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December 2, 2008 7:50:37 AM CST



Politics on TV track this thread

Started by J Farago; Last updated by J Farago | View history

Politics on TV

"I've never really warmed up to television and, in fairness to television, it's never warmed up to me" --Walter Mondale

From Nixon on Laugh-in to Janet Reno on SNL, the political class can't resist the lure of the tube.

Stories

Stories 21 - 40 of 71

  • October 2008
    • Fey: Palin Sketches 'Fair, Quite Gentle'

      Fey: Palin Sketches 'Fair, Quite Gentle'

      (Newser) - Should Tina Fey take it easy on Sarah Palin? She doesn't think so, Access Hollywood reports. "I stand by the pieces as both fair and quite gentle," says Fey, who plays the veep nominee on SNL . At first Fey "didn’t think we looked alike at all," but now she's on board. "We glue my ears down," she says. "That’s one of the tricks.” More »

    • Maddow Sends MSNBC Ratings Rocketing

      Maddow Sends MSNBC Ratings Rocketing

      (Newser) - Rachel Maddow has made MSNBC a prime-time contender with dizzying speed, the New York Times reports. The liberal pundit's Rachel Maddow Show more than doubled the network's ratings in the 9 pm slot within days of its debut six weeks ago, and has beaten CNN's Larry King Live among viewers ages 25 to 54 more often than not. More »

    • Drenched in Watercooler Moments, SNL Is Hot Again

      Drenched in Watercooler Moments, SNL Is Hot Again

      (Newser) - The fall TV ratings are in, and while Heroes needs saving and House is collapsing, Saturday Night Live has emerged as the biggest hit of the season, Maureen Ryan writes in the Chicago Tribune . Unlike other shows, SNL ’s live ratings have jumped nearly 50% in its 34th season. “It’s the hottest it’s been since the early years,” remarked one analyst. More »

    • Dave's 10 Best Digs at McCain

      Dave's 10 Best Digs at McCain

      (Newser) - David Letterman has landed some pretty harsh zingers aimed since John McCain skipped out on the Late Show in September. Los Angeles Times reporter Matea Gold put together a Top 10 list of her own; a sampling: "I gave up drinking a while ago, but I started again. And I'm watching the debate last night and here's what I did—I did a shot every time McCain said 'my friends.' So I'm blotto." More »

    • Live From New York, It's Sarah Palin!

      Live From New York, It's Sarah Palin!

      (Newser) - Viewers awaiting the next impersonation of Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live may be stunned to see the real thing. Palin plans to make a cameo appearance on tomorrow's show, sources tell CNN. No word yet on whether champion Palin-impersonator Tina Fey will be joining the vice-presidential candidate for her SNL debut—or on how viewers are expected to tell them apart if she does. More »

    • Glenn Beck Jumps to Fox News

      Glenn Beck Jumps to Fox News

      (Newser) - Conservative commentator Glenn Beck, who has gained a sizable following with his nightly show on CNN's Headline News channel, is leaving for Fox News. Beck signed a multi-year deal to host Fox's 5pm weekday program beginning in the spring, Broadcasting & Cable reports. He will also host a weekend show. Beck's CNN show has grown 200% since its launch in 2006, and he also has a popular radio show on Premiere Radio Networks. More »

    • Chocolate News Could Fill Chappelle Void

      Chocolate News Could Fill Chappelle Void

      (Newser) - Comedy Central may have found a Dave Chappelle-worthy replacement in David Alan Grier, Paul Farhi writes in the Washington Post . His Chocolate News is a “wholly inappropriate—and riotiously funny” 60 Minutes- style program in which Grier offers the news in “Lou Dobbsean rant” and mocks such figures as rappers and Maya Angelou, he observes. The “wittily produced” sketches echo Chappelle's “shockingly honest commentary on racial mores.” More »

    • In Crisis, Ads Are Just Noise

      In Crisis, Ads Are Just Noise

      (Newser) - With the election weeks away, the airwaves are thick with campaign ads. McCain has gone almost completely negative, while Obama has used his huge war chest to unleash an unprecedented barrage of messages—and none of it matters, strategists tell the Washington Post. “Most people are looking at their 401(k)s,” said a former Edwards adviser, “and in between they're seeing the two candidates beat the living daylights out of each other and rolling their eyes.” More »

    • Fey's Everywhere; 30 Rock MIA

      Fey's Everywhere; 30 Rock MIA

      (Newser) - Tina Fey’s popularity is at an all-time high, but NBC hasn’t tried to capitalize by moving up the season debut of her critically acclaimed sitcom 30 Rock . NBC has struggled to boost the show’s ratings, the New York Times reports, and hopes three Saturday Night Live specials on Thursdays will keep audiences when 30 Rock returns in that slot Oct. 30. More »

    • Biden Speechless? SNL Lampoon Does the Trick

      Biden Speechless? SNL Lampoon Does the Trick

      (Newser) - If there’s one thing Joe Biden is famous for, it’s his ability to talk. And talk. And talk some more. But after ABC’s Diane Sawyer showed the Democratic VP nominee a clip of Saturday Night Live lampooning his debate performance, Biden laughed so hard he was rendered speechless for a good spell, the Washington Post reports. "Oh God. I wish I had that much hair," he said, eventually. More »

    • Obama Buys Half-Hour of Network Primetime

      Obama Buys Half-Hour of Network Primetime

      (Newser) - Barack Obama’s campaign is planning an 11th-hour advertising blitz and has purchased a half-hour of primetime TV on CBS for October 29th, Politico reports. A special will air that night, just days before the election, at 8pm. Rumor has it that Obama also is nearing deals with NBC and Fox, though details of those buys are for now elusive. More »

    • Clock Ticking on Real Palin's SNL Debut

      Clock Ticking on Real Palin's SNL Debut

      (Newser) - Sarah Palin won’t be on tonight’s Saturday Night Live prime-time special, but head writer Seth Meyers tells Newsday the door's still open. “There's nothing specific yet, but our window of opportunity is before the election," Meyers says . “We'd love to have her.  We'd love to have McCain and Obama on again, too." More »

    • Election Results In: Comedy Wins

      Election Results In: Comedy Wins

      (Newser) - No matter which candidate ultimately surges ahead, political comedy is emerging as the clear winner in the presidential race, reports the New York Times . Tina Fey's dead-on parody of Sarah Palin has triggered a huge boost in viewership for Saturday Night Live . The Colbert Report and the Daily Show have canceled vacations to keep the jokes coming and the ratings soaring. More »

    • Now Palin May Imitate Fey

      Now Palin May Imitate Fey

      (Newser) - John McCain’s campaign is considering having Sarah Palin spoof spoofer Tina Fey by going on NBC and performing a rendition of Fey’s American Express commercial, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Saturday Night Live won’t air again for two weeks, but Palin may make a cameo on the network’s first Weekend Update spin-off special, slated for Thursday. More »

    • Bangkok Pol Assaults Host on Live TV

      Bangkok Pol Assaults Host on Live TV

      (Newser) - A Thai politician, vexed by an interviewer’s questions, pummeled the man on live TV today, Reuters reports. Chuvit Kamolvisit, a strip-club magnate turned Bangkok gubernatorial contender, did not deny the charges. “What I did was a petty crime,” he said. “I am happy to pay the fine for elbowing him and kicking him.” Host Visarn Dilokwanich said the candidate “behaved like a thug.” More »

  • September 2008
    • Palin Considers Saturday Night Live Appearance

      Palin Considers Saturday Night Live Appearance

      (Newser) - Sarah Palin may make an appearance on a Saturday Night Live , where she was so accurately mimicked by Tina Fey on the season premiere, OK! reports. The Republican’s security detail has already cased NBC’s studios in New York. Fey could also come back to reprise her role, setting the stage for a meeting a la the classic Janet Reno/Will Ferrell showdown and and Hillary Clinton's appearance with doppelganger Amy Poehler. More »

    • Judge Won't Toss Rather's $70M CBS Suit

      Judge Won't Toss Rather's $70M CBS Suit

      (AP) - A New York judge yesterday allowed news anch