SNL Writer: Sean Hannity 'The Dumbest Person Who’s Ever Been Paid to Speak on Television'
New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd published a piece Sunday about how the folks at Saturday Night Live find political material for their show each week.
Buried way at the very end was quite a disparaging comment about Fox News's Sean Hannity from long-time SNL writer Jim Downey:
Downey is leavening the prospect of an “eh” campaign by plotting to follow up his hilarious Keith Olbermann sketch (performed by the host Ben Affleck) with a send-up of Sean Hannity.
“I think I’m right in saying,” Downey observed, “that he’s the dumbest person who’s ever been paid to speak on television.”
If Downey thinks Hannity is "the dumbest person who’s ever been paid to speak on television,” you've got to wonder who he thinks is the smartest.
On the other hand, the brother of Robert Downey and uncle of Robert Downey Jr. is supposedly a Republican as well as a friend of conservative author Ann Coulter.
So said former SNL writer Adam McKay in 2008.
As such, who knows what Downey's beef is with Hannity?
- Noel Sheppard's blog
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Comments
Maybe Downey is just showing
Submitted by hatfield on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 6:34pm.
Maybe Downey is just showing his true colors. Maybe he's never heard Schultz or Madcow. Or even big al, resist we much.
I smell a rat.
Or the CNN clowns
Submitted by Galvanic on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 8:56am.
Carol Costello
Soledad O'Brien
and that guy Lemon.
Maybe he needed to build up
Submitted by Lakewood Ed on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 6:36pm.
Maybe he needed to build up his cred with the SNL team. Gotta say something lefty-looney once in a while to show you're still one of the crew . . . I guess.
I must be getting really old
Submitted by WarEagle66 on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 6:54pm.
I must be getting really old because I remember when Saturday Night Live was actually funny.....
By the time
Submitted by misterbee241 on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 10:11am.
Eddie Murphy and Joe Piscopo left, I had totally lost interest. The originals were/are still the best.
Everyone says this, but you
Submitted by balboa on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 11:04am.
Everyone says this, but you know what the truth is? SNL has ALWAYS had hit or miss moments. It's always been about the same. No one remembers the clunkers from the Belushi / Murray / Aykroyd era, but they were there.
The only truly bad era was when Lorne Michaels left the show. Everything else has been about the same.
Well like anyone else who
Submitted by motherbelt on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 6:42pm.
Well like anyone else who talks for four hours a day, Hannity is going to to say some seriously stupid things. And I will admit that he drives me up a wall sometimes.
But to place him above Ed Schultz, Al Sharpton, and Larry O'Donnell in "dumb" takes some seriously screwed-up thinking.
My biggest beef with Hannity
Submitted by bretzysdude on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 8:04pm.
My biggest beef with Hannity is that he tends to have on the loudest and most obnoxious liberal guests and regular callers, and he gives them way too much air time for them to say what they need to say. Granted, the more they talk, the more they dig a deeper hole, but my eardrums can only take so much of their screeching. (Jason Chiles and Marc Lamont are usually the most obnoxious.)
Having said that, you can always count on Hannity being smarter than them. Downey probably doesn't listen to him enough to make that judgment, or he's looking through liberal rose-colored glasses.
Ok, MY problem with Hannity
Submitted by misterbee241 on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 10:13am.
It seems to me every time on his radio show, a caller has something really interesting to say, or is calling Hannity out on something, Hannity is always "up against a hard break. Gotta go." And the caller disappears on the other side of the break.
Radion & TV
Submitted by mikebromo on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 11:17am.
Can't stand his radio show. Will watch his TV show if Michelle Malkin or Ann Coulter is on. I can DVR his TV show and skip the BS (same with "The Factor") can't do that with his radio show.
Apparently....
Submitted by Clinkin on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 6:45pm.
...his cable provider doesn't carry MSNBC. I'm envious.
or his own network.
Submitted by almostacowboy on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 7:01pm.
.
I think I might need to
Submitted by eaglescout1998 on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 6:48pm.
I think I might need to correct you, Noel.
According to the Wikipedia, James Downey and Robert Downey are brothers, which would make Robert Downey, Jr. his nephew.
Noel had the family link correct, eaglescout1998
Submitted by Dolphie on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 8:17pm.
To eaglescout1998 --> Noel said James was Robert Downey's brother and that Robert Downey, Jr is his nephew:
On the other hand, the brother of Robert Downey and uncle of Robert Downey Jr. is supposedly a Republican as well as a friend of conservative author Ann Coulter.
Read more: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2012/04/15/snl-writer-sean-ha...
And I'm beginning to wonder if...
Submitted by DumbCanuck on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 9:11pm.
Ann Coulter is really who she says she is. I mean... she seems to have too many liberal acquantances: Joy Behar, and Bill Maher to name two, and she loves Mittens Romney and Chris Christie. (Granted Christie is somewhat conservative fiscally, I wouldn't consider him a social conservative.)
Sure she gets into a lot of trouble with liberals, and Hannity seems to like her a lot, but I get a little "red alert" right in the back of my head when I hear who else she tags along with.
Now this. Another RINO that Anne seems to like.
Maybe she can set up a beer summit with Hannity and James Downey.
"There... Are... Four... Lights!"
Dolphie, When I first read
Submitted by eaglescout1998 on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 11:53pm.
Dolphie,
When I first read Noel’s piece, it had said that James was the son of Robert Sr. and that Robert Jr. was his brother. Granted, this is a minor nitpick, one that has nothing to do with what the piece was actually about, but it was what prompted my earlier reply. Obviously, Noel made the correction. Either that, my eyes deceived me.
Dumb takes on O'Dumber
Submitted by BMorgan53 on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 6:49pm.
Apparently the writer has never listened to our Green CFLB President speak...
57 States
Navy Corpseman
Please translate
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 9:18pm.
to Austrian.
Dont forget
Submitted by misterbee241 on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 10:16am.
"punished with a baby."
yeah, we know.
Submitted by almostacowboy on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 7:03pm.
You libs are all geniuses and we're all dopes. So, what else is new?
Ah Yes, Mo the Shrew is back up to her meddling, no good ways
Submitted by djwolf12 on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 7:19pm.
Hannity is the dumbest person on TV? REALLY? Hey Mo the Shrew, have you ever watched Bubbles Brzezynski on Morning Communists? She has an IQ that is less than zero and I didn't know that was humanly possible.
Or the rest of mslsd's
Submitted by Boudin on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 7:22pm.
"Cango line of morons"
I love that line from The Great One.
Submitted by djwolf12 on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 7:30pm.
He is a real pip! I can mentally picture this happening: If Bubbles Brzezynski ever goes to the White House personally to pick up her pre-written Obama talking points, they probably lace that paper with catnip and hold it over her head and wave them as if those talking points were a cat toy.
Let us compare
Submitted by John21 on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 7:34pm.
Let us compare the credibility of Mr. Hannity and Ms. Dowd?
Mr. Hannity is popular because he is willing to report both sides of a story in at least a reasonably honest and respectful manner. His stories are usually based on reputable provable facts.
Ms. Dowd reputation for honesty or credibility is very low. Her continued whine about anything and everything that does not proclaim her as the premier drama queen is at best annoying. She has shown little intelligence, common sense or factual reporting during her career.
I think ms. Dowd is living in a glass house with many rocks in (her head) in the air.
I wonder if...
Submitted by poseA on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 8:13pm.
I wonder if Jim Downey has ever watched the Today show or GMA?
Considering his opinion of Mr. Hannity, my guess is no because those programs are mind numbing.
SNL
Submitted by oldfart on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 8:17pm.
How many people actually watch SNL?
My politics are probably a little. . .
Submitted by rickbren on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 8:39pm.
. . . right of Hannity's. I enjoy listening to him some times. But I think he must have blonde roots. I rarely hear an original thought from him and I tire when he uses his "Hannity Created Cliches" - "Rahm Rahmbo Deadfish Emmaunal" ; "Unrepentant Terrorist Bill Ayrers", etc.
What really ticks me off is when his call screener puts some idiot on so that Sean can show how intelligent he is by attacking and deriding his "guest" and calling him or her a liar.
I wish our radio station would have Laura Ingraham on at that time slot instead of Hannity.
Just sayin'.
I only listen to Sean....
Submitted by i was just thinking on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 9:11pm.
...because there's no one else on at that time. I'm as conservative as anyone, a Rush fan from way back when, but Sean absolutely drives me bonkers. Lately, he just seems to be more of a shrill harpy. I find his tone whiny and tinny, harping on the same things over and over, day after day. I think his ego is bigger than he will admit. I can't count the number of times he's said that he doesn't like to talk about himself, and then proceeds to do exactly that. ("They even mentioned me, but it's not relevant." Then why bring it up, Sean?)
Silliness... "Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled Brigade Army", "Stop Obama Express", every show is a "special edition", the interviews that no one else gets every single day, "you're a great American" (and how does he know that about someone he's never talked to or met before?).
I really don't think he's that smart. Lately, he's become even more tiresome. I just don't have anything else on the radio to listen to at that time.
Sean is overrated and boring
Submitted by cbeyer on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 9:51am.
I find Sean incredibly repetitious using the same phrases over and over such as 'Republicans want dirty water, old people to starve, downs syndrome children to die etc'. Many of these phrases are repeated every day on his show and in the same context.
I also thought that while claiming he had no favorites among the presidential candidates that he showed obvious preferance for Newt who was on his show virtually every day (one or the other) and far more than the other candidates. If Newt was his guy...then say so. Don't hide behind some vail of supposed objectivity.
Rush is far brighter and has brilliant insights into the political world although I often disagree with him. Sean is definately not the ultimate conservative talk show host.
I will admit
Submitted by misterbee241 on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 10:21am.
I do not listen to ANY of the talkers any more. Haven't in about two years now. The reason is they all became a one trick pony - Obama is the problem, blah, blah, blah. Well, I KNOW that. I want a solution. That was why I liked Beck. Every day, I could listen and hear something new. But he became a one trick pony too, and his Fox show became unwatchable because it was chopped up so bad by commercials. The last half hour was a total waste of time. So I stopped.
I really dont need to listen to these guys to find out what I already know.
Alec Baldwin
Submitted by mikebromo on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 11:30am.
I stopped listening to Hannity when he went after Alec Baldwin after the taped cell phone conversation with Balwin's daughter became public. It was a domestic dispute between Father and Daughter and Baldwin called her some unflattering names. Hannity went on for days playing the tape and calling for Baldwin's visitation rights to be taken away even for him to be arrested! I don't like Baldwin's politics, but I think he is funny.
➚ A penny for every time
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 8:48pm.
Every time he's said "unrepentant terrorist"
Or
Submitted by Model850 on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 4:42pm.
As someone mentioned in another comment, "Republicans want dirty air, dirty water, children with autism and Down Syndrome and the elderly to fend for themselves...."
I don't listen to his radio program but I usually watch his TV show. And he repeats that phrase ALMOST EVERY NIGHT. I keep screaming at the TV, "OK, Sean! We GET it!! Find something new already!"
Downey is conservative
Submitted by povertypimpin on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 8:46pm.
like Meghan McCain
Or Republican like Geraldo Rivera. I almost spilled my...
Submitted by jawebster1 on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 3:10am.
coffee all over myself when I heard Geraldo say he was a registered Republican!
It's people like the McCain
Submitted by killa37 on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 8:37am.
It's people like the McCain Mutiny and Jerry Rivers and others that prohibit me from calling myself a 'Republican'.
Sean is the dumbest person on television...
Submitted by gopcongress on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 8:49pm.
Sean is the dumbest person on television if you don't count the entire news lineups of NBC, MSNBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, Bill O'Reilly, and Shepherd Smith. Exceptions may include Charles Krauthammer, George Will, and the NBC Peacock.
"The news and truth are not the same thing." -Walter Lippmann (1889-1974) FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER
"When the debate is lost,
Submitted by rbosque on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 8:57pm.
"When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser." -Socrates.
I wonder how many times Sean could buy Jim Downey...
Submitted by Dave. on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 9:12pm.
...before it would start actually changing the numbers in his bank account.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Mr. Downey is very wrong.
Submitted by Darks Shadow Show on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 9:19pm.
The dumbest person ever paid to speak on television would be either Al Sharpton or Rosie O'Donnell.
Dems say, "Never, ever debate on the issues"
Submitted by lgeubank on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 10:01pm.
They go for character assassination, slurs, and name-calling every time. Their motto is, "Sling mud! Sling mud! Some of it will always stick!"
They don't want to debate, because they CAN'T debate. Their recipe for our country is pure idiocy. So they resort to schoolyard antics, like the rotten little spoiled brats they are.
When it comes to saying who is and who is not intelligent, Jim Downey is no judge.
Hey, Downey: Put on your motley clothes and your jester's hat with bells, clown-boy, and get back to work.
the debate is over
Submitted by MidAmerica on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 10:13pm.
We have to remember the Left judges a person's intelligence by how much they uncritically stay with the Liberal message. When the Left decides a position that's it. The debate is over. Kinda like my dad would joke (only half joking actually) "There are two kinds of people in the world. People who agree with me and stupid people".
Riiiiiiiiiiiiight
Submitted by Dustin Jolley on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 10:20pm.
Sean's the dumbest person on television? Riiiiiiiiiiight! I think that title still belongs to Rosie O'Donnell!
➚ Dustin
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 10:30pm.
Oprah just gave Rosie her waddling papers.
Ed Schultz has been craving "Stupidest" honors for quite some time.
It's his turn.
Is that why Fox News keeps
Submitted by Slyrr on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 11:13pm.
Is that why Fox News keeps beating the tar out of every other news network?
Get a clue, libutards. It's not which 'side' a show is on. It's content, content, content. Your shows are the televised equivilant of walking barefoot through fresh cow manure. That's why your ratings stink.
No amount of sour graping from your 'entertainment' shows can fix that.
It's really not that complicated, Slyrr...
Submitted by Jer on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 11:23pm.
40% of Americans self-identify as conservatives. Rupert Murdoch and Roger Ailes shrewdly designed a network dedicated to that demographic, with a sprinkling of liberal commentary tossed in to justify the laughable "fair and balanced" label.
It has been a spectacular ratings success...becoming the media mecca for the conservative market.
Simple arithmetic.
Jer
What is "laughable" is your ---
Submitted by matthewdean on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 1:10am.
lefty lib shot at FOX. That was 'simple', all right.
You sound like a Kos'er raging at FOX.
You should have thrown in Rush and Michael Savage for a Jer trifecta.
MD
If it's only 40% of us that
Submitted by killa37 on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 1:29am.
If it's only 40% of us that are 'conservative' (gasp!!!), then why is FOX blowing everybody else out of the water??? And, to be honest - I rarely watch ANY TV news - so I probably don't even figure into those numbers.
I have watched Hannity a lot, and also listened to his radio show - if he's the 'dumbest' person on the airwaves, then I'd like to know who's the 'smartest' or 'sharpest'. Say what you want about Hannity - he DOES his homework and his prep, and he's ready to debate the issues.................and he also DOES put up with some really idiotic and useless libs on his show - which is something that I could never do!!! I'd have Bob Belcher cleaning the toilets, because that's about all he's good for!! And I'd also make him find a hair-stylist who could do a better dye-job on his hair!!!
Because there are also a lot of centrists leaning slightly
Submitted by Jer on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 1:55am.
right who primarily watch Fox. And the remaining audience--including the libs who comprise only 20% of potential viewers--is spread over a number of channels (including Fox).
That's not to say every conservative watches only Fox, but for the overwhelming majority it is their network of choice. And it is reflected in the ratings.
Jer
Is it strictly numbers that are reflected, or is it ---
Submitted by matthewdean on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 2:07am.
perhaps also the ability to judge between and prefer, a reasonable presentation, to loony bin lefty partisanship bullsh*t?
MD
Do libs watch 'faux' news -
Submitted by killa37 on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 2:45am.
Do libs watch 'faux' news - as they like to call it??? I've been told many times that the USA is a 'liberal' country, so why aren't the lib networks killing 'faux' news???? And as far as I can tell, the libs, the left, the progressives, the Democrats, AND Boy Baraka basically HATE 'faux' news..............and Boy BlahBlah has even called on people to NOT watch it, right?? And also NOT listen to Rush LImbaugh??
So, I can't seem to 'add up your numbers', given what we're being told by the MSM and the StateRun Media. According to their math, 'faux news' should be at the bottom of the heap..................
Don't forget about "Air America". They were supposed...
Submitted by jawebster1 on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 3:07am.
to beat back Conservative talk radio with their Liberal take on the news. Didn't exactly work out, did it? (Unfortunately, they did do one thing. They somehow got Al Franken elected Senator. If he is not a one termer, then I cry for our Country.)
I watched Fox quite a bit for about 8 years, but more recently
Submitted by Jer on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 3:09am.
only occasionally tune in. I may resume more frequent viewing in the near future.
I don't know where you heard the USA is a "liberal" country. It hasn't been for quite a few years. But these things go in cycles.
I don't what I can add to my ratings explanation--at least my opinion regarding the reasons.
Jer
That's not raging, Matthew...
Submitted by Jer on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 1:40am.
If MSNBC's slogan was (laughably) "fair and balanced", I would post similar sentiments about that network.
Jer
I'll give you that it wasn't 'raging', Jer, but coming from ---
Submitted by matthewdean on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 1:53am.
a lefty, neither was your comment 'fair and balanced'.
MD
Fox News is the only cable news channel worth watching...
Submitted by jawebster1 on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 2:59am.
if you are interested in an unbiased reporting of the news. Fox News would never doctor a tape like NBC did in order to paint George Zimmerman as a racist. Sean Hannity debates liberals all the time on his show. Liberals have plenty of access on Fox News. Too much access as far as I'm concerned.
Hannity has also doctored tapes, or at least aired
Submitted by Jer on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 3:09am.
doctored tapes.
And conservatives have access on every other network as well, and always have had it.
Jer
What's the name of that outfit whose ---
Submitted by matthewdean on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 4:41am.
mission statement is "Exposing and Combating Conservative News Bias" again?
Oh yeah; it goes by the acronym AMOOTF - Any Media Outlet Other Than FOX.
MD
Another show
Submitted by Okieflyover on Sun, 04/15/2012 - 11:28pm.
SNL, that I used to watch but will not now.
Really who is watching that show and thinks it is relevant anymore ?
I quit watching SNL when I could no longer stomach...
Submitted by jawebster1 on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 2:51am.
Chevy Chase. How long has he been gone now?
They couldn't get any
Submitted by LAM SON 719 on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 12:00am.
They couldn't get any traction on Rush so they start calling Hannity stupid. Just another day in liberal hateville.
By the way, this arsehole Downey is Robt's UNCLE!
Submitted by NJRightWinger12 on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 12:35am.
RDJ was raised in a very lib household-his dad was a party-hearty radical director-and Robt acted pretty wild in his youth, got busted several times, and after too many slaps on the wrist, the judge finally sent his butt to prison, for about a year! Since hes been released, hes undergone a change, and became conservative, seeing the errors of his ways. Also, his career has risen-whats Uncle Jim been doing?
Sounds to me like RDJ is the only one in the family with...
Submitted by jawebster1 on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 3:14am.
brains. He appears to have seen the error of his ways, while the rest of his family hasn't. My mother always said, some people never learn and that is why if you are over thirty and still a Liberal, you are a dunderhead!
How come if Hannity is so dumb he is much better known...
Submitted by jawebster1 on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 3:08am.
than this guy? The most famous thing about this guy is he is related to Robert Downey, Jr and if he keeps saying dumb things like this his nephew would be wise to tell him to knock it off! Conservatives like to go to movies too.
No this one...
Submitted by Joe W. on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 9:37am.
THIS conservative hasn't been inside a movie theater since I saw "La Bamba: in 1987. I will not pay to enrich these anti-American, devoid of morality liberal swine.
Axelrod: dumbest campaign advisor anywhere and he gets paid.
Submitted by motherbelt on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 8:04am.
He said this:
The choice in this election is between an economy that produces a growing middle class and that gives people a chance to get ahead and their kids a chance to get ahead, and an economy that continues down the road we’re on.
Exactly Whose economic road are we on, David???
Actually
Submitted by fivestring_assassin on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 10:05am.
it might be "Rev" Al Sharpton
Resist.We.Much
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs9ShJjXakU
I guess Iron Man
Submitted by misterbee241 on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 10:08am.
Has never heard of Eleanor Clift.
We are forced to conclude...
Submitted by sherlock1 on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 5:06pm.
“I think I’m right in saying,” Downey observed, “that he’s the dumbest person who’s ever been paid to speak on television.”
We are forced to conclude that Downey must appear on SNL for free.
Look, like it not, the SNL got it right
Submitted by lrgon on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 8:36pm.
Hannity is like a little wind up toy that spouts neoconia speak.
Hannity was totally unaware that FDR extended the great Depression for over a decade due to his socialist New Deal policies!
I never liked the so-called comedy skits of SNL. They always pushed the liberal left wing politics in their comedy routines. But once in a while they tell it like it is.
The conservatives in America need a better spokesman than Hannity with his high schoolish, "you're a good American" retorts to the highly polished, well-organized wrecking crew America is facing. You can't undo Obamacare by organizing touchy feely music concerts.
"Conservative" Newt's NAFTA and the world socialist trade organization the WTO, has cost America millions of jobs and devastated our manufacturing base. Yet, Hannity seems oblivious to this!
Hannity has yet to open up the concept that America faces danger from both self proclaimed "liberals" like Obama but self labelled "conservatives" like Newt that aren't conservative but are liberals with a capital L.
That is a dumb thing to do! But here you have Hannity perpetuating the myth that this war for America is a war between the Reds and the Blues!