Like a lot of you, I’ve been following the political skits on SNL (see previous comments here). And so I was quite interested in Sarah Palin’s appearance this past weekend; it’s not often that the subject of political satire chooses to participate.
Once can think of John McCain’s appearance on SNL back in 2002, but he wasn’t running for president then. Or Ron Nessen’s appearance in in ’76, when he was White House Press Secretary and the show savaged President Gerald Ford.
Earlier this year, both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton made brief appearances on SNL, but in both cases they were positive portrayals (Unlike the way Peyton Manning mocked his own image.). I was a little concerned when I heard that Sarah Palin was going to show up that it would be self-serving and a glorification of herself. In other words, did her willing participation mean a whitewash?
Having watched her two appearances a few times, and enjoyed them immensely, I have formed an opinion. Excuse my language, but there’s a technical term to describe the way Palin handled this situation: chickenshit.
Here are her appearances: Once in the opener and again in the news segment.
Note that SNL mocks her mercilessly. Governor Palin doesn’t participate, but she’s supposed to get credit for showing up and being a good sport about it. She gets to “Have her cake and eat it too.”
The “Weekend Update” rap song brings up McCain’s age, Palin’s attractiveness, her lack of experience, the Bridge to Nowhere, Joe the Plumber, the Ayers attacks. Her entire aggressive demeanor on the campaign trail is couched in terms of the violent braggadocio of gangsta rap. And the whole time, Palin sits there rocking out, having a good time, seemingly oblivious to the fact that they’re making fun of her right to her face. She’s not overturning the satire. She’s not making fun of herself. She’s just showing up.
[Rule of comedy: If people think you're dumb and you do a parody that makes you look even dumber, the whole thing flips and you get credit for actually being smart. See Paris Hilton.]
Compare to the time Natalie Portman showed up and also performed in a gangsta rap skit that mocked her image. She made fun of herself (much like Manning) and came out looking smarter for it. No cluelessness there.
UPDATE: See this analysis from Alessandra Stanley. Palin is described as offering an “engaging, relaxed performance on ‘SNL” and “bopping and swaying to a satirical rap song.” Stanley argues “The ‘SNL’ skits gave Ms. Palin the last word in every joke.” Only in the sense that she literally speaks last in the skits.
Tags: Sarah Palin, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, SNL