Read Ebook {PDF EPUB} SNL Presents - The Clinton Years by Michael Shoemaker SNL Presents - The Clinton Years by Michael Shoemaker. Saturday Night Live Presents: The Clinton Years DO NOT click this picture unless you want more information about a really funny book, SNL Presents: The Clinton Years , published by Saturday Night Live producers containing hilarious color scenes/scripts from the many Saturday Night Live skits about Clinton during the "Clinton Years." Review by Jim Wrenn, author of the Clinton Li e brary Book 2001 Edition and Librarian at the Clinton Li e brary : "When I read this book, I laughed so hard my throat hurt. It will be banned from all public libraries because no one will be able to read it without laughing out loud." For information how to order the book, click the image of the book at the left . About the Book. Order the Book. Book Review. Book Excerpts. National Treasure. The-Clinton-Years Website. TVBooks. Broadway Video. SNL's Website. Political Satire. About the Book: SNL Presents: The Clinton Years: A 160 page, 7" X 10" book with color pictures (and text) from Saturday Night Live skits about Clinton throughout the Clinton years. Certain to become a collector's item for fervent Clinton supporters as well as vigorous Clinton opponents. Also a great gift for a friend. Written by the Writers and Cast of "Saturday Night Live" and compiled by Saturday Night Live Presidential Historians . Michael Shoemaker . (Co-Producer of SNL) and . Scott Weinstein . (Weekend Update Coordinator), this historic book is certain to become a part of our national history in the Clinton Li e brary if not the official William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Library [ISBN: 1- 57500-128-4 Trade Paperback; 160 pages; 7" x 10"; $14.95 ($22.50 Canada)] (About the Authors) . 10 Actors Who Best Played U.S. Presidents On SNL. One of SNL's longest-standing traditions is its lampooning of presidents past, present, and future. These are the 10 times the show did it the best. Saturday Night Live ( SNL ) is a sketch comedy series that has helped kick start the careers of many comedians. But it has also become an important part of politics. From Nixon to Ford, Obama to Trump, every U.S. president that was elected during the show's run has been impersonated— as well as some others from the past. Actual U.S. presidents have even made cameos on the show, often meeting with the actors who do impressions of them. While SNL sketches have made mockeries of presidents, the use of humor is often designed to bring attention to real-world issues. While many political figures of multiple levels and countries have been played hilariously on the show, some of the funniest impressions have been of U.S. presidents. 10 Robert De Niro As Thomas Jefferson. Robert De Niro, who was never a cast member of SNL but is an incredibly accomplished A-list actor, only played this former U.S. president once on the show. It was back in 2002 in a sketch about meeting Sally Hemings, the mixed race slave whom Jefferson reportedly went on to father one or more children with. The sketch honed-in on Jefferson's rumored attraction exclusively to black women. The extra comedic punch of the sketch was that De Niro's current wife (though they are currently separated), as well as his previous wife, are both black. 9 Bill Hader As Franklin Roosevelt. Hader was known for his fantastic impressions on the show, and one such person he played was FDR in a sketch back in 2011. Others who have played Roosevelt include John Belushi (1978), Harry Shearer (1979), Tim Kazurinsky (1982), and Mikey Day (2016). Hader played Roosevelt in a number of skits, including one called "Reelz Presents The Roosevelts," where the former president discusses a very inaccurate family history, claiming that he was pretending to be in a wheelchair and that his wife Eleanor (played by Helen Mirren) was having an affair. 8 Dan Aykroyd As Richard Nixon. Richard Nixon isn't the earliest U.S. president Aykroyd impersonated during his tenure on the show, as he also played John F. Kennedy back in 1978. But from 1976 through to 1979, original SNL cast member (and future movie star) Dan Aykroyd had recurring sketches as Nixon. Others who took over the role include Tony Rosato (1982), Joe Piscopo (1984), John Turturro (1994), and Darrell Hammond (2009). Aykroyd played the former president a total of 10 times, however, and he was the first to do so, with his slightly exaggerated impression setting the stage for the show's future treatment of sitting presidents. 7 Chevy Chase As Gerald Ford. For a solid decade from 1975 through to 1985, Chase impersonated this president, even though Chase was only an SNL cast member during the show's first season. Ford himself actually once appeared on the show, as himself, back in 1976. Chase's impersonation was said to have had a major impact on the relationship between politics and entertainment media, especially after Ford sent his press secretary Ron Nessen to host an episode of the show in 1976 and marked a new era of presidents and presidential hopefuls using SNL and other similar platforms as a tool for self-promotion. 6 Phil Hartman As Ronald Reagan. The late Phil Hartman was a master of impressions, and Reagan was one of his best, which is why he played the U.S. president from 1986 through to 1991 in multiple sketches. Before Hartman took on the role, Reagan was played in various sketches by Chevy Chase (1976), Harry Shearer (1980 and 1984), Charles Rocket (1980-1981), Joe Piscopo (1981-1984), Randy Quaid (1985-1986), and Robin Williams (1986). Hartman played the president and one-time actor a total of nine times, including in "The Bob Waltman Special" sketch in 1990. 5 Dana Carvey As George H.W. Bush. One of the most memorable presidential impersonations is Dana Carvey's President George H.W. Bush, which he mastered from 1987 through to 1993, then again from 1996 to 2000. Jim Downey also did an impersonation in 1980 and Fred Armisen tried his hand at the president in 2005, but none could hold a candle to Carvey's hilarious interpretation. President Bush himself came on the show once in 1994 and had publicly stated that he was actually a fan of Carvey's impersonations of him. Carvey played him in hilarious sketches talking about a White House drug problem and giving debate advice to his son, George W. Bush (played by Will Ferrell.) 4 Darrell Hammond As Bill Clinton. Another memorable impersonation, and one that Hammond has returned on occasion to do, Hammond took on the persona of Clinton at various points for 20 years, from 1995 to as recently as 2015. He was so convincing, not only in look but also mannerisms and voice. The impression is actually one of the most frequent ones to have ever graced the show, appearing a total of 87 times over 14 years as well as in cameos. Others who have done Clinton include Phil Hartman (1992-1994), Michael McKean (1994), Chris Elliott (1994), Dana Carvey (1996), and Beck Bennett (2013). 3 Will Ferrell As George W. Bush. Will Ferrell's hilarious interpretation of George W. Bush kept people laughing through all eight years of his presidency and beyond. Ferrell brought his comedic stylings to play Bush from 1999 to 2002 and again from 2015-2018. He mocked everything from presidential addresses to a phone call between Bush and Al Gore. Others who tried their hand at impersonating Bush include Chris Parnell (2002-2003), Darrell Hammond (2003), Will Forte (2004-2006), and Jason Sudeikis (2006-2007). But Ferrell's is the one most people focus on and remains on of his best recurring characters on the show. 2 Jay Pharoah As Barack Obama. Pharoah took over playing president Barack Obama from 2012-2016 following Fred Armisen's departure from the show. Armisen had previously played Obama from 2008-2012. Pharoah is a master of impressions and his Obama was spot on, right down to the voice and the cadence in which he speaks. He did funny sketches like a Paxil commercial, an appearance on Fox & Friends , and Obama talking on Weekend Update . In one memorable sketch back in 2007 during Armisen's tenure in the role, Obama actually made a cameo as himself. 1 Alec Baldwin As Donald Trump. So many have impersonated Donald Trump over the decades including the time before he was president, starting with Phil Hartman. But only Alec Baldwin, who is one of the best SNL guest hosts and part of one of the top most viral SNL skits of all time, has done so since Trump actually became president. Baldwin transforms into the president— albeit in a comedically exaggerated style, of course— complete with variations on Trump's facial expressions, mannerisms, and tone of voice. It's no wonder that even though Baldwin isn’t a cast member on the show, he has appeared in almost every episode since Trump was elected and leading up to the 2016 election. He continues with the role today. Who Is Next In Line To Replace Lorne Michaels As Head Honcho Of ‘SNL’? 'SNL' Season 46: The 20 Best Sketches, From "Tiny Horse" to "Titanic" Stream It Or Skip It: 'Pause With Sam Jay' On HBO, Real Talk That's Not Just For Show. How to Watch Elon Musk on ‘SNL’ Live. ‘SNL’ Cast Members Throw Shade at Elon Musk — Will Anyone Boycott? Everyone worth their laughs in the funny business put on their fanciest clothes on a frigid February night in 2015 and paid tribute to Lorne Michaels during SNL40 , the 40th Anniversary Special of Saturday Night Live . Over the course of three-plus primetime hours on NBC, comedy’s best and brightest delivered Lorne Michaels the fondest of farewells after forty years at the helm of America’s late night institution. Only Lorne didn’t leave. Hasn’t left. Isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. He coulda woulda shoulda, though. For all of the critical talk week-in and week-out (also year-in and year-out) about the quality of comedy on SNL – it’s a grand tradition dating back to even the original cast years of 1975-1980 – real talk should focus on who’s making the show happen. And that’s always been about Lorne. Even in the years when he wasn’t there, and tried to duplicate his success on NBC in primetime 1984 with The New Show . What happened there? It got old quick. Turned out he was the Not Ready for Primetime Player. A year later, Lorne was back running SNL . Three decades later, signs of slippage began to show in the legend of Lorne. see also. 'SNL' Recap: Texas Congressman Lt. Dan Crenshaw Exacts Revenge On Pete Davidson. But Lorne Michaels has allowed himself and SNL to go from the show of the counterculture in 1975 to the show of the culture in 2018. No wonder so many viewers remain nostalgic for the “original” cast. Of course, Lorne raided The National Lampoon for much of the on-air and writing talent that would cement his own legacy (watch A Futile and Stupid Gesture to see the other side of this story). Certainly, you can point to any number of amazingly funny comedians who either A) never got cast on SNL or B) got cast but didn’t truly blossom until after their stints on SNL (think Chris Rock, Ben Stiller, Sarah Silverman, etc.). But for every comedian you name, Lorne loyalists could say he spotted their talent before the rest of us did. His comedy king- and queen-making prowess remained unrivaled. Perhaps Lorne’s instincts took a turn for the worse in 2013. That’s the year he encouraged John Mulaney —not only a top writer but the top prospect to take over Weekend Update— to leave the show, despite announcing that head writer and Update anchor Seth Meyers would be leaving to take over Late Night . NBC passed on the Lorne-produced Mulaney , which seemed dumb at the time, until we all saw the finished product on FOX the following fall. Making matters worse, Lorne took away Cecily Strong’s ability to shine as Update characters by “promoting” her to co-anchor Update. Update has yet to regain its critical cachet since then, despite the vote of confidence NBC Colin Jost and Michael Che when they announced the duo as co-hosts of the 2018 Emmys. (It’s no secret that Lorne made that happen.) Since 2014, Lorne has held executive producer control over all of NBC’s late-night programming and extended his influence into multiple specials and series on other networks, too. Having that much say over the business of TV may have affected his creative quality control. As Taran Killam, SNL alum and star of ABC’s new hit sitcom Single Parents , revealed in a recent podcast interview, the mood and morale among cast and writers shifted once Meyers moved, even though he was just down the hallway. Meyers, Killam says, “was the last person [at SNL ] who I witnessed really collaborate with Lorne, as opposed to just kind of do what Lorne says.” The show began pulling punches. In December 2014, when residents of Ferguson, Mo., rioted after a cop killed an unarmed black man in the street, they had a great sketch to comment on it. But didn’t air it. Instead, that Saturday’s show didn’t mention Ferguson at all, choosing instead to open with a sketch about the Eric Garner verdict in New York City, which sure, sounds as politically prickly, until you realize that the sketch had nothing to say. It was at this point that we started seeing more than a few “Cut For Time” sketches show up on the SNL YouTube channel, most of them funnier than what aired on TV. At what point do you begin to question the producers? Is it when Lorne not only insists on the cast taking it easy on Donald Trump to keep him “likable,” but also letting Trump host an episode in November 2015, when doing so gave him a huge profile to stand out among the many Republican presidential candidates at the time? Is it when he announces six months later that SNL will begin producing sponsored sketches for companies because “This will give time back to the show and make it easier to watch the show live”? Is it when he stretches his SNL writing staff so thin that they have nothing funny to give to Maya and Marty during the entire summer of 2016? Is it when he opens the show after the 2016 election with Kate McKinnon as Hillary Clinton on the piano performing “Hallelujah,” wherein the show becomes the very thing we mocked about Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip ?! Is it when he lets Sasheer Zamata leave, giving more time for Leslie Jones to learn how to read cue cards while acting on live television? These aren’t knocks on Jones or McKinnon or Strong or Che or even Jost, because the cast has a wealth of undeniable talent. It’s just that Lorne doesn’t seem to know how to utilize their strengths any longer, and he’s more and more relying on his celebrity friends and connections to carry the load. We didn’t think much of it when Tina Fey stepped in to play Sarah Palin in 2008, because her portrayal so devastatingly satirized the real political joke of that election. But what worked with the surprise of Melissa McCarthy as Sean Spicer, or the of-course-ness of Larry David as Bernie Sanders, quickly devolved into the Too Many Cooks Celebrity Cameo Cold Open game of telephone this May with Alec Baldwin, Jimmy Fallon, Scarlett Johansson, Martin Short, Ben Stiller, and Stormy Daniels all making us wonder if the actual cast is even talented at all. As Decider’s own Meghan O’Keefe implored last year, where did the recurring characters go? They all went to stunt casting, that’s where. We saw two weekends how well McKinnon and Strong can nail impersonations we hadn’t much seen before in this FOX News cold open. But the focus on celebs and politics is muscling out the great new hires, as well as recurring characters, and even the legendary fake ads now have to be about something in the news, instead of weirdo creative flourishes like Colon Blow or Happy Fun Ball that could run any Saturday and still generate laughs. Melissa Villasenor has so many impersonations, and yet whenever we see her in a sketch, it’s just a regular character. Chris Redd has won one Emmy for co-writing a rap video for SNL , and his new “Trees” video might just trap another award, if Lorne and NBC hadn’t bungled the airing of it on live TV. The SNL of the Trump era seems to generate more claps than laughs, which is death to comedy. The ratings might be gangbusters, but the comedy is bereft of gutbusters. Whenever Lorne does decide to leave, who’ll take the reins? An outsider seems an unlikely choice, not without blowing up the show’s structure entirely. Perhaps you could film most of the sketches in advance, and leave the cold open, monologue, Update and musical guests for live performances. The most likely successor for years? Steve Higgins, who first made a name for himself as part of The Higgins Boys and Gruber, but has written and produced alongside Lorne since 1995, and seen onscreen for almost a decade as Jimmy Fallon’s sidekick, egging on Fallon’s more sophomoric instincts. To which I say: Ew. Difficult to imagine SNL would be any different with Higgins in charge. Lindsay Shookus? She’s the producer most connected to the current cast, but also at times too connected to the talent? (See: Ben Affleck) Michael Shoemaker? Shoe is the most reliably funny producer inside 30 Rock, who left the show back in 2008 to give Jimmy Fallon a boost at Late Night and is currently shepherding Seth Meyers as the EP Late Night . Would he even want to go back to SNL , or is he having enough fun where he’s at? Time for a closer look. Marci Klein? Same question goes for Klein, who left SNL a while back and EP’d 30 Rock . Which, obviously, leads us to wonder about… Tina Fey? Fey ran an SNL in her dreams on 30 Rock , and has shown up enough since leaving to make the 5 Timer Club of guest hosts, including this past weekend. Fey also just signed on to EP the new Busy Tonight , the late-nighter on E! Perhaps, though, it’s time for a Millennial to take it over. Lorne was 29 when SNL debuted, after all. Here’s my two cents on two young guns with senses of humor to take the show to a different place. Bring Mulaney back, because he’d absolutely love running a variety show. On the other hand, that might take him too far away from his current perch as one of the top live stand-up comedians of his generation. So if you do give the show to Mulaney, give him the monologue slot permanently because the guest hosts usually waste that time anyhow. Or if you don’t go with Mulaney, how about Simon Rich? At 34, he has one of the most imaginative comedic voices, whether on the page or on the screen ( Man Seeking Woman ). I know. So many white people. If only SNL cultivated other voices from other cultures so the show could grow in a new direction. But that’s Lorne’s fault, too. Sean L. McCarthy works the comedy beat for his own digital newspaper, The Comic’s Comic; before that, for actual newspapers. Based in NYC but will travel anywhere for the scoop: Ice cream or news. He also tweets @thecomicscomic and podcasts half-hour episodes with comedians revealing origin stories: The Comic’s Comic Presents Last Things First. ‘SNL’: Louis C.K.-Hosted Finale Mocks Israel-Palestine, Deflategate (Video) The comedian played a shoemaker who had befriended some frisky, 'Fifty Shades'-esque elves. Ryan Gajewski. Share this article on Facebook Share this article on Twitter Share this article on Email Show additional share options Share this article on Print Share this article on Comment Share this article on Whatsapp Share this article on Linkedin Share this article on Reddit Share this article on Pinit Share this article on Tumblr. Share this article on Facebook Share this article on Twitter Share this article on Email Show additional share options Share this article on Print Share this article on Comment Share this article on Whatsapp Share this article on Linkedin Share this article on Reddit Share this article on Pinit Share this article on Tumblr. Louis C.K. was center stage for Saturday Night Live ‘s season-40 finale, marking his third time hosting the show. During the episode, he played a Sprint employee, a 1950s sitcom husband and a despondent lumberjack. The finale opened with a musical sketch making light of Hillary Clinton ‘s summer plans. “What a fun thing to hear for almost 20 years,” Clinton ( Kate McKinnon ) told some youngsters on a beach after learning that their parents didn’t like her. She then proceeded to knock down their sand castle. Related Stories. Louis C.K.'s 'SNL' Monologue About Child Molestation Leads to Uproar (Video) Related Stories. 'SNL': Hillary Clinton Sings and Smashes Kids' Sandcastles in Cold Open (Video) C.K.’s monologue focused on a number of hot-button topics, with the Louie star performing stand-up about the situation in the Middle East. He then did a long bit about child molesters. “From their point of view, it must be amazing, for them to risk so much,” C.K. said about the sex offenders. One sketch featured the comic as a shoemaker whose elves aren’t just interested in cobbling. “I guess you’re going to want to go to the restroom on us now,” one elf said in the Fifty Shades -esque bit. The sketch’s ending involved a twist. Related Stories. Louis C.K.: Exclusive Portraits of the Actor-Comedian (Photos) After mocking his boss at a Sprint store, C.K.’s character needed to adopt a fake voice for the rest of his time at the job. “Where’d you get those nails did?” he asked his employer. “They on fleek .” Highlights of Weekend Update involved ISIS’ opening credits and Tom Brady ( Taran Killam ) using his charm to deflect questions about Deflategate . Also, hosts Colin Jost and Michael Che each told a joke that had been cut from a previous episode, with Che’s old pal Riblet ( Bobby Moynihan ) stopping by to interrupt him. It’s Official: Seth Meyers Lands NBC ‘Late Night’ Gig. "Saturday Night Live's" Lorne Michaels (CAA, Hansen Jacobson), Seth Meyers (CAA, Brillstein, Hirsch Wallerstein), his brother Josh Meyers (Kohner, Brillstein) and "The Colbert Report's" Peter Grosz (ICM, Brillstein) are developing a comedy about brothers for NBC. Share this article on Facebook Share this article on Twitter Share this article on Email Show additional share options Share this article on Print Share this article on Comment Share this article on Whatsapp Share this article on Linkedin Share this article on Reddit Share this article on Pinit Share this article on Tumblr. Seth Meyers is heading to late night. After weeks of tightly guarded negotiations, the Saturday Night Live veteran has inked a deal to succeed Jimmy Fallon in NBC’s 12:35 a.m. Late Night slot. The announcement comes a day before NBC brass is set to present its new fall wares to Madison Avenue buyers. Lorne Michaels will executive produce both shows, with Michael Shoemaker remaining with the Late Night franchise as producer. Having a solid late-night plan in place was of critical importance to NBCUniversal executives heading into the annual upfront bazaar. Weeks earlier, the network confirmed a THR report that Jay Leno would be replaced by Late Night host Fallon following the winter Olympics in February 2014. Meyers will remain with SNL through the fall season. Both Tonight and Late Night will be filmed in New York, giving Los Angeles-based ABC rival Jimmy Kimmel Live an added advantage from a booking standpoint. “We think Seth is one of the brightest, most insightful comedy writers and performers of his generation. His years at SNL’ s Weekend Update desk, not to mention being head writer of the show for many seasons, helped him hone a topical brand of comedy that is perfect for the Late Night franchise,” said entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt in a statement announcing the news Sunday. Meyers, 39, has been with SNL for 12 years, and has served as head writer for eight. “On behalf of Steve Burke, Ted Harbert and Paul Telegdy , we couldn’t be happier that Seth and Jimmy Fallon will be continuing their careers at NBC after growing up in this network’s late-night legacy.” Added Meyers of the new gig: “I only have to work for Lorne for five more years before I pay him back for the time I totaled his car. 12:30 on NBC has long been incredible real estate. I hope I can do it justice.” For the time being, NBC is staying mum on a premiere date as well as a format for Late Night With Seth Meyers. There has been speculation that Meyers could adopt one closer in form to Weekend Update , making the show more focused on newsmakers, politicians and athletes as opposed to simply celebrities. The latter could be seen as a way to spice up a staid formula as well as differentiate one former young, white SNL comedian’s show from the other. Meyers has garnered praise for his work hosting the ESPY Awards (in 2010 and 2011) as well as the 2011 White House Correspondents Dinner. What is clear: The show will remain a production of Universal Television in association with Michaels’ Broadway Video.