(CNN) - Saturday Night Live, the longtime NBC sketch comedy show that has arguably wielded significant influence this presidential election season, skewered the McCain-Palin ticket for the second straight week in a row Saturday.
In the show’s opening sketch, a Darrell Hammond impersonation of John McCain is shown in an advertising studio recording his tagline for a bevy of negative - and ridiculously false - campaign ads. The ads level such allegations as Barack Obama wants healthcare coverage for the entire universe (including Osama bin Laden) and supports tax cuts for pedophiles.
The sketch also takes a dig at McCain's age, portraying the Arizona senator as unfamiliar with digital recording technology (After he is told it is a new technology McCain says, "Like 8-track?")
Politico reported Saturday the sketch was actually conceived by former SNL writer Al Franken, the current Democratic challenger to Norm Coleman's Minnesota Senate seat.
SNL has already proven its ability to crystallize emerging campaign narratives this election cycle, widely credited with raising a general perception the media was in love with Obama during the primary election season in a series of sketches last winter. SNL's portrayal of Sarah Palin last weekend also synthesized several questions raised about the Alaska governor's readiness to serve as vice president.
With a weekly viewership stretching into the millions that reaches a swath of (mostly young) voters who aren't as closely following the ins and outs on the campaign trail, SNL has a clear ability to shape general perceptions of both presidential tickets in the final stretch of the race for the White House.
Responding to SNL's depiction of McCain, spokesman Tucker Bounds said, "Saturday Night Live is funny, Barack Obama showing no sign of life or leadership during a banking crisis is not funny."
From CNN Politics
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they deserve it. they will lead our country down a path of destruction. what else can we do ,but make fun of them for it?
I was unaware that unpopular teenagers who are sitting at home on a Saturday night were such an important voting block.Great reporting. If people really cared about what Al Franken has to say about anything they would have tuned into Air America. Which they did not.
Too bad more of this isn't on during prime time so folks could see how ridiculous this pair is. I feel like we are getting shells so Georgie and Dickie can hide out for 4 more years.
If only those mostly young voters would follow the ins and outs of the campaign trail more closely by paying attention to reputable news sources like CNN's political ticker, they would be be able to gain valuable information like "TV show makes joke about candidate."
I Watched The Show And Thought It Was Funny! Good Humor Always Has A Ring Of Truth To It! Mccains Ads Are Misleading If Not Down Right Lies!
GOP has become nationalist/socialist party.
All we have left is laughter. Trouble is, it's really not funny any more. It's sad.
OBAMA/BIDEN for a new direction!
Palin is worth a thousand jokes. lol
We have the right of free speech and I don't see you skewering fox news for years and years of right wing jingoism or for repeating and repeating republican talking points as if they were actual 'news'. Fox 'news' now is doing everything they can to make an ill-prepared hockey mom into our next prez – and I tell you that empress has no clothes. So why don't you write about that?
It's easy to do sketch comedy on those two...each is just walking joke.
I Love SNL...looking forward to next weeks show.
Obama/Biden '08
Really? They're literally letting Democratic candidates conceive their sketches?
Still probably less biased than Chris Matthews.
what is bothering CNN and McBush in those adds,???
all is true!!!
they shgould be thankful they did not do more on the real truth regarding the old mcbush........
he looks like an alien to me
And so they should be mocked ...they are a couple of clowns joined at the hip because he's afraid of what might come out of her mouth !!!
It sad that a comedy show has to vet mccain/palin honestly since the main stream media won't do it.
mccain/palin = pathological liars, especially sarah
what is bothering CNN and McBush in those adds,???
all is true!!!
they shgould be thankful they did not do more on the real truth regarding the old mcbush........
he looks like an alien to me
cnn please publish my comments, cant take criticism?
Oh no, McCain and Palin will come out and declare"sexism" once again. HA HA HA
Al Franken "conceived" the sketch idea? Al Franken is a left-wing crazy man and anything he "conceives" should be aborted.
I really hope that those who don't know, or don't want to see, could see the truth through this!
McCain is looking more and more confused.
Satire can really bring home the truth sometimes!!!!!!!!!!
30% of Democrats say they won't vote for Obama because of their concerns about a black in the White house–no way for Obama to win–
back to the Senate for Obama & Biden-
The only reason why comedians don't make fun of Obama is because they don't want to look like they are racist. So obama gets a free card from getting made fun of in all the late night stuff. Mitchell, everybody deserves in getting made fun of but being biased like they are. I would actually be offended if Obama becomes president and he does just as bad as Bush and then not getting a single joke on him. That's when you know this country is messed up in where you can't make fun of somebody because he's not white.
McCain and Palin are circling the drain.
Saturday Night Live is a shame and disgrace to America.
NBC is skating on thin ice anyhow with horrible ratings and skits like the one last night about Governor Palin's family are horrendous, vile and vicious, not the least bit funny.
I would never waste my time to watch that nasty, disgusting show and I can't wait for NBC to go down the tank. MSNBC is already last in ratings of cable and networks.