McCain on "SNL": Shoulda quit while he was ahead

I loved that John McCain sketch with Fake Sarah Palin on "Saturday Night Live." I loved it because it reminded me that McCain is a very smart and decent fellow and also very, very resilient. And if, as appears increasingly likely, the remainder of his political career will be spent in the U.S. Senate instead of the White House, that resiliency will serve him very well. I think we haven't seen the last historic piece of legislation with McCain's name on it.

As he did at the Al Smith Dinner last month, McCain showed the "SNL" audience that he has few peers in the political humor department. He sold his kitchen knives with gusto ("they cut through pork!"), worked well with the jewelry model (real Cindy McCain), and pulled off a pun that the audience, to my surprise, cheered ("McCain Fine Gold"). When Fake Sarah (Tina Fey) tried hawking "Palin in 2012" T shirts on the side, McCain came in with a perfectly timed, "Sarah? What are you doing over there?" That's not as easy as it looks.

Video of QVC sketch

The only thing I found peculiar about the sketch was McCain's willingness to go on national TV with Tina Fey, who obviously can't stand Sarah Palin. I am sure the real Palin will issue a statement tomorrow declaring that she "loved the sketch" and "was glad Tina Fey was there instead of her," but still, I think most McCain-ologists will probably look on this as confirmation that he's over her.

Unfortunately, McCain then appeared on "Weekend Update" and, in my book, offset whatever psychological gains he'd achieved in the QVC sketch.

Video of "Update"

First, he was booed quite a bit more lustily than when he opened the show (the audience must've felt McCain was gaining some sort of unfair advantage over Obama, though an appearance on "Update" is customary for political guests).

Second, who thought it was a good idea to present him as so hopelessly behind his opponent that he could joke about switching campaign strategies (again) in the final 48 hours? I don't care who you are, or who you support, you don't let your candidate tell America he thinks he's going to lose. Even in jest.

For example: How McCain could win (MSNBC)

It's one thing to cry poverty, as in the QVC sketch -- hey, we all know Obama is outspending him -- but participating in a sketch premised on his likely defeat and desperation such that he'll try something called "The Reverse Maverick" (which doesn't even work as a punchline)? I thought that was poor judgment.

The only other notable things about "SNL" tonight were David Cook and the "Countdown" parody with Ben Affleck as Keith Olbermann. Cook was great, but Affleck was a real letdown. Somebody should've told Ben that Keith isn't Howard Beale and he shouldn't watch an old tape of "Network" as his study tool. That was a terrible impression. I realize it's not easy rattling off a script at Olbermann speed, but Affleck sounded like Ted Baxter on Thorazine.

That said, I am reminded of the old quote that a mediocre person is the one "who ridicules somebody who tries something difficult on the grounds that the effort was not a total success." So kudos to BA for trying.

Finally, on a personal note: I had to laugh when the real McCain showed up on Fake QVC. The show's writers couldn't possibly have known that one of the few TV executives with strong Republican ties is QVC's CEO, Michael George. In the early 1980s Mike founded the "alternative" (conservative) newspaper at Northwestern University, The Northwestern Review. Eventually he handed over the reins to a leadership team that included yours truly, but he remained active and interested until the paper's demise in the 1990s. He's still true to his school -- the Republican one -- giving $2,500 to the RNC earlier this year to help pay for some of those "empty chair" ads we talked about earlier.

Comments

[thersa]

Ben did an AWESOME job showing onbersman for the ass he is

[revolutionisnowdotcom]

Well stated - I think that if you know, then you know - and if you don't, well . . . you are open to a great opportunity to learn. Thanks for the "liberal" views, ha ha.

[Wiley]

Aaron -

Your assessment of McCain being a "very smart and decent fellow and also very, very resilient" is spot on! It's always refreshing to see these candidates in a different environment.

I thought the bit on Weekend Update was just as entertaining as the QVC skit. The "sad grandpa strategy" was a riot.
Additionally, Palin was mocked by Fey when she was on the show two weeks ago. It's SNL, and that's what they do! Your conclusion that this could add to the rumor that McCain is "over her" borders on absurdity. (But you're probably right - some nut will put it out there!)
Your opinion that Cook was "great" without considering how flat his vocals were on both songs is also a stretch.
I do agree that Affleck was indeed a letdown.

[OK, "sad grandpa" made me laugh.--AB]

[AJ]

The Olbermann skit was great. Olbermann is a nutjob who appears to be so ridiculously upset about things that you think it has to be an act. The impersonation of the way that interjects his opinion into every "question" he asks his guests was spot-on. The only thing that was unrealistic was that the guests in the parody didn't agree with him, which is why it was hilarious since Olbermann would never allow a different viewpoint to be heard on his show.

[Nate Pence]

For what its worth, the Northwestern Chronicle has been the "alternative" (conservative) newspaper at NU for the past 10 years or so: www.chron.org
Pretty good to wrap fish with.

[I'm pretty proud of our years at the Review, but one thing I'll always regret is we didn't make it through that rough patch which necessitated the founding of another paper.--AB]

[John]

His appearence on SNL was one of the most innapropriate things I've ever witnessed a presidential nominee do. It was far below the dignity of the office that he seeks.

[becky]

mccain is a good man, his appearance on snl was really funny, in a time of so much serious issues, we needed to be able to laugh..he gave his best, as he always has...a POW history of great senate service for this nation, it is ingrained in him, it is what he does, he had my vote from the start. Obama is a good man too, a gifted speaker, but i have real doubts about his ability to be commander in chief at this time in his life. either way, we need to ALL remember that no matter who wins this election, he will need our support in such a difficult time in history.

[M Zaki]

Keith Olbermann is one of the few honest AND decent newsmen on TV. Sure he's left wing, but we need ONE person to try and balance all the right wing nuts like Billo Reilly, Hannity, the two losers on Fox and Friends, Rupert Murdoch, pretty much everyone else on Fox, a lot of CNN...

When McCain made that racist comment against Arabs - after that nut job woman said Sen. Obama was "an Arab", and Sen. McCain responded with "no he's not, he's a decent man", ONLY Olbermann, Chris Matthews and the Daily Show had anything to say about it.

Olbermann; Matthews; and Maddow are the reason I watch MSNBC and when Billo Reilly insulted the son of a man who died in the WTC attack, that was when I stopped watching Fox and only see their racist/Zionist/Republican propaganda on YouTube once in a while.

Olbermann will be the next Howard K. Smith, Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite.

[danieloconnell]

Apparently you are against McCain so you are gloating about his defeat even before Americans vote for him... so enjoy your biased gloating. What are you going to do when John McCain is your President and the leader of the 'free' world?..

[It would help if you began reading more than headlines. Then, perhaps, you wouldn't have posted the same comment SEVEN TIMES before realizing the group was moderated.--AB]

[Clara Moorman]

Oh, please, Nate! Did you forget that each candidate has appeared on Leno, Letterman, and Clinton was on Arsenio Hall back in the day! You act as if no one has done this before!

[Matt Wright]

Mr. McCain should not have done the Weekend Update part of SNL. Although it was very funny it may end up being his legacy instead of him becoming President of the United States of America.

[dave]

Why is McCain wasting time in NY at SNL instead of campaigning? And i thought Obama was the celebrity? Goes to show you the McCain campaign has been a slew of lies and deceit. What a farce.

[Chris]

Everytime I see Senator McCain, I am astonished of what he has done with his life after his years as a POW and I admire his efforts to make a difference in government policies. But, I was incredulous at his appearance on SNL. Perhaps earlier in the campaign it might have been appropriate but at this late stage and with his ticket ratings behind, it didn't seem like the prudent thing to do.Palin as a running mate was a terrible choice and it has made a mockery of the most powerful office in the world. It just seemed so wierd. I was slacked jawed watching it then couldn't bear to watch it anymore. We don't need Tina doing Palin anymore; Palin is her own parody of herself and boy, does she make me laugh (and cry at the same time).

Ben Affleck was a huge let down. Olberman is a great parody as are all the others who have a schtick. But Ben fell flat as he tends to do with his other roles. But, I hear he is a really nice guy. He did an admirable job as Baldwin.

Don't vote with your party, vote with your heart.

[Alan]

I watch The Countdown every night, and I loved the Countdown skit.

It was good exaggeration for comedic effect. Head bobs, camera cuts, calling for resignations, grammar, and jumping over the Howard Beale line KO occasionally tiptoes up to during the Special Comments made the segment quite good.

Of course I thought the show was pretty good overall, and so that must damage my credibility.

[royce ackerman]

Ben Affleck's Olbermann impression was terrible, but I thought he started to get it a little more during the special comment part of the sketch.
It seemed as if Ben had only ever seen the special comments and based the entire impression on that. He was pompous (so is Keith) and humorless (which Keith is not).

[matt stechel]

why was ben affleck host in the first place? is he in a new movie that i'm not aware of?

[Yvonne]

If you judged by the campaigns, Obama is much more the Decent One. I'm voting for That One.

[Stephanie Kinder]

Ha, that's hilarious...If you like that, check this out!

Obama & McCain Danceoff: http://tinyurl.com/57c4dq

[M Zaki]

The Right-Wing, Republican, Palin/McCain/Rove xenophobes didn't realize what they were doing. Because of them, now a large part of the American population feels that the US has a Muslim president, President Barack Hussein Obama - how's that for irony?

[M Zaki]

McCain was so desperate to become President that he risked putting Palin in Office because he thought American women (Hillary supporters) were stupid enough to vote for her.

McCain ran a dirty, dishonest, disgraceful, and dishonorable campaign - it will be remembered by the majority of Americans at his funeral. He threw away any legacy just as Clinton did with his racist comments.

[Fergie J]

Mike George at QVC is a total tool...did you see they are laying off 1000 people right before the holidays? Good thing he contributed to another losing cause (McCain)...can't he do anything right?