On Thursday's Good Morning America, ABC co-anchor Amy Robach excitedly previewed the season premiere of NBC's Saturday Night Live which is expected to have fun with the first presidential debate. But, as she recalled politicians from the past that the show has been famous for lambasting, she only cited Republicans as being among her favorites.
She also managed to incorrectly state that Sarah Palin ran for Vice President in 2012 when it was actually four years earlier, as she recalled polling which supposedly found that, in 2012, 10 percent of voters thought of Saturday Night Live while they were in the voting booth.
As Robach introduced the segment at 7:48 a.m. ET, she just barely mentioned Democrat Hillary Clinton, who will be played by Kate McKinnon, before gushing over plans for Alec Baldwin to play Donald Trump. Robach:
So what could make this election more exciting than it already is? Saturday Night Live, right? Okay, so it's coming this weekend, right? Kate McKinnon will be returning to play Hillary Clinton when the new season debuts, but wait until you see who is playing Trump. Have you guys heard? All right, take a look.
After playing clips of McKinnon and Baldwin being made up as Clinton and Trump, Robach continued:
Alec Baldwin, he's got the pout right there, suiting up to play the Donald. He's hosted the show 13 times -- you know that -- but this should be an incredible debate. Apparently they timed the open -- the season opening to the debate. They knew what they were doing. And, by the way, these impersonations can really resonate during an election year..
The ABC host then began recalling Republicans who were lambasted in the past:
During the 2012 presidential race, 10 percent of all voters said they had SNL on their minds when they went to the polls. That, of course, was the year that Tina Fey played Sarah Palin. Her resemblance uncanny, and turned it into of course comedy gold. "I can see Russia from my house."
Even though Darrell Hammond is known for skilled impersonations of both Bill Clinton and Al Gore, Robach seemed only interested in recalling Republicans being impersonated as the segment continued:
AMY ROBACH: And then here's one of my favorites. Dana Carvey playing George Bush, "Read my lips, no new taxes."
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: "Wouldn't be prudent."
ROBACH: "A thousand points of light." And then, I love Will Ferrell as W.
After the other three anchors declined to inject any additional politicians featured from the past, Michael Strahan expressed his excitement over Baldwin doing a Trump impersonation. Strahan: "I think he's going to be great. I can't wait to see that. It's going to be a good one."
Still excited as she ended the segment, Robach quipped: "They've got a lot to work with, a lot to work with. I think we're going to hear some sniffling. Just a guess."
Below is a transcript of the relevant portion of the Thursday, September 29, Good Morning America on ABC:
7:48 a.m. ET
AMY ROBACH: So what could make this election more exciting than it already is? Saturday Night Live, right? Okay, so it's coming this weekend, right? Kate McKinnon will be returning to play Hillary Clinton when the new season debuts, but wait until you see who is playing Trump. Have you guys heard? All right, take a look.
[clips of Kate McKinnon and Alec Baldwin being made up into Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump]
ROBACH: Alec Baldwin, he's got the pout right there, suiting up to play the Donald. He's hosted the show 13 times -- you know that -- but this should be an incredible debate. Apparently they timed the open -- the season opening to the debate. They knew what they were doing. And, by the way, these impersonations can really resonate during an election year. During the 2012 presidential race, 10 percent of all voters said they had SNL on their minds when they went to the polls. That, of course, was the year that Tina Fey-
ROBIN WRIGHT: Sarah Palin.
ROBACH: -played Sarah Palin. Her resemblance uncanny, and turned it into of course comedy gold. "I can see Russia from my house."
MICHAEL STRAHAN: That was so good.
ROBACH: And then here's one of my favorites. Dana Carvey playing George Bush, "Read my lips, no new taxes."
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: "Wouldn't be prudent."
ROBACH: "A thousand points of light." And then, I love Will Ferrell as W.
STRAHAN: Oh, yeah.
ROBACH: You guys have any favorites?
WRIGHT: You hit them all.
STRAHAN: (inaudible) -see Alec. I think he's going to be great. I can't wait to see that. It's going to be a good one.
WRIGHT: And they timed it. They timed it for the-
ROBACH: Oh, yeah. They knew what they were doing. They've got a lot to work with, a lot to work with. I think we're going to hear some sniffling. Just a guess.
WRIGHT: I think you're right. Thank you, Amy.
