This is how petty comedy has become?
This Chicago Tribune columnist is upset that Saturday Night Live chose Fred Armisen to impersonate Barack Obama in SNL's opening sketch this weekend. I agree that Armisen could have been a little funnier playing Obama...but I think the sketch made its point. And I did laugh. But for those watching, did you really not realize it was the white Armisen? It took me about 3/4 of the sketch to figure out who was playing him. Cate Blanchett just got nominated for an Oscar playing Bob Dylan, a... gasp!...man! Its comedy! Its acting! I don't see the point of making the petty complaint.
Here's a link to the sketch if you didn't see it.
I thought Armisen was hispanic (simply meaning he's already slightly darker complected). He looked very convincing.
"But mainly, I find "SNL's" choice inexplicable. Obama's candidacy gives us solid proof of the progress that African-Americans have made in this country. I guess "SNL" still has further to go on that front."
This writer has a way to go. Maybe this is payback for Hispanics who had to see Garrett Morris play Chico Escuela for all those years. What a travesty that was, huh?
Hopefully the Trib will decide that they've gone long enough with another Irish woman in her position and hire a black instead. Besides, if a Hispanic can't portray a black man on TV, who's to say that a white woman can comment on it.
Yeah, it's not like there's a nasty American history of people doing such a practice for comedy.
Xian,
You're always good for a laugh. Oh yeah, you were trying to be serious.
doing what comedy? or were you talking about the unfortunate history of people playing the race card falsely?
so, are they offended because obama is white or because obama is black or because he's neither (mulatto or "high yeller").
I assume this guy never saw the Dave Chapelle Show.
Barack Obama is BLACK?? Whoa, I never knew that.