned most of them.

Check your personal views at the door. No matter how liberal or conservative you are, yes, you have to admit that 24-hour news has established a significant political bias. There's not that much of a middle ground between the bulk of media and, you know, Murdoch's properties.

Palin isn't getting treated unfairly. She's getting treated like an unknown which, for all intents and purposes, she really was on the national scene until the first week of September. In Journalism, newness is one of the most important news hooks. That's what she's experiencing right now.

Calling the media elite and a bully isn't going to change the opinion of the media. We already know that they are biased. It is going to encourage, though things like the leak from CBS. Even worse, a scrutiny by media watchers and online pundits who are going to perpetuate those stories through conversation.

McCain stole the DNC/Biden thunder by making a game changing announcement with Palin. But, by letting it become the game for too long, it's becoming a field day for the media.

Palin says media "censors" her [The Hill]