"Saturday Night Live" Writer: From Mondale, to "strategery," to Clinton-Obama debate sketches

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT: ‘SNL’ Writer Narrows the Gap Between Politics and Farce
By DAVE ITZKOFF
Published: March 3, 2008


(Dana Edelson/NBC)
A sketch written by James Downey on this week’s “Saturday Night Live,” featured a guest appearance by Vincent D’Onofrio, left, and cast members.

Like many of his fellow Americans, James Downey was a bit surprised to see Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton on “Saturday Night Live” over the weekend, satirically protesting the treatment she has received from the news media.

But Mr. Downey, 55, a veteran writer of the show, must have been flattered by Mrs. Clinton’s cameo. After all she was just agreeing with his handiwork: a pair of comedy skits in which debate moderators give the candidate a tough grilling while fawning over her Democratic rival, Senator Barack Obama. Mrs. Clinton even cited one of Mr. Downey’s “SNL” sketches during a debate on Tuesday, when she complained that she seemed to be receiving tougher questions than Mr. Obama. “If anybody saw ‘Saturday Night Live,’ ” she said, “you know, maybe we should ask Barack if he’s comfortable and needs another pillow.”

Most comedy writers are loath to admit that their work has any lasting value or influence. But after receiving several congratulatory phone calls from friends and colleagues that evening, Mr. Downey realized he had struck a chord. “It tells you that you might have articulated something that was vaguely out there, but had yet to be stated in a comedy form,” he said in a telephone interview. “Some things make you laugh because they’re funny, and other things, the effect is: ‘Hey, that’s right. That makes sense.’ ”

In an “SNL” career that has spanned 27 seasons over 32 years, Mr. Downey has written much of the show’s most enduring political comedy, anticipating the sentiment of the moment as often as responding to it....

At times his work has been prescient: in a 1984 skit about the war room of Walter Mondale, the Democratic presidential nominee, the candidate fastidiously plots a victory in Minnesota (the only state he carried that year). In other instances he has missed the historical mark: a sketch about Democratic aspirants has them trying to avoid running against President George H. W. Bush in 1992, who then appeared unbeatable in the polls. But when Mr. Downey has taken aim at the presidential debates, he has consistently defined the candidates before they could define themselves: his send-up of the 2000 debates between Al Gore and George W. Bush coined the Bushian malapropism “strategery,” an invention that is sometimes attributed to Mr. Bush....

***

While Mr. Downey appreciated the shout-out from Mrs. Clinton, he said his Clinton-Obama parodies were not intended as a lifeline for her campaign. “These days, I imagine, they’re looking for help wherever they can find it,” he said. He said he probably favored Mr. Obama over Mrs. Clinton, but that he genuinely felt she was receiving tougher treatment from the news media. (In Saturday’s skit the Clinton character is roughed up by Vincent D’Onofrio, a star of “Law & Order: Criminal Intent.”)

“If Senator Obama disagrees,” Mr. Downey said, “we have two more shows coming up in the next two weeks. And I’m sure we’d love to give him rebuttal time.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/03/arts/television/03down.html?_r=1&oref=login&pagewanted=print

[dbredes]

1. An African American Can Never Be President...not even on SNL

Comic chosen to depict Barack Obama on SNL for 2nd week in a row...is caucasian looking..with large Kucinich ears.....Unable to smile...and too stupid to speak...


In a press conference today:
Loren Michaels was asked why SNL had been unable to find an African American to play Barack Obama...He stated that well..it appears that Barack Obama is the last African American Male in America that is currently not in jail." He insisted that they are currently speaking to parole boards accross the nation..hoping to find someone to fill the role.

When asked whether he was concerned whether Black Americans would be angry over this obvious racist depiction... Loren said " Well no..actually our fan base doesn't really include many African Americans. As you know we air on Saturday nights...when most African Americans are too busy robbing houses or smoking crack...to watch."

When asked whether he was concerned that posts on the community boards for SNL about racism would create a backlash...Loren smugly answered..."I don't think so...You know most African Americans haven't really evolved enough to read and write...so I doubt if "those people" are aware the backlash is ocurring".

In an effort to woo reporters at the end of the interview...Loren passed out sumptious watermelon and fried chicken to all.

*************************************************************
There is an attempt at a heated discussion on SNL's community boards...including a boycott SNL thread...however it is heavily censored....

Many on SNL's boards claim that makeup is applied to ears and hands to whiten...while face makeup is darkened - to emphasize Barack's mixed race background...

Is this racist caricature of our potential president...going to stand for the next 8 years.

Anybody else wondering about this on DU?

[DeepModem Mom]

2. I posted at DU about this issue. I'll see if I can find a link to the post.

Meanwhile, welcome to DU!!!

[DeepModem Mom]

3. Here's a link to the post, and discussion --

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=4828054

[dbredes]

4. Thank you..I'll check it out!