2008 Woodie Awards
'SNL' will pick our president
Nick DiMarco
Opinion | 2/18/08
The writer's strike is over, Barack Obama has taken the lead against Hillary Clinton, Mike Huckabee still thinks he has a chance and "Saturday Night Live" will return to air within the month.
How do these relate? They all tie in to my homegrown political theory that has shaped the face of our nation since 1975, when the phrase, "Live from New York, it's Saturday night!" came screaming into our living rooms.
Allow me to present to you, my dear readers, the "SNL Presidential Nomination Theory."
I believe the winner of the presidential election will be determined, not by savvy campaigning, the electoral college, the popular vote, grassroots politics or whatever you've been taught by our fine political science department here at Towson.
Instead, the position of commander-in-chief will go to whomever NBC's skit comedy show can poke the most fun at (please exhale).
Take for example, the last 16 years of presidential reign and how close the margin of victory came for each would-be head-honcho. George W. Bush narrowly earned a seat in the Oval Office against both John Kerry and Al Gore.
Let's break this down. Al "I speak very monotone, but try to be funny, all the while I like to hug trees" Gore, lost to a man that cannot pronounce nuclear, or most English words for that matter. Which is something "SNL" has clung to in their portrayal of his character.
And then there is John "Lurch from 'The Addams Family'" Kerry, who actually received more votes than the incumbent president but still failed to switch his address to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
My point is that Kerry would've been mocked for his stoic demeanor and "Lurch-like" attitude, while Gore, despite not making it to broadcast television, has had a recurring role as a environmental super-hero on Comedy Central's "South Park."
In eight years, half a dozen "Saturday Night Live" actors and alumni (including Will Farrell) have taken shots at imitating good ol' "W." He's just barely a funnier candidate.
How do these relate? They all tie in to my homegrown political theory that has shaped the face of our nation since 1975, when the phrase, "Live from New York, it's Saturday night!" came screaming into our living rooms.
Allow me to present to you, my dear readers, the "SNL Presidential Nomination Theory."
I believe the winner of the presidential election will be determined, not by savvy campaigning, the electoral college, the popular vote, grassroots politics or whatever you've been taught by our fine political science department here at Towson.
Instead, the position of commander-in-chief will go to whomever NBC's skit comedy show can poke the most fun at (please exhale).
Take for example, the last 16 years of presidential reign and how close the margin of victory came for each would-be head-honcho. George W. Bush narrowly earned a seat in the Oval Office against both John Kerry and Al Gore.
Let's break this down. Al "I speak very monotone, but try to be funny, all the while I like to hug trees" Gore, lost to a man that cannot pronounce nuclear, or most English words for that matter. Which is something "SNL" has clung to in their portrayal of his character.
And then there is John "Lurch from 'The Addams Family'" Kerry, who actually received more votes than the incumbent president but still failed to switch his address to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
My point is that Kerry would've been mocked for his stoic demeanor and "Lurch-like" attitude, while Gore, despite not making it to broadcast television, has had a recurring role as a environmental super-hero on Comedy Central's "South Park."
In eight years, half a dozen "Saturday Night Live" actors and alumni (including Will Farrell) have taken shots at imitating good ol' "W." He's just barely a funnier candidate.
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