Slog - Comments on Palin on SNL http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl Why didn't NBC insist on Palin sitting down for a real, substantive interview—or, better still, calling a full press conference—as a condition of Palin appearing on SNL tonight? Candidates don't go on Letterman, Leno, SNL, The Daily Show, et al, to take a break from the campaign trail. Comedy programs are stops on the campaign trail. Palin is running from the press, refusing to answer any questions, lying her ass off on the stump, and attacking the people who could call her on those lies—reporters, news anchors, cable news networks—at her rallies. So why the fuck should NBC allow Palin... Copyright 2008 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 13:31:27 -0800 Sun, 19 Oct 2008 19:22:23 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by AJ Dan: You don't think this will make the more rational of independents stop and think "wait, why is she here and not on the news"?

]]> AJ http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178203 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178203 2008 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 13:51:53 -0800 Comment by Dan Savage No, I don't.

]]> Dan Savage http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178204 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178204 2008 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 13:54:00 -0800 Comment by elenchos I'm not going to watch, and I won't play the clips that various bloggers will swear up and down are a must-see. Been fooled before.

It's weird, in fact, how incapable of being funny, or insightful, SNL has become. You'd think by sheer dumb luck some how they could go a five minute stretch without being unwatchably cringe-inducing and tedious. Weird, but true.

]]> elenchos http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178205 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178205 2008 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 13:55:23 -0800 Comment by isweatbutter i'm hoping the skit involves tina and the dipshit on camera at the same time, like they did with amy poehler and hillary. i am confident that palin will be just as uncomfortable and capable of looking like an asswipe as ever before. no doubt.

]]> isweatbutter http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178206 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178206 2008 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 13:59:06 -0800 Comment by Kyle Because the ratings for SNL will be huge and if you give Palin the ultimatum of doing a real news program or not doing SNL she'd choose to skip SNL. Our best bet of getting a real interview is for Tina Fey to broadside Palin by asking her a few real questions and see how she responds.

]]> Kyle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178212 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178212 2008 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 14:16:27 -0800 Comment by DavidC Pailn is the laughingstock of the real press.

Check out this clip just posted over on Kos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdC2HbRlxz0

]]> DavidC http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178214 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178214 2008 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 14:24:35 -0800 Comment by Greg I have very little interest in watching this. Tina Fey does Palin better than Palin does.

]]> Greg http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178228 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178228 2008 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 14:42:58 -0800 Comment by Big Sven This is one of the rare times I disagree with you, elenchos. I think Tina Fey has been more devastating than 100 SLOG echo chambers at turning people's opinions about Palin.

I don't like that SNL was having Palin on, but then I realized that it's just political cover so that five minutes after Palin leaves, they can go back to continually fisting the ticket.

]]> Big Sven http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178234 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178234 2008 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 14:56:15 -0800 Comment by E What will happen if I throw holy water at my Tee Vee screen when she's on?

]]> E http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178240 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178240 2008 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 15:13:23 -0800 Comment by stinkbug Um, Brian Williams of NBC is interviewing McCain and Palin next week. Will supposedly be airing on Thursday and Friday.

]]> stinkbug http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178241 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178241 2008 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 15:15:49 -0800 Comment by Sirkowski I haven't watched SNL in years and I'm not going to start again tonite.

]]> Sirkowski http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178244 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178244 2008 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 15:18:38 -0800 Comment by stinkbug oops, the interview airs Weds and Thurs.

]]> stinkbug http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178246 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178246 2008 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 15:20:45 -0800 Comment by Matt But if you meet with the media without preconditions, then the terrorists will have won!

]]> Matt http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178252 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178252 2008 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 15:43:34 -0800 Comment by Clara @5: If only someone at NBC had the balls to turn Palin's SNL appearance into a hard-hitting "pop" interview. I'd like to see Palin try to evade or bullshit her way out of it on live TV.

]]> Clara http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178253 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178253 2008 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 15:45:23 -0800 Comment by roger nbc is just happy to have people watching anything on their network. snl is the only thing there worth watching these days. knightrider, anyone? (okay, i love 30 rock, but it's not on yet this fall.)
so, they had NO leverage in requiring anything for this snl appearance. and she was already planning to do a sit down interview with brian williams. she WAS making them wait though because of the ridiculous coverage on their sister network msdnc. oh sorry, msnbc.

]]> roger http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178257 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178257 2008 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 15:54:28 -0800 Comment by Lawks a Lordy I wouldn't watch it if you paid me in Euro's. The sight of Sarah Palin makes my stomach ulcers bleed. Quite frankly, this entire election cycle is only making my therapist richer.

]]> Lawks a Lordy http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178258 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178258 2008 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 15:56:15 -0800 Comment by hal Palin gives interviews. In limited quantity and where she feels most comfortable. If they make her look bad, she blames the "librul" media. She most also now be chaperoned by McCain.

What she does not do is give press conferences. You know, with actual journalists and gotcha follow up questions.

]]> hal http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178260 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178260 2008 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 16:04:44 -0800 Comment by KAY ...THE OBSESSION WITH SARAH PALIN IS ASTONISHING ... OVER FOR HER AND MC CAIN ... GEEZ

IS HER BODY LANGUAGE .... WHAT .... I THINK SHE IS ORDINANRY, HER POLITICS STINK. HER TICKET IS GOING DOWN THE TUBE.

HAVE SOME OF YOU NEVER MET FEMALE NEOCONS?

AIN'T MY HARD SHELL DEMOCRAT MOTHER OR GRANNY, FOR SURE.

CONCENTRATE ON ELECTING GREGOIRE, A WOMAN WE NEED.

HO HUM.

]]> KAY http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178264 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178264 2008 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 16:29:58 -0800 Comment by Just Sayin Um, how sure are you that this won't be a disaster for the McCain/Palin campaign? Remember, this show is LIVE

]]> Just Sayin http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178266 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178266 2008 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 16:33:42 -0800 Comment by flamingbanjo I think SNL just set some kind of record for shark-jumping. Four weeks from "cutting edge political satire that's got everybody talking" to "co-opted by the intended target for her own benefit."

I still doubt that Palin can be funny on purpose. Here's hoping she gets booed by that Un-American New York audience.

]]> flamingbanjo http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178268 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178268 2008 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 16:37:48 -0800 Comment by mo Daniel, that last sentence is just fucking sick.

You're turning into a really disgusting person, and it's sad to watch.

]]> mo http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178269 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178269 2008 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 16:38:31 -0800 Comment by Mr. Poe Wahhhh!

]]> Mr. Poe http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178276 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178276 2008 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 16:54:54 -0800 Comment by patrick hmmm....let's see here...why won't NBC make Palin jump through hoops to get what she wants....and at the same time we don't ask anything of Obama when he trolls for cash from homos and their families and he's too much of a pussy to campaign against Prop 8 or even give any fucking money to help defeat it.

Biden is making three stops in the SF Bay Area this weekend to collect cash...how much more cash do they need?

Selfish pricks - the Obama campaign as well as anyone willing to take NBC to task and not a Presidential campaign with a comfy lead and loads of cash.

]]> patrick http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178277 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178277 2008 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 16:55:15 -0800 Comment by M The only interest I have in seeing another millisecond of this Palin creature is if she is being beat to death by a horde of angry ferrets. Or seeing her portrayal in the Larry Flint porn flick.

]]> M http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178286 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178286 2008 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 17:12:38 -0800 Comment by Fnarf I won't watch. SNL sucks. But I hope they pelt her with boos and garbage.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178288 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178288 2008 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 17:21:19 -0800 Comment by Jessica The guest host is Josh Brolin, one can only hope there's going to be a GWB/Palin sketch that doesn't involve the real Palin.

TINA FEY, DO NOT LET ME DOWN!

]]> Jessica http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178289 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178289 2008 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 17:36:12 -0800 Comment by reverend dr dj riz #23
obama has a comfy lead ?...
has the fat lady already sang ?

]]> reverend dr dj riz http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178290 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178290 2008 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 17:41:35 -0800 Comment by 4f...sake I'm watching and writing some mean ass poetry

]]> 4f...sake http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178295 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178295 2008 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 18:05:28 -0800 Comment by Rain Monkey I just happened to be watching when Tina Fey did the first Palin skit, and I've been watching pretty regularly since.

It will probably be disappointing, unless they rewrite the script she'll be reading from on the prompter and she figures out that she has to wing it live. That would be hilarious.

]]> Rain Monkey http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178296 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178296 2008 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 18:05:52 -0800 Comment by COMTE Dan,

In my wildest dreams, Fey does EXACTLY what you suggest: about 30 seconds into whatever skit they do toegher, Fey simply drops character and directly asks Palin those questions nobody else has dared to put to her - live, on coast-to-coast national television. Fey would instantaneously be hailed on the one hand as the most courageous person in the country, while simultaneously being vilified by the Right as an anti-American, commie-loving, terrorist sympathizer.

Ah, if only...

]]> COMTE http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178310 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178310 2008 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 19:47:41 -0800 Comment by Julie in Chicago Just watched, I thought Palin was pretty decent, actually (80% due to the writing, but whatever). However, Tina Fey is much, much better.

On a side note, the skits immediately following the opener were some of the worst I have ever seen. Truly awful.

]]> Julie in Chicago http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178317 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178317 2008 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 20:47:27 -0800 Comment by DavidC Just watched it too. Seeing them side by side - Wow - they are dead ringers - it's simply uncanny. Although Sarah is slightly more attractive.

They didn't soften their tone with her on the show but the jokes, especially in the second skit were all repeats. Still funny for a couple more weeks.

]]> DavidC http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178321 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178321 2008 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 22:02:46 -0800 Comment by John Bailo
Life will never be this good for Demobots:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCp8Edp4pfo

]]> John Bailo http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178331 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178331 2008 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 22:53:50 -0800 Comment by crystina You said it yourself Dan, you think NBC should refuse to allow palin on SNL without demanding an interview, but you will still watch SNL without NBC demanding an interview. Ratings are what matter; they know you'll watch without those conditions, so what's their incentive?

]]> crystina http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178338 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178338 2008 Sun, 19 Oct 2008 00:21:40 -0800 Comment by guy Don't be silly. The media _doesn't want_ to hold Palin accountable for _anything_. they just want their tax cut.

]]> guy http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178612 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/palin_on_snl#c1178612 2008 Sun, 19 Oct 2008 19:22:23 -0800