'SNL' Staffers Not Laughing at Hillary Bias Claims

Show tries to be equally unfair to all candidates
By Jonas Oransky,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 13, 2008 1:09 PM CDT
'SNL' Staffers Not Laughing at Hillary Bias Claims
Lorne Michaels, executive producer of NBC's "Saturday Night Live", arrives for the Whitney Gala at the Whitney Museum of American Art in this Oct. 22, 2007, file photo in New York.   (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

“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."

The Times also cites Tina Fey's shout-out to Clinton on Weekend Update, the candidate's appearance the night before the Ohio and Texas primaries, and last week's red-phone skit as boosting the former first lady. Neither Meyers nor Michaels appears to be Clintonite, as the writer has donated to Obama and the producer has given to John McCain and Chris Dodd. And Poehler notes that she’s done many negative takes on Hillary. Meyers promises both candidates they’ll eventually feel “we’ve portrayed them unfairly.” (More Saturday Night Live stories.)

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