Satire

What a difference a year makes. Last summer, Al Franken got a stern lecture on satire from Washington Post columnist Michael Gerson, who asserted that Franken’s abuse of the genre disqualified him from service in the U.S. Senate. In the New York Times this morning, Victor Navasky advises the Minnesota Democrat to stick with satire.

For all the impact that web video has had on the course of the presidential race this year, genuinely memorable DIY endeavors have been relatively few and far between. But this wholly unauthorized satirical update of Anheuser-Busch’s famous “Wassup?” campaign for Budweiser is one. Released late last week, it’s already racked up over 1.5 million views, and so far about half a dozen people have sent it to us. Highly recommended.

Will Farrell returned for a cameo as George W. Bush on last night’s Thurday edition of SNL weekend update. The video, for sizing reasons, is below the jump.

Jason Horowitz assays a new gag–oh, sorry, meme–in the New York Observer. But the real treat is Drew Friedman’s illustration. (Political Friedman from earlier in the season here.)

Using the latest and finest in auto-text generation software, the creators of Interview Palin offer bloggers and non-network journalists the opportunity to kick it Katie Couric-style with Palin as she responds a series of questions about war, the economy and, you know, other vice-presidential stuff.
A sample:
Q: How will you fix the economy?
A: Our economy and [...]

This is fun. Actors Jerry O’Connell (Jerry Maguire, Crossing Jordan) and Brandon Johnson made this short depicting a 10-year-old Hillary Clinton laying the foundation for her future presidential bid.

It opens with Hillary’s team losing a kickball game. “The game isn’t over,” Hillary announces. “Yes it is,” someone protests. “Recess is over and we won.”

“Actually, [...]

Change-up or sea change? After a long series of Hillary-friendly vignettes, “Saturday Night Live’s” opening segment did a 180 this weekend, summarizing the case for HRC’s continued candidacy in three talking points: 1) “I am a sore loser”; 2) “My supporters are racist”; 3) “I have no ethical standards.”

SNL: Why Hillary fights on (5:14)

There are three things one needs to know about Mike Gravel. 1) In pronouncing his last name, the accent goes on the second syllable; it rhymes with “Oh, hell.” 2) A former US senator from Alaska, he was and still is a candidate for president. (Though he started the race as a Dem, he switched [...]

This is fun: OG Johnny Mac spins rhymes about the secret of his political success. And what’s that? Hint: Chris Matthews gets a cameo as Flavor Flav. 

Headzup: John McCain rap (1:49)

3 a.m.: Debt collector calls

3 a.m.: Nobody’s home

3 a.m.: The kitchen sink

Special Friday bonus: Below the jump, a workplace-unfriendly Hillary/Obama pastiche based on Sarah Silverman’s “I’m Fucking Matt Damon” routine.

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