Another Sunday: the Nation Digests Another SNL Cold Opening

So last night's SNL began, as it does every election season, with a sketch with political subject matter. No need to describe it, you can watch it yourself, or perhaps already have, but suffice to say it depicted John McCain in the process of recording and approving hyperbolically outrageous advertisements criticizing Obama. I think it was only inferior to the season premiere's cold opening because of the lack of Tina Fey's doppelganger of a Palin-impersonation (Darrell Hammond as McCain, like most of his impressions, was competent without being great). It was still extremely appropos and laugh-out-loud funny at about a half-dozen moments.

What is particularly interesting is that Al Franken, former SNL writer and featured cast member and satirist and author and Senate candidate, pitched the idea originally. It was then fleshed out by head writer slash Weekend Update co-host Seth Meyers. Naturally this will cause a small shitstorm for poor Al in his Senate race. He has a chance of beating Norm Coleman, but the odds are against him at the moment. But goodness wouldn't it be nice if he won. Yes, because we would have an intelligent, fiery Paul Wellstone acolyte in the Senate. But mostly I think that if Franken were elected to a comfy six-year term he would lighten up a little. In preparation for the race, he has basically, out of grudging necessity, turned off the lights on the humor part of his brain. Without another election for six years, maybe he'd go back to denouncing his political adversaries in wildly over-the-top ways and telling filthy jokes, if not on the Senate floor, than on cable news interviews. Fingers crossed! Don't fail us now, you chilly Lutherans of the North Country.

Political Comedy: Al Franken Hashes Out Anti-McCain SNL Skit