Comments on: Obama Spoofs: ‘SNL’ Chooses Unfunny Over Hurting Their Guy

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Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:46:12 +0000

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By: ToddM

ToddM — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:10:19 +0000

I thought he was funny, but not funny enough to get tha accolades he's received over the years. I think he rode the coat tails of the people on SNL that actually were funny. Everyone saw him as a part of a very funny unit. On his own, I doubt he would have gotten as far.

By: ToddM

ToddM — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:09:21 +0000

I thought he was funny, but not funny enough to get tha accolades he's received over the years. I think he rode the coat tails of the people on SNL that actually were funny. Everyone saw them as a part of a very funny unit. On his own, I doubt he would have gotten as far.

By: EdSki

EdSki — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:29:54 +0000

True, that is just my opinion. And I was just barely a teen at that time, but there was a lot of animosity towards Ford from both democrats and republicans. That was pretty palpable, even then.

It was years later when I read Ford had private conversations where he said he knew he was finished, and he said he thought it best anyway. And after watching the following events unfold, I think he was right, and I agree with him.

By: tublecane

tublecane — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:23:16 +0000

Whoops, I meant predisposed.

By: tublecane

tublecane — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:22:59 +0000

"What I find extremely funny is Chase thinking his ham acting had anything to do with Ford not getting re-elected. It was Nixon's pardon that did him in."

I doubt it was Nixon, personally. But whatever it was, it wasn't Chase. More than likely, his audience was presposed to vote for Carter anyway.

By: astorian

astorian — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:57:23 +0000

Within a few hours of the announcement of Obama's Nobel Prize, a relative of mine had come up with a hilarious routine about Kanye West interrupting Obama's acceptance speech, and eclaring that Bono should have won it, as a stunned Obama left the stage in tears.

AMATEURS could see all kinds of hilarious possibilities. How can professional comedy writers not see them?

By: EdSki

EdSki — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:01:39 +0000

I consider it improv because they had no way of know what the questions would be. I'd expect comedians like Rodney Dangerfield, Don Rickles and Jackie Mason to think on their feet, but it was suprising to watch these sketch comedians taking it on. While they are good comics, they definitely aren't in same class as the ones listed about.

And I did enjoy watching Who's Line Is It Anyway with Drew Carey and his crew. But after a few years it became apparent more and more of their gags were scripted in advance.

By: tublecane

tublecane — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:45:44 +0000

"It's really easy to screw up big time with improv because you never know what's going to happen."

Which is why a lot of improvisers have canned material ready to go. Especially Robin Williams, who has been widely praised for thinking on his feet, but in reality merely remembers on his feet.

I love improv. I used to watch the original British version of Whose Line Is It, Anyway repeatedly. It's just that I wouldn't categorize the specific portion of the MadTV sketch you quoted improv. Any more than I would consider it to be improv if Kerry had "spontaneously" said "That Bush sure is a wild and crazy guy!" The SNL line is too well-known to be a coincidence.

By: EdSki

EdSki — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:22:40 +0000

What I liked about MAD TV's version was the questions were unrehearsed, it was all improv that included the audience. I thought that was a pretty bold move.

It's really easy to screw up big time with improv because you never know what's going to happen. The comics have to be able to think on their feet. Any Letterman want-to-be can read jokes from a dozen writers off a teleprompter, that's not talent, that's public speaking. Making up your jokes on the fly, now that's talent.

I've been using improv to teach my daughter about comedy, timing, etc. I'm a big fan of comics that can do that.