Hillary Clinton invoked the Saturday Night Live Debate skit in the Cleveland match-up, punctuated it by an appearance on the program, and successfully shifted the media narrative to media frenzy of self-flagellation.
The debate moment could easily have been interpreted as an extended "whine," an oddity in an otherwise serious encounter, but such was not the case. Why?
Attacking the Media:
The media often protests their independence and "balance" but when these "standards" are questioned they seem unable resist the vortex of reflection, self-incrimination, and "over" compensation. The common-wisdom argues that attacking the media is dangerous yet in the Cleveland instance it seems that wrapping the attack in humor and popular culture worked. (Stay tuned, however, as the jury is still out--the media has `some' memory.)
As Politicoobserved the essence of SNL "Pillow talk" was the media's neutrality.
One sure way to scoop the Cleveland Debate Skit (predicted in my last two blogs-see below) is to join the show. The New York Times Political Caucus reports that Hillary Clinton will appear on SLN tonight.
Will they rewrite the script? Will she appear as herself in a debate skit? Will the news cycle of national security be dislodged?
Debates continue to interact with campaigns and entertainment. More to follow. . .
Saturday Night Live and the Cleveland presidential debatehave been driven from the news as the campaign's engage in another debate of sorts--dueling ads about 3 AM phone calls to the White House.
After tonight's SNL show, however, the fusion of comedy and politics may rejoin the March 4th calculus. As the Washington Times reports "should this week's sketches have an impact on the presidential race, Mr. Michaels couldn't be happier." (The possibilities are discussed in a prior post).
Who will be watching? Admittedly speculative on my part, the SNL's audience is younger, more upscale, informed; an audience that is Obama's demographic. But then again, the show emanates from the NY Senator's main base. Regardless, SNL's anticipated debate skit will aim at neutrality. Its subsequent use, however, may not be neutral.
Guessing what will be shown and how it will spin is obviously idle - by tomorrow we'll know. Thinking about the composition of the SNL audience however reminds me of another quality of comedy and politics, that is: for humor to work it requires familiarity with politics.
In the Washington Times piece impressionist Jim Morris observes:
. . . [G]reat political sketches demand an informed public. That's exactly what "Saturday Night Live" has.
"You're relying on the viewers to get the references. Political humor has to play to a somewhat educated audience," Mr. Morris says. "In this political season, everyone seems to be up to speed on what's going on."
Saturday Night Live has a strong record of lampooning of presidential election debates, but Hillary Clinton's use of SNL to score political points in a debate may be a first.
In what the Washington Post referred to as Clinton's "postmodern touch" she took the opportunity in the Ohio debate to scold the media for their favorable treatment of Barack Obama, offering: "Maybe we should ask Barack if he's comfortable or needs another pillow."
The injection of SNL into the debate discourse may have opened Pandora's Box; the use of "satire-as-evidence" in a formal debate is likely to spiral in unanticipated ways. David Bauder's AP article--"SNL Writer Surprised By Clinton Remark, Ordered To Write More"--makes clear, that this "pillow talk" is far from over.
