EDITORIAL: ‘SNL’ leaves us laughing

Consider us flattered.

In modern politics, one hasn’t arrived until he or she has been lampooned and impersonated by the cast of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live.” This past Saturday, it was Gov. Sarah Palin’s turn, as comedienne Tina Fey performed an Emmy-worthy parody of our governor and former Wasilla mayor and councilwoman. Not only did Fey look the part, her exaggerated mannerisms and voice inflections already rank among the classic “SNL” political characters.

We recall the masterful Bill Clinton impression from Darrell Hammond and a presidential election these days wouldn’t be complete without at least one rerun of Dana Carvey performing as both H. Ross Perot and President George H.W. Bush in a mock debate. For more than 30 years, “Saturday Night Live” has been an equal opportunity offender, going back to 1976 and Chevy Chase’s bumbling portrayal of President Gerald Ford.

Fey’s Palin could become a similar classic, and in the Mat-Su Valley, most laughed just as hard as those in the Lower 48.

Charles Caleb Colton, an English cleric and writer who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, first waxed poetic that “imitation is the sincerest [form] of flattery.”

By Colton’s standards, Palin and her hometown should be plenty flattered.

Sure, the skit wasn’t altogether factually correct — Palin wasn’t Wasilla’s mayor just two years ago (she left office in 2002) and it’s unlikely she “can see Russia from my house.” Also, some local residents and officials were stung a little when Fey pot-shotted the city as “Alaska’s crystal meth capital.”

Sometimes the truth hurts if you let it. It’s no secret the Mat-Su Valley has a growing methamphetamine problem, one that mirrors a nationwide epidemic that’s plaguing many communities across the United States.

Political satire as a form of free speech is one of the best examples of one of the many reasons America truly is the land of the free. Performing comedy sketches like Fey’s Palin spoof on Saturday would not go over so well during the so-called free elections in countries like Cuba and Argentina.

One of the defining traits in American politics is the ability of candidates and parties to laugh at themselves. They do so daily through editorial cartoons on the nation’s opinion pages — including the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman’s with our own Chuck Legge — and on television programs like “Saturday Night Live.”

We appreciate the humor and that, when it comes to politics, the “SNL” crew practices equal opportunity satire.

Consider us flattered.

Editor’s note: Below find the original comment thread to this story. Additional comments may be added below.

To California Dreamin wrote on Sep 21, 2008 5:00 PM:

" I'm working on one now for Christmas Palin out of job, homeless and bedragled (dirty soccer shirt, worn gloves , etc,) in a Juneau soup line arguing w/Ted Stevens about who was in line first, and talking about if only the other one would of done this or that. Cheny and Rove pull up in a limo, but won't let them in, and it's snowing. They don't want to be seen with them, lol, but before before leaving Cheny gives her some lipstick as a Xmas present. Or some such nonsense…glad you liked it "

Sharon wrote on Sep 21, 2008 9:11 AM:

" Sarah Palin is so confused. Sarah, " yes, I watched the skit and thought it was funny. I even dressed up like Tina Fey for Halloween one year !". McCain's campaign were not amused. They thought it was tasteless and insulting.Sarah Palin, after that comment hit the airwaves then said, "OH ! I watched it, but I had the sound turned way down, so I didnt hear what Tina Fey was saying ! Good one Sarah. I think more people got a bigger laugh out of that comment !! "

California Dreamin wrote on Sep 20, 2008 4:32 PM:

" HYSTERICAL wrote on Sep 16, 2008 11:44 AM: " I can't wait to see a skit where Mcain is rubbing Palins feet…. I thought this comment by HYSTERICAL was a really funny idea for a SNL skit so I sent it along to NBC with the link back to HYSTERICAL's posted comment. It will be interesting to see if SNL runs with it or something like it! "

UH OH wrote on Sep 17, 2008 2:04 PM:

" Ah, but comments from Jim Holycross in Newsweek about Wasilla don't leave anyone laughing. As a city employee what was he thinking? http://www.newsweek.com/id/158769 He must of stayed in the bar till 5am. Either that or he doesn't put a very high premium on his job. And from what I understand from some of the comments made by people of Wasilla, it's not good to buck the "authoritay" Yeeeeeha! Ride 'em cowboy! "

Not Laughing wrote on Sep 16, 2008 9:04 PM:

" Ah, but comments from Jim Holycross in Newsweek about Wasilla don't leave anyone laughing. As a city employee what was he thinking? http://www.newsweek.com/id/158769 "

HYSTERICAL wrote on Sep 16, 2008 11:44 AM:

" I can't wait to see a skit where Mcain is rubbing Palins feet she is reclined on that bear couch, picking moose burger from her teeth, (chef standing by) and asks for Todds opinion on wether or not to go to war with Russia, husband Todd by fireplace burning books and pointing shotgun at daughters boyfriend who sits terrified in corner. Mcains wife, with that pinched look on her face poppng pills by the handfull. And secret service men outside in snow taking pot shots at the wolves and high fiving! Laughing so hard I'm crying! "

Ben Compton wrote on Sep 16, 2008 10:20 AM:

" It's important to able to stop and laugh at ourselves now and then. Yes, I support Sarah Palin but still thought it was funny to watch the spoof. (They were making some not-so-subtle digs at Komrade Klinton too!). Oh, and I can "find my way out of town" thanks…lol "

Lissa wrote on Sep 16, 2008 8:57 AM:

" Laughing~ As someone who "found their way out of town", I find your self-important rant, how do I put this? Crap. I am curious what planet it is that you "converse freely, laugh out loud", etc. I live in a major University town, with a very large population of very diverse people, but here as well, if you believe differently from the "norm" you are talked down on. I am also proud to be "Valley Trash" and am there as often as I am able! GO SARAH! "

Laughing wrote on Sep 15, 2008 10:52 PM:

" I’m going to assume this editorial came from Editor Greg Johnson, a transplant from a more urban, populated place. A place where there are people of all colors, creeds and languages. It’s a place yes, where you have to lock your doors, but where people converse freely, laugh out loud with out the fear of exile and where humor is not stifled by the sensitivities of “life-longers” who couldn’t find a way out of town. As evident on John Daily, the Colbert Report, and SNL the truth is sometimes clearer in comedy. Let’s Laugh Out Loud. "