Dem Debate Oddly Like 'SNL' Parody

Oh, and the candidates, too—though they may claim unfair treatment

(NEWSER) - They are locked in an epic struggle for the nation's heart, the grizzled veteran versus the up-and-comer, both popular, both controversial. No, not Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Tomorrow, the real showdown is between Tim Russert, who is interviewing Obama, and George Stephanopoulos, who is interviewing Clinton at roughly the same time, the New York Times reports. More»

Show tries to be equally unfair to all candidates

(NEWSER) - “Saturday Night Live” staffers are getting serious over accusations of a pro-Clinton bias, with producer Lorne Michaels telling the Los Angeles Times any perception of bias is a "major concern" and assuring “there’s no agenda.” The show’s send-up of a media crush on Barack Obama was credited by some pundits with ending the love fest—but head writer Seth Meyers says watchers are giving “SNL” too much credit. Hillary impersonator Amy Poehler says the show targets "whoever is winning." More»

Dem pokes fun at herself, campaign

(NEWSER) - She was supposed to be campaigning in Ohio last night—but instead Hillary Clinton was live from New York. Like last week, Saturday Night Live opened with a debate sketch parodying a recent Clinton-Obama debate, with the Dems played by SNL regulars. The real Hillary appeared immediately after with an “Editorial Response.” More»

(NEWSER) - Some are complaining that NBC used Brian Williams’ interview with President Obama to hawk its late night shows, Deadline Hollywood reports. The interview featured plugs for both Conan O’Brien’s Tonight Show takeover and Fred Armisen’s impression of Obama on Saturday Night Live. “Obama owes NBC so much for shilling for him, he wanted so shill back,” one right-wing commentator quipped. More»

Doris Kearns Goodwin's tome provides unexpected insight into next administration

(NEWSER) - “Team of rivals” is the post-campaign buzzphrase, Graeme Allister writes in the Guardian, replacing the lipsticked pigs and pitbulls. The term refers to Barack Obama’s strategy of filling Cabinet positions with Republicans and political enemies (ie, Hillary Clinton), and comes from a 2005 book by Doris Kearns Goodwin chronicling similar maneuvers by Abraham Lincoln almost 150 years ago. More»