Iman Crosson for Prez... on SNL: Bloggers

Epithet-hurling Baracka Flacka Flames gets down in the 'hood

(NEWSER) - An epithet-laced hip-hop parody of President Obama has triggered furious debate: Is the hit YouTube video an "antidote" for Obama's popularity troubles among youth or an "anti-valentine" from those voters whose support the president craves, asks the Christian Science Monitor. The slick "Head of the State" video is a spoof of "Hard in Da Paint" by Atlanta hip-hop artist Waka Flocka Flame, and it features "Baracka Flacka Flames" (aka James Davis) getting down and dirty in the 'hood—smoking pot, petting a pit bull, and denigrating everyone from Michelle to Oprah Winfrey. More»

Senator has crowd chuckling at Iowa fundraiser

(NEWSER) - As a latecomer to the Senate this year, Al Franken’s been playing it straight—but he loosened up enough to venture a few jokes at an Iowa fundraiser yesterday, CNN reports. Discussing Sen. Tom Harkin’s new post as head of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee,” Franken said: “Its not really that big a deal. I mean, it's only health. Education. Labor. And pensions.” 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»

A funny thing happened on the way to the election—politics and comedy swapped roles

(NEWSER) - Politics and comedy are trading places, Lee Siegel writes in the Wall Street Journal, as the antics of politicians get more outlandish and comics are increasingly the people speaking truth to power. Fake newsmen like Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert, with their stern commentary, lean more towards the "dark, piercing and wise" humor of Mark Twain than simple belly laughs, Seigel writes. More»

Show loses its edge without the moose-hunting governor

(NEWSER) - Without Sarah Palin and with a dull Barack Obama impression on its hands, Saturday Night Live is in election withdrawal, Alex Carnevale writes for Gawker. The show’s opening skit about congressional hearings on automaker bailouts was “less than hilarious,” and it “tried to squeeze jokes out of country singer and host Tim McGraw saying slightly unexpected things for an hour.” More»