October 19, 2008
Posted: October 19th, 2008 01:01 AM ET
Gov. Palin made her debut on SNL.
Gov. Palin made her debut on SNL.

NEW YORK (CNN) – Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin made her debut on NBC's late-night comedy show "Saturday Night Live" - appearing in the opening skit and during a segment that parodies current events.

In both skits, she delivered her lines with a straight face but mostly played the comic foil to the show's cast of mischief-makers.

The opening bit featured former SNL cast member Tina Fey reprising her role as the Alaska governor at a mock press conference.

Fey has impersonated the governor in three prior SNL skits.

The piece then cut to a shot of Palin watching Fey's performance on a television monitor with the show's executive producer Lorne Michaels.

"I just didn't think it was a realistic depiction of the way my press conferences would have gone," she said.

"Why couldn't we have done the '30 Rock' sketch that I wrote?" she asked, referring to the NBC comedy which stars Fey.

"Honestly, not enough people know that show," Michaels responds.

Later, Alec Baldwin - Fey's '30 Rock' co-star and an outspoken liberal - turned up, mistook Palin for Fey, and tried to convince Michaels not to let Fey appear on the show with the governor. He snapped his fingers, trying to remember the nickname some had given Palin.

"Caribou Barbie," Palin reminded him.

Baldwin, still oblivious that he was talking to the governor, continued: "You want her, our Tina, to go out there and stand there with that horrible woman," he asked. "What do you have to say for yourself?"

Michaels points out he was standing next to the real thing himself.

"Forgive me, I must say this," Baldwin backtracked. "You are way hotter in person. I mean seriously. I mean, I can't believe they let her play you."

Palin laughed and responded that Baldwin's brother, Stephen, was her favorite. Stephen Baldwin, also an actor, is a Christian conservative with his own ministry.

Palin then took the podium and told the reporters she was not going to take any of their questions.

She then uttered the signature line that opens the show every weekend: "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night."

Later in the show, Palin appeared on the 'Weekend Update' segment that skewers items in the news.

"I've been thinking it over and I'm not going to do the piece we rehearsed," she told Weekend Update co-anchor Seth Meyers. "My gut is telling me it might be a bad idea for the campaign."

Segment host Amy Poehler said she would do the part - and launched into a hilarious rap about being Sarah Palin. Among her backup dancers was a cast member who impersonated Palin's husband, Todd.

Palin grooved along to the music, even raising her hands when Poehler sang "All the mavericks in the house, put your hands up/ All the plumbers in the house, put your pants up."

The plumber reference was meant to invoke the now-famous Joe "the Plumber" Wurzelbacher, who Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain has held up as a small business owner who will see his taxes rise if his Democratic rival, Sen. Barack Obama, wins the election.

Until Palin's appearance Saturday, "Saturday Night Live" has featured three opening skits in which Fey played the governor.

Fey first appeared as Palin for the show's season premiere last month in a sketch with Poehler, who played Sen. Hillary Clinton.

Fey reprised her role as Palin two weeks later, again alongside Poehler, who played CBS's Katie Couric in a parody of Palin's interview with the CBS anchor earlier that week.

Filed under: SNL • Sarah Palin


Terry, NJ   October 19th, 2008 1:41 am ET

Love your Sarah!!! :)

McCain/Palin 08!!!

NOBAMA!!!

Carmen   October 19th, 2008 1:40 am ET

Shouldn't this say, "Stephen Baldwin, whom very few would consider an actor, is a Christian conservative with his own ministry"?

Anyway, looks like the McCain camp is getting desperate! I appreciated Tina Fey's short appearance a lot more than the real Palin's.

And please stop peddling this lie about Joe the Plumber having his taxes raised under the Obama plan–he would benefit from Obama's plan because he doesn't make anywhere near $250k, nor does the company in question. McCain is a joke.

Doris,Memphis,TN   October 19th, 2008 1:39 am ET

Palin was not funny. I think the campaign wanted to show Americans
that she is different from the character Tina Fey portrays. Too late!
SNL should kept Tina on for two more weeks!

Maverick   October 19th, 2008 1:36 am ET

We watch campaign efforts as they impact the American environment and the global atmosphere. We are very disturbed and disappointed with Palin’s irresponsible comments/innuendos which stir racist and divisive sentiments. She should be concerned that she has stirred many peoples’ minds, igniting prejudice and hatred—very unchristian!—a stark contradiction to what her professed religion stands for. Let it be known, her perceivable prejudice against a black man is further perceived as prejudice towards every colored man/woman, yellow, black or brown!

Frank Glandale Ca   October 19th, 2008 1:35 am ET

It's funny that she doing it because this will be her only time on this show and most any others 15 days to go..... After this is over she will fade away into the snow covered alaska country side.

Good bye, and Good Luck.

Signed,

America

Rob   October 19th, 2008 1:35 am ET

Honestly about the only thing Palin is good for is a laugh. We've already seen she's not very good at Politics.

sick & tired of it   October 19th, 2008 1:35 am ET

Odd that Palin has time to do SNL, but not any REAL interviews like with CNN, Meet The Press, Hardball, etc. She belongs in Hollywood, not in the White House. I can't wait until this whole farce is over and we can move forward. History will look back on her as the cynical choice of McCanin.......nothing more. Of course, there's always the chance she will go back to Alaska and be IMPEACHED for all her little shenanigans up there. You betcha!

Sarah Palin on SNL   October 19th, 2008 1:35 am ET

Waiting for Joe Bilden to now appear on SNL.

JTACK   October 19th, 2008 1:35 am ET

It was not funny at all, she was just there. The only decent part was Alec trashing her, but other then that, it was one of the worst SNL skits on a long time

Jan - Canada   October 19th, 2008 1:35 am ET

She was'nt funny at all, and this was suppose to show us her moxie . She did'nt do anything . All she has shown us, is that she's good dividing up the people of America and bringing out the worst in everyone . Like that's a good quality for a VP..........I don't think so !

America deserves better than this. Make sure you can vote , then get out and do it. Help your neighbours, if they need it , to get to the polls .

Change is'nt scary, it's growth .........

Blessings, Joy & Peace To Everyone

Alison   October 19th, 2008 1:33 am ET

It was very safe, just like every event she does now. Very bland, but she got through it. At least now she's heard Tina Fey's impression and not just watched without the sound on.

X-Republican   October 19th, 2008 1:33 am ET

She’s incapable of doing a serious interview to let us know where she stands on the issues, but she can go on snl? She really is a joke, and I don’t mean in a funny way!

Rj5000   October 19th, 2008 1:33 am ET

Sarah's heat tiles came off during her launch to stardom!

RICK RUDE   October 19th, 2008 1:32 am ET

...Yeah that's great have as much fun as you can Sarah because after this election it's right back to the cold Alaska streets, not D.C. & the white house.

OBAMA 08!

Drema Walch   October 19th, 2008 1:32 am ET

So much attention for such an opportunist. I would rather see footage of her involvement with the Alaska Independence Party and her speech supporting them this year. White Supremist that she is.
How can so many call themselves social conservatives? Don't they know God sees all they do?

Do not perpetuate this idiotic choice of a VP. Although McCain deserves all he is going to get for allowing her to ruin his campaign. Well, let's give Rove a hout out also for his disgusting advice for separating the country.

gosarahgo,texas   October 19th, 2008 1:32 am ET

Sarah is so much prettier than Fey. She was funny and great! Go Sarah!

Independent   October 19th, 2008 1:32 am ET

BORING...SNL is funnier just doing spoofs on her. She does not need to participate

John   October 19th, 2008 1:32 am ET

Palin rocked!!!

Ace   October 19th, 2008 1:31 am ET

Palin proved she is a good sport. Any other spin on it is just spin.

James, NY   October 19th, 2008 1:30 am ET

I just got done watching SNL and honestly thought it was a waste of my time. I thought Sarah Palin would come on and make me laugh but instead she looked uptight and irritated that she was even there. But hey, at least Tina Fey was hilarious as always.

Everybody needs to call on Jesus and not these two   October 19th, 2008 1:29 am ET

It WAS LAME TO ME.

Susan From West Palm Beach   October 19th, 2008 1:29 am ET

I have to say that I was a little dissappointed by her performance or lack thereof. She didn't really do much to calm the critics and it was almost as if she was to worried about screwing up any lines that she opted to keep it short and simple. I thought it was a missed opportunity on her part. It was par for the course. Nothing special. Definately wasn't a game changer.

Yvonne   October 19th, 2008 1:29 am ET

The weird thing about Palin being on SNL is that she is an unknown who has only been on the public stage for 7 weeks. Most appearances on SNL are made by celebrities or politicians who we know, in other words people who talk to the main stream media on a regular basis. To me her performance lowered her, not that she could go any lower.

Sarah Palin on SNL   October 19th, 2008 1:28 am ET

SNL basically dissed Sarah Palin in her face on tv.

From a dancing moose to Alec Baldwin insulting her (with comedy) and an insulting rap while all Palin could do is sit there 'bop to the tune', showed that SNL truly did not like Palin.

Even Tina Fey had limited interaction with her-which was basically a silent walk-by. This showed that SNL wasn't really interested in putting Palin in a good light on the show.

But it wasn't just SNL's fault that Palin wasn't funny. Yes, her scripts weren't that great, but also Palin didn't deliver-she wasn't very funny.

Unlike the appearances of Obama, Clinton and McCain, I seriously doubt Palin's appearance tonight will do her any good with voters.

dmg   October 19th, 2008 1:28 am ET

So let me get this straight. If McCain/Palin win. She will only communicate with the American People through Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Greta VanSusteren and SNL.?

NC CHICK FOR OBAMA/BIDEN   October 19th, 2008 1:27 am ET

WELL FOR WHAT I SAW, SHE REALLY DIDN'T DO MUCH AT ALL. DID WASN'T FUNNY ONE BIT. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

Tina   October 19th, 2008 1:27 am ET

And she didn't do anything humorous. What a surprise.

PK, Australia   October 19th, 2008 1:24 am ET

You have to love the Religious Right. They would probably crucify Jesus Christ for being a Socialist and helping the down trodden.

chris   October 19th, 2008 1:24 am ET

I was very disappointed that Sarah Palain did not say or do anything funny. THEN why was she there.

sacto joe   October 19th, 2008 1:22 am ET

The McCain/Palin campaign is a campaign of
LIES and DISINFORMATION!

McCain/Palin rallies are looking more and more
like NAZI rallies.

If Dems are SOCIALISTS, does that make
Repubs FASCISTS???

TAX FAIRNESS isn't the same as
WEALTH REDISTRIBUTION!

amandazz   October 19th, 2008 1:21 am ET

This was with out a doubt the worst SNL I have ever sat through. Not funny at all. What happened? Its been so funny the last couple of weeks and now this. Im so disappointed.

Kev   October 19th, 2008 1:20 am ET

I just watch the skit. Essentially, they toasted McCain and Palin to a lesser extent, while she watch and laughed. The one compliment was that she was "hotter in person".

She looked like she could take a joke...at her running mate's expense.

It appears that she is looking to her political future after this election.

White-African(born there) American Military BRAT   October 19th, 2008 1:20 am ET

I'M GLAD I DIDN'T WATCH!!!!

Xavier   October 19th, 2008 1:20 am ET

Saw Palin on SNL, and it was a collosal bore. She wasnt funny, and to be honest she looked like she didnt want to be there. All in all, the show was a downer. News flash to politician – If you are going to be on SNL, please try to be funny.

Linda32   October 19th, 2008 1:19 am ET

Yeah, it didn't do it for me.

Nick - Arlington, VA   October 19th, 2008 1:19 am ET

Is it just me, or did those skits not help her? I mean, since no one really knew who she was the Fey impression became who Sarah Palin was. They made fun of her to her face lol....

Nina in Orlando   October 19th, 2008 1:17 am ET

They made fun of her to her face and she didn't even realize it. LOL.

Sumi, CA   October 19th, 2008 1:16 am ET

I would rather watch Sponge Bob.

Comments have been closed for this article

subscribe RSS Icon
About The Ticker

The latest political news from CNN's Best Political Team, with campaign coverage, 24-7. Sign up for our twice daily Ticker emails. Got a news tip or feedback? For complete political coverage, bookmark CNNPolitics.com.

CNN=Politics Screensaver

CNN=Politics ScreensaverTap into the power of The Situation Room. Download this powerful new tool that keeps you posted on the latest political news from the campaign trail.
Download (4.1 MB, PC only)

twitter
Categories
Powered by WordPress.com VIP