| Of course it would come to this. The news media entertain while comedy shows deliver political spin. Having apparently boosted Hillary Clinton's campaign by playing the media-is-too-easy-on-Obama skit immediately before her wins in Texas and Ohio, and the Hillary-at-3AM ad last week, Lorne Michaels, the executive producer of Saturday Night Live has gone out of his way with the NY Times and LA Times to dispel the impression his program in any way backs the former First Lady for the Democratic nomination. He was reacting to the two skits and the bitches-get-stuff-done endorsement from former SNL cast member and 30 Rock diva Tina Fey that have raised suspicion of a political agenda at work. If you follow the money, however, are there more clues to some intentional or subliminal motives? Lorne Michaels has been an active political donor over the years. The largest and most consistent beneficiary of his largesse since 2000 has been Chris Dodd and the Chris PAC. Dodd withdrew from the current race in January and has since endorsed Obama. But Michaels has also regularly given to John McCain since 2000, including donations in March and May of last year totaling $2300, the maximum allowed for the primaries. Is Michaels on some level helping McCain, who he vows will not receive additional donations now that he has captured the GOP nomination, by trying to ensure that Clinton becomes his opponent? Just asking. Mr. Micheals' remonstrations might be more convincing if he had not selected comic-musician Fred Armisen to impersonate Barack Obama. The otherwise-talented Armisen has failed to capture any of the charisma and inspiration that make the candidate so appealing. Instead, his is a dour and dumb Barack Obama Who Never Smiles, guaranteed not to garner any sympathy when viewed alongside the simpatico Hillary Clinton of Amy Poehler. At the start of this season, Michaels streamlined the SNL staff in what was viewed as a cost-cutting measure. It was also reported earlier this year that the chubby Kenan Thompson was on a diet so he could play Obama. When the writers' strike came to an end, tryouts for the part at SNL were widely reported. Does Michaels' decision not to sign a new impersonator indicate he does not expect Obama will be in the running much longer, so he is saving money with someone already on staff? Art imitates art. Meanwhile, as I reported previously, it is now confirmed that Seth Myers will play Eliot Spitzer on SNL this Saturday. Not clear yet who will play Kristen or if they will in fact call the segment "Superdelegates Gone Wild". |
