Sexism and ‘SNL’

By Jennifer J. Foster

Published: September 14, 2008

Never mind that the writers (and the producers, and the actors, and the sound guys, and the prop people, and the lighting folks, and the guy who delivers bagels and lattes to the set) at “Saturday Night Live” detest Sarah Palin.

Never mind that in her last guest appearance on “SNL,“ Tina Fey endorsed Hillary Clinton for president by declaring, “Bitch is the new black.“

Never mind all that talk about liberal bias in the entertainment industry.

Just enjoy this skit, which opened the 2008 season of the comedy sketch show yesterday.

Fey returned to her old stomping grounds to pitch in and lend a hand to old friend and former “Weekend Update” co-host Amy Poehler, who plays a terrific Hillary Clinton.

The skit started slow and threatened to slide into that familiar territory of stale political triteness. But at about 2:10, it takes off and never looks back.

Sure, you could complain about some things: The skit reinforces debunked rumors. It takes unfair swipes at Palin. It pokes fun at her religious convictions.

But no one is fairer game than politicians, and as John McCain’s vice presidential nominee, Palin is so in season. And she doesn’t want to fall into the I’m-taking-myself-too-seriously trap that threatens to swallow Barack Obama’s campaign, so she’ll hold her tongue—as she should—and grin and bear it and head on to the next GOP rally.

Besides, if we’re lucky, maybe the real Palin will do a cameo of her own on “SNL” before the end of the campaign.