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It's Politics As Usual In 'SNL' Season Premiere

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 15, 2008

The quality of "Saturday Night Live" season premieres is almost always on the shaky side, and the 34th season debut was no exception. It took off, however, like a skyrocket.

Saturday's "cold open" sketch rose to the occasion. Former writer and cast member Tina Fey, making a brief return to the show, played Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, with pregnant cast member Amy Poehler doing her sure-fire, time-tested Hillary Rodham Clinton right beside her.

Poehler as Clinton: "I believe that diplomacy should be the cornerstone of any foreign policy."

Fey as Palin: "And I can see Russia from my house!"

Poehler: "I believe global warming is caused by man."

Fey: "And I believe it's just God huggin' us closer."

While Poehler's Clinton tried to speak seriously to the issue of sexism, Fey's Palin mimed posing for photos, including one in which she loaded and fired a rifle - all the time maintaining a big, occasionally seductive grin on her face.

Their strong showing helped make up for the fact that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama - who was scheduled to make a guest appearance at least once during the program - didn't show because of Hurricane Ike.

The monologue, by guest host and Olympic swimming champ Michael Phelps, was to have been built around Obama and would have included an additional cameo by action star Chuck Norris. But Norris, too, canceled because of the hurricane, and William Shatner was enlisted as his replacement.

Today's Birthdays

Actor Tommy Lee Jones is 62. Movie director Oliver Stone is 62. Football Hall-of-Famer Dan Marino is 47. Britain's Prince Henry of Wales is 24.

Source: The Washington Post, The Associated Press

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