Free Republic

"Saturday Night Live" has elected a new Barack Obama: Jay Pharoah will take over the plum role of impersonating the president. "SNL" creator and executive producer Lorne Michaels announced the casting switch in a recent interview. Michaels said it was time "to shake it up."

Fred Armisen will be back on "Saturday Night Live" this season. His woeful President Obama impersonation, on the other hand, is history. TheWrap.com is reporting the late night sketch show will use newer cast member Jay Pharoah, who is black, to portray Obama starting with this Saturday's season debut. That's great news for those hoping the signature series would return to its more fair and balanced approach to political humor. Not only was Armisen's Obama a dud, the comedian's unabashed affection for Obama clearly impacted the performance. Will Pharoah be an improvement? Here's a sample:

The Daily Caller has obtained a scrapped skit authored by comedian Jim Downey, intended for airing at the opening of last night’s “Saturday Night Live” on NBC. In the skit, which was not aired, President Barack Obama addresses Americans soon after the first anniversary of the killing of Osama bin Laden — and the president makes sure to remind viewers that all credit for the raid on the terrorist leader’s compound belonged to him. “I hope you had a safe and joyous first anniversary of his killing,” the president, portrayed by Fred Armisen, begins. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to be...

Jon Lovitz, an early “Saturday Night Live” cast member, had some harsh words for President Barack Obama over the weekend. In an interview with “Clerks” director Kevin Smith, Lovitz, a registered Democrat who voted for Obama in 2008, bashed the president for his class warfare rhetoric and the notion that the wealthy don’t pay their fair share in taxes.

“Saturday Night Live” alum Jon Lovitz sounds like he’s pretty fed up with President Barack Obama. “This whole thing with Obama saying the rich don’t pay their taxes is f---ing bulls---. And I voted for the guy and I’m a Democrat. What a f---ing asshole,” Lovitz recently said on his podcast “The ABC's of SNL." The episode was recorded in January and released on Sunday.

Live from New York, it’s ... Mitt Romney? Saturday Night Live executive producer Lorne Michaels offered a guest spot to the Republican presidential candidate and he is "considering it," New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd reported. A stop at the show could be a good way for the former Massachusetts governor to boost his likeability ratings, which have been dismal throughout his run in the Republican primaries. He has already appeared on late-night shows, including “The Late Show with Jay Leno” and “Tonight Show with David Letterman.” "He was funny on Letterman, giving the Top Ten list," SNL cast member...

This is absolutely out of control. But it was a brilliant strategy that Planned Parenthood and friends used to defeat a bill in Virginia that would have required pre-abortion ultrasounds: Get as many people as possible to repeat the word “transvaginal” in news and commentary, in order to accomplish two things: defeat the legislation at hand and make your opposition look like a freak show. At one protest against the legislation, “Molly Vick of Richmond said it was her first time to take part in a protest, but the issue was too infuriating and compelling,” the Washington Post reported. Ms....

Michelle Obama’s pet project as first lady has been to campaign for healthier diets to fight obesity, and the cast on Saturday’s “SNL” on NBC had a little fun at her expense. During a skit mocking her campaign, former SNL regular Maya Rudolph as Michelle Obama and Fred Armisen as Barack Obama pretended to be characters of the 1980s and 1990s hit sitcom, “The Cosby Show.” Armisen’s Barack Obama (as Cosby’s Cliff Huxtable) is caught by Rudolph’s Michelle Obama (as Clair Huxtable) eating unhealthy food, with appearances from Jason Sudeikis’ Joe Biden (as Theo Huxtable) and Amy Poehler’s Hillary Clinton....

Last nightg Bill O'Reilly appeared in the sketch SNL "What's Up With That" . I hate that reoccurring sketch. Kenan Thompson character interviews a guest and gets side tracked /distracted into song based on guest's word or short phrase triggers. Believe me you do not want to see it. No clip available yet, but past guests clips are on youtube. But Bill is a good sport, at least he got to talk. He must have seen past WUWT sketches.

A new Saturday Night Live host has been announced, and it’s (now, say this in your best Oprah voice) Maya Rudollllllllllllph! On Feb. 18, the Up All Night star is coming home to Studio 8H, where she starred as a regular cast member from 2000 to 2007. Two awesome things about this news: 1) Rudolph, who also starred in the acclaimed Away We Go in 2009, is now established enough in Hollywood to be able to return as host, and 2) That Saturday Night Live will be able to welcome back one of its most talented female alums. And that’s...

We will see this skit next weekend, yes? Saturday night live Producer Lorne Michaels won’t just make fun of Republican Newt’s divorces but will joke about the recently revealed 18 month long affair President Kennedy had with 19 year old White House Intern Mimi Alford, right? I mean it’s just comedy folks, and politicians personal lives are fair game after all when a good laugh is needed. And drugs always add to good comedy scenes on Saturday Night Live so maybe they could parody the story about JFK “where he coerced her [the intern] to try the drug poppers.” Or,...

Victoria Jackson doesn't want to meet at her house. "The Nation of Islam wants to kill me," she explains apologetically in her inimitable shrill voice. Instead, she picks up a reporter at a Miami-area strip mall. Her weathered Honda Civic is adorned with "Nobama," Marco Rubio, and Tea Party bumper stickers, and inside, it smells like it's been fumigated with sweet incense. She hurtles through intersections and down side streets, holding a Flip cam to her face with her left hand. Steering with elbows and the occasional pinkie, she opens a Bible inscribed with her name and quotes Scripture. Then...

Victoria Jackson hurtles through intersections and down side streets while using her left hand to hold a Flip cam to her face. The inside of her car ­— a weathered Honda Civic with "Nobama," Marco Rubio, and Tea Party bumper stickers — smells like it's been fumigated with sweet incense. Steering with elbows and the occasional pinkie, she opens a Bible inscribed with her name and quotes scripture in her inimitable high-pitched voice. Then she turns the camera on a reporter riding shotgun. She suspects he's a socialist. "Don't you think that some people are on welfare from cradle to...

Former "Saturday Night Live" comic Victoria Jackson is convinced the Muslim Brotherhood is focused on bringing down the U.S. Government, from the inside. During the Dec. 20 episode of her web talk show "Politichicks," Jackson says, "The Muslim Brotherhood is controlling all of the Middle East...And they are now in all of our highest positions, including the President." Jackson says the Muslims are engaged in a "Civilization Jihad...where they creep into a society and they're using us against ourselves." She says her information comes from a meeting with former FBI agent John Guandolo and Maj. Stephen Coughlin. "I saw pictures...

Ah, 1995. Bill Clinton was president, Newt Gingrich was the House's feisty new speaker, and Chris Farley was still alive. At this April 5 meeting of the House Republican Conference, John Boehner introduced Gingrich, only to have Farley appear from the wings and present a last-minute agenda to round out the new Republican Congress's first 100 days in power. Saturday Night Live currently has Bobby Moynihan playing Gingrich in its debate spoofs, but there's something about Farley that oddly befits the former speaker. Gingrich fancies himself such a serious intellectual that there's almost no way to parody his persona, only...

I don't watch SNL much anymore but saw this skit and laughed pretty hard. SNL taking on Al Sharpton and making fun of his talk show. RESIST WE MUCH!

When the going gets tough, Alec Baldwin goes to “Saturday Night Live.” The “30 Rock” funnyman, who was kicked off an American Airlines flight last Tuesday for refusing to turn off his cell phone while playing the game Words With Friends, had a few words to share with his SNL friends – and fans. Dressed as pilot Captain Steve Rogers, Baldwin joined Seth Myers for SNL’s Weekend Update to extend a heartfelt apology for the incident to, well, himself. Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/television/alec-baldwin-surprise-appearance-saturday-night-live-spoof-american-airlines-tantrum-article-1.989943#ixzz1gDTYYbrH

(Feeling I needed a link as proof) I caught the end of my overnight recording on SNL and saw Jason Segel thank at the end John Huntstman. The report is Huntsman appeared on Weekend Update trying to make progress in New Hampshire. The segment may be available soon. He has no chance , but his daughters are certainly lovely women.

NEW YORK (AP) — On "Saturday Night Live," even the devil was offended by the Penn State child sex abuse scandal. "SNL" cast member Jason Sudeikis reprised his role as Satan, appearing with red horns and pitchfork. The devil was informed by "Weekend Update" host Seth Meyers of sex charges against a former defensive coordinator and allegations that university officials failed to report the abuse. Even he was disturbed by the news. Addressing Penn State students who protested football coach Joe Paterno's firing, the devil spoke directly into the camera, asking, "Do you know how bad that made you look?"...

I'm surprised this SNL sexual harassment PSA parody has not yet resurfaced, given the current Cain news. It's hilarious: