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SNL’s Goals: Funny and Evenhanded
Speaking at a Manhattan event sponsored by the Museum of the Moving Image on Monday night, the cast members Seth Meyers and Amy Poehler answered questions about their much discussed sketch, broadcast by NBC on Saturday, that featured Ms. Poehler as Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, the former Democratic presidential candidate, and Tina Fey as Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential candidate. “The trick with all of these people is to try to come out as fair and evenhanded as possible,” said Mr. Meyers, also the head writer for “SNL.” He added that the inclusion of Ms. Poehler’s Clinton character “made it safer to mention things about Sarah Palin without making it seem like an attack piece.” Among the jokes: Mrs. Clinton: “I believe that diplomacy should be the cornerstone of any foreign policy.” Ms. Palin: “And I can see Russia from my house.” Ms. Clinton: “I believe global warming is caused by man.” Ms. Palin: “And I believe it’s just God hugging us closer.” Saturday’s episode, which opened with the Palin sketch, was the highest-rated edition of the show since 2002, according to Nielsen’s preliminary ratings. Additionally, the Palin sketch has been viewed more than five million times on YouTube.com and nbc.com. The cast members said changes had been made to it up until the final minutes before the broadcast. “The Palin people were happy with it as well, which was the weird thing,” Mr. Meyers said. Ms. Palin’s staff said on Sunday that the nominee had watched the episode on her campaign plane. “She thought it was quite funny, particularly because she once dressed up as Tina Fey for Halloween,” her spokeswoman, Tracey Schmitt, said. Ms. Fey, the star of the NBC sitcom “30 Rock” and an alumna of “SNL,” agreed to return to her old stomping grounds to play the character. She bears a striking resemblance to Ms. Palin, and “this was a situation where the audience just cast Tina Fey,” Lorne Michaels, the executive producer of “SNL,” said at the panel discussion in Manhattan. “The audience sort of felt that’s who they wanted to see,” even though at least two current “SNL” cast members could have played Ms. Palin perfectly, he added. It is unclear whether Ms. Fey will reprise the role for future episodes. “We are taking it day by day,” Marc Liepis, a spokesman for NBC, told The Associated Press. The panelists are clearly looking forward to the first presidential debate, on Sept. 26. “Debates are perfect for sketches because you’re making fun of both sides,” Mr. Meyers said. James Downey, the lead writer for the political sketches on “SNL,” noted that the debate would take place on a Friday night, leaving the writers only 24 hours to write jokes. Mr. Downey said the writers would probably write some jokes in advance of the actual debate. “Then we’ll just have a hellish night and hope for the best,” he said. 
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For the staff of a comedy show, the people behind “Saturday Night Live” certainly care a lot about fairness.
