On Thursday, NBC's "Saturday Night Live" spin-off "Weekend Update Thursday" mocked President Obama as being willing to discuss healthcare reform on virtually any cable channel that will have him -- except, of course, Fox News.
Although the opening skit did poke fun at FNC's Glenn Beck, the real joke was that the President, having just done Sunday interviews on ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, and Univision, wanted to "get the healthcare message out to as wide an audience as possible. I don't want to shut anyone out of this debate."
After that statement, Fred Armisen playing Obama sat down with representatives from ESPN, Bravo, MTV, The Food Network, and even a teenage vampire from The CW, but continually said "No" to meeting with anyone from Fox News (video embedded below the fold):
So, were the producers supporting the President's decision to boycott Fox last Sunday, or rightfully pointing out how absurd it was?
In Fox's words, we report, you decide.
Post facto thought: it's going to be very interesting to see how Obama gets covered by SNL this season.
Toward the end of the last season, despite all the discussion about comedy writers being uncomfortable lampooning the new president, SNL did start bucking the trend a tad.
Given his plummeting popularity, this could -- I emphasize could -- be a turning point in his presidency.
As Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and Sarah Palin know all too well, a contentious SNL can be very bad for one's political career.
Will SNL take off the gloves and set its sights on the suddenly stumbling, bumbling President?
As Ed Hart used to say, we will know in the fullness of time.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.
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Well, some great
September 25, 2009 - 09:45 ET by nolotrippenWell, some great impersonations (even of my beloved Beck), but they just can't bring themselves to ding the 800 pound dingaling in the room: Obama.
That's what I thought, too
September 25, 2009 - 09:54 ET by BlondeKathy Griffin & Guy Fieri were hillarious, Obama not so much.
At the very beginning, the actor was doing a pretty good job with O's inflections, which could have been taken over the top to skewer Bamster w/o TOTUS, but alas......FAIL.
I hope he fails, too.
Re Dingaling
September 25, 2009 - 10:45 ET by slickwillie2001Whew, that was close.
NOT FUNNY
September 25, 2009 - 09:48 ET by charlietexasSNL hasn't been funny in several years......thanks for reminding me why I quit watching it. but its true about obama, hes a weenie for not going on foxnews
mom
Two sides to that coin
September 25, 2009 - 09:56 ET by KC MulvilleWhen George Bush decided to skip the NAACP meetings, since he had no reason to believe he was going to get a fair hearing, I agreed with him. Now Obama believes he won't get a fair hearing on Fox. I deny that, but that's his opinion, and he can do that if he wants.
Of course, that doesn't mean that Fox can't respond to that tactic. If Obama wants to portray Fox as unfair, then Fox has every right to respond in kind. Chris Wallace was well within his rights to call the Obama White House the biggest bunch of crybabies he'd ever seen. That should be the beginning of Fox's response, not the end of it.
Fox shouldn't be unfair, but having been disrespected, they're under no obligation to bend over backwards in deference to this crybaby.
If memory serves he spoke to
September 25, 2009 - 10:23 ET by ninerdogIf memory serves he spoke to them before and they tried to boo him off the stage. Also before he was asked to speak at the NAACP the CEO made comments that were hateful at best aimed at Bush. Fox has been fair to BO in almost all reporting. He just does not want to answer questions that he needs to. He knows the MSM will never ask him a tough question. It shows a lack of sand to shirk away from being asked why you did this.
"Fox has been fair to BO in
September 25, 2009 - 11:23 ET by J-Mart"Fox has been fair to BO in almost all reporting."
Haha, funniest thing I've heard in a couple weeks.
alot more fair...
September 25, 2009 - 11:58 ET by ConservativeClarkthan msnbc would ever be fair to GWB. Olbermann said the most vile and hateful things ive ever heard any journalist ever say to GWB. MSNBC resorts to crappy impersonations, name calling, and lies to try to discredit conservatives. What ive seen on Fox lately is two private citizen journalists call out a corrupt left-wing organization known as ACORN and expose them for the vote-frauding, child prostitution endorsing, tax cheat supporting idiots they are.
I think he was pitching...
September 25, 2009 - 10:30 ET by StarAZI don't think the president thinks he will get an unfair hearing on FOX--certainly BOR would do his urbane backbends...I think the WH was just pitching a Chicago-style hissy fit--like sending a dead fish to someone.
Beck thought the bit with
September 25, 2009 - 09:56 ET by HermanoBeck thought the bit with him in it was funny. I have to agree. The Patterson bit sucked... kind of like New Jersey.
Only two forms of government? Find out why... http://www.flixxy.co...
Cracks me up how stupid SNL watchers are...
September 25, 2009 - 10:15 ET by MightyMouthThis is just another attempt by SNL to marginalize Fox just as they did with Palin ala Tina Fey. Notice the only person deemed sane in this bit was Obama. The entire sketch was aimed at Fox and Beck in particular. There is no way they were pointing out the absurdity of not being on Fox. And for the Record, Obama is afraid of the likes of Beck and others on Fox! He does not know how to handle criticism or hard questions.
(To be honest, I think Beck would fold if debating Obama, Beck is not a bully and thug like Obama.)
"The bureaucracy is growing to meet the needs of the growing bureaucracy"
really?!?!?!?!
September 25, 2009 - 10:19 ET by realpatriotthat is SNL now, wow I have not missed much.
Glenn Beck was pretty good though..lol
Haw! that was actually funny, SNL!
September 25, 2009 - 10:20 ET by carolina09I even got a giggle out of the Beck rif.
But, I think I could do a better Obama. SNL wears gloves for O--he's a lot funnier than that.
"Will SNL take off the
September 25, 2009 - 10:57 ET by TE"Will SNL take off the gloves and set its sights on the suddenly stumbling, bumbling President?"
The probability of SNL portraying Obama as the clueless, thoroughly unqualified, leftist loon that he is is ZERO. Forget any idea of that ever happening, along with the idea that leftist loser Letterman, who fantasized on his show about the rape of Sarah Palin's 12-year-old daughter at a New York Yankees game, will ever portray Obama as the clueless, thoroughly unqualified, leftist loon that he is. It ain't gonna happen.
"The probability of SNL
September 25, 2009 - 11:27 ET by J-Mart"The probability of SNL portraying Obama as the clueless, thoroughly unqualified, leftist loon that he is is ZERO."
Only a small percentage of the country has that opinion of Obama. Why would SNL lampoon him that way?
SNL didn't even have to change Sarah Palin's words to lampoon her last year. Just use her responses verbatim and that was comedy enough.
Palin
September 25, 2009 - 13:08 ET by VengeanceIsMineVerbatim, huh?
You can see Russia from Alaska changed to I can see Russia from my house.
Watch Zieglers - How Obama got elected and educate yourself.
"You cannot spend your way out of recession or borrow your way out of debt." Daniel Hannan
It's what they do
September 25, 2009 - 18:37 ET by CobraMan"Only a small percentage of the country has that opinion of Obama. Why would SNL lampoon him that way?"
Why would SNL lampoon anyone in any way? Because it's what they do. I remember when Chevy Chase used to lampoon President Ford as a bubbling, stumbling fool who tripped over his feet every time he walked in front of the TV camera, yet Ford only tripped ONCE during his term as President.
So, do you feel it was wrong for SNL to lampoon Ford in this manner? Or is your faux concern only reserved for Democrats?
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus.
The US Supreme Court
I'm reminded of a Jay Leno
September 25, 2009 - 11:01 ET by RDDI'm reminded of a Jay Leno joke from awhile ago.
"How can we trust Obama to take on the terrorists if he's too afraid to take on Fox News?"
RDD... I heard that joke
September 25, 2009 - 13:00 ET by bigtimerRDD...
I heard that joke as well...truer words never spoken.
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
Bamster Tantrum
September 25, 2009 - 11:34 ET by slickwillie2001Related: The Bamster threw a tantrum against CNN this week because they dared to do an interview with Christopher Andersen, the author of a book about the Obamas that the Bamster appears to not approve of. (This is the book that reveals that William Ayers did coauthor what is generally referred to as the Bamster's book Dreams of My Father.)
White House Snit Fit: http://proteinwisdom.com/?p=15332
I am telling you, Wallace
September 25, 2009 - 12:55 ET by buddycI am telling you, Wallace and Fox should hold a big sunday news show. Have a panel of O'Reiley, Shep Smith, Bair(sp), Wallace, Greta, Bair's (sp) group of commentators including Juan Williams et al., and some others (not the extreme right wingers) ask questions of an empty chair with only the presidential seal in it.
Mock his refusal to appear. Show highlights of his answer and the questions asked by those suck ups at CBS, ABC and NBC.
Show videos of Obama claiming he will work with others, he will reach accross the isle, he will bring a change in tone, he will be everyone's president.
Also ask important and newsworthy questions.
I don't know what SNL will
September 25, 2009 - 13:09 ET by bigtimerI don't know what SNL will do on down the road, I'll let NBs keep me informed.
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
...
September 25, 2009 - 13:29 ET by EugeniaPlease! No! Not the Food Network! It's one of the few safe havens I have left as an Obama-free zone.
"When people stop believing in God, they don't believe in nothing -- they believe in anything."
-- GK Chesterton
Not only Food Network, Eugenia
September 25, 2009 - 15:03 ET by BlondeBravo too! They mocked that idiot Kathy Griffith, the D-List Bravo host/commedienne.
If you're a foodie, Top Chef on Bravo is awesome. I think it's the best reality show ever, Top Chef Masters was amazing. If you haven't seen it, check it out...it makes TNFNFS look lame by comparison.
I hope he fails, too.
Stay away from DIY!
September 25, 2009 - 18:40 ET by CobraManObama better stay away from the DIY Network! I do NOT want to see a show called "Ask this Old Liberal."
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus.
The US Supreme Court
thanks for interrupting Beck, TOTUS
September 25, 2009 - 16:19 ET by candanceWatching you blather for the hundredth time about "saving millions of jobs" is far more entertaining than Beck.
/sarc
can... I was peeved as
September 25, 2009 - 18:35 ET by bigtimercan...
I was peeved as well.
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
Wasn't the "Fox is evil"
September 25, 2009 - 18:26 ET by ApacheWasn't the "Fox is evil" tactic first employed by John Edwards? Didn't his objections basically knock Obama and Hillary out of doing debates on Fox as they moved to satisfy the nutroots? I bet once the primary was over, the Clinton campaign regretted that choice after seeing the Obama networks do a number on them.
Apache... So do
September 25, 2009 - 18:34 ET by bigtimerApache...
So do I.
Regrets...they've had a few.
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
The best Obama
September 25, 2009 - 20:57 ET by MozillaThe best Obama impersonation:
Christopher B. Duncan as Obama
He was used on Leno's Tonight Show:
Only Could Find CNN report!