WASHINGTON — Sarah, meet W. And welcome to the intersection of politics and pop culture in the Lower 48.
Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is set to appear this weekend on "Saturday Night Live" with host Josh Brolin, the star of director Oliver Stone's new movie about President Bush, "W." It's a potentially provocative pairing given that "W." at times takes brutal aim at a Republican presidency that this year's nominee, John McCain, would like to avoid.
The Alaska governor has been the subject of a popular "SNL" parody featuring lookalike actress Tina Fey, a former "SNL" cast member who stars in the NBC sitcom "30 Rock."
Whether Palin and Fey will appear together Saturday was not announced. Jill Hazelbaker, a spokeswoman for McCain's campaign, confirmed Friday that Palin will appear but offered no details about what Palin will say or do.
Fey's appearances as Palin have drawn huge audiences to the longtime skit show and sealed its reputation as TV's hottest vehicle for political satire. In her first appearance, Fey as Palin declared as part of her foreign-policy credentials, "I can see Russia from my house!" Through video clips posted on the Internet, Fey's dead-on makeup and gestures as well as her sharp commentary on Palin's credentials live on well past a single Saturday night.
"SNL" is a popular stop on the entertainment circuit for presidential candidates and their running mates. Obama has appeared briefly on the show since becoming a candidate, and McCain once hosted a show.
From daytime talk shows like ABC's "The View" to late-night entertainment programs like NBC's "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," casual, funny settings appeal to candidates hoping to connect with voters on a more personal level. And it gives them a chance to appear as self-effacing, not-so-serious regular people with a sense of humor.
There are perils, however. Three weeks ago McCain abruptly canceled an appearance on CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman," infuriating its star and prompting a series of tart jokes aimed at the Republican's actions. McCain had said he needed to return to Washington to deal with the financial crisis, but Letterman found him being interviewed by CBS News anchor Katie Couric.
"I screwed up," McCain admitted in an on-air mea culpa when he appeared on Letterman's show Thursday night.
Candidates with merriment on their minds are finding other avenues to reach voters. Humorous speeches by McCain and Obama at the annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner, a charity event organized by the Catholic Archdiocese of New York for the benefit of needy children, were shown live on cable TV Thursday night and excerpted on news channels Friday.
"I was originally told we'd be able to move this outdoors to Yankee Stadium," Obama said to laughter in the banquet hall, not at all like the stadium he filled for his nomination acceptance speech in Denver.
Obama asked, "Could somebody tell me what happened to the Greek columns that I requested?"
Politics
October 17, 2008
Live from NY, it's the real Sarah Palin on 'SNL'
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