Comedy on the Campaign Trail

1. Sarah Palin on SNL - I watched the opening sketch last night, and the Weekend Update sketch this morning.
In the past, appearing on any television show has given candidates the opportunity to appear more human and likable. It was thought of as a brash move - daring and courageous. Now it looks like pandering.
On the one hand, Sarah Palin has to go on SNL because she doesn't have a good reputation among young liberals (for whom this show appears to be geared) and she needs to show that she can laugh at herself, so they might be influenced to look at her with fresh eyes.

Maybe it will work.

She's certainly not fearful about going into the mudpit, I'll give her that.
But, the two sketches weren't really that good at making fun of her. In real life she's so much a parody of her own right wing nuttiness that its hard to turn that in on itself and make it funny or satirical again. If it weren't for Sarah Palin, somebody might have created a Sarah Palin like character to mock the nuttiness of the John McCain. But, instead he went and nominated her.

I didn't think the sketches were all that funny for her. It didn't make her seem more human or likeable. It was something everyone was doing for the sake of ratings - SNL didn't live up to their best, and Sarah Palin probably did, but there you are.

I thought it was uncomfortable how Alec Baldwin was essentially telling her to her face (if he weren't looking at cue cards so much) all the things we liberals don't like about her. That's not funny - she just had to stand there and take it.

And the exchange between Tina Fey and Sarah Palin was uncomfortable - Tina just walked by her - no handshake or acknowledgement that I saw.
Even in the Amy Poehler thing - well, there Sarah Palin was - just taking it. For no good reason. It was as if she didn't even have to be there in order for them to do these skits.

2. Al Smith Dinner.

http://primebuzz.kcstar.com/?q=node/15091

Now THAT was comedy. I laughed a lot at both McCain and Obama. In fact, I thought McCain bested Obama in this case. His delivery was more well-timed that Barack's.

Its kind of weird that their speech writer's were able to so clearly make fun of each other and themselves with the very things that really ARE funny (in a good and bad way) about them.

It makes me wonder what politicians are really like. When they're on the campaign trail they're really saying some hard truth stuff (Barack Obama) or making up really mean things (John McCain) (HA! That was my own joke because it shows my bias so completely!)

Anyway - the truth is the campaign is not for the faint of heart. And yet, the people can still make fun of themselves and each other. Which is real? I'm not sure I could be both.