let's hope Tina Fey

[Johonny]

says thanks but no thanks to continuing to play Palin on SNL, if SNL forces the real Palin on to the show when that coward won't grant access to real journalists. Screw Lorne Michaels the man that ended W satire on that show post 9/11. What a Republican hack.

[bunkerbuster1]

1. They kinda have to let her on.

They don't "have to" have to, but it wouldn't look good if she offered to appear and they turned her down.

And I don't know if Tina Fey helps or hurts us by refusing to participate in a show with Palin. It's really not so clearcut as you make it sound. Could go either way--could be seen as really small-minded, and make Palin seem sympathetic.

Which is about the last thing we need; Palin's positives are dropping like a stone every day.

[AllentownJake]

2. Tina Fey is a comic genius

She knows how to make someone look like a fool when they are standing next to her without the person realizing it.

[Az]

3. Its kind of a rule in comedy to stay neutral

Comedy as a general rule favors the liberal underdog position. But to remain true to the art one should remain neutral to politics. So if Palin wants to try her hand at comedy they should let her. Besides, think of it this way. Maybe she can discover a new career path in stand up comedy if she has the chops for it. Problem solved.

[Johonny]

6. There's nothing neutral

if they don't offer to bring Biden on too. Heck there's no rules to neutrality, SNL is a suppose to be cutting edge comedy that lampoons the establishment. Sarah Palin isn't funny and the hatefeast of the last week is not funny. To place her on their show shows, particularly without offering balance, shows very poor taste. I'd love to see Tina Fey beg off the show, but continue to do her Palin imitation elsewhere.

[Az]

14. Comedy lampoons anything that leaves itself open for it

That is where the neutrality comes from. Palin is comic gold. Biden is more difficult to get comedy out of. A comic goes to what is funny. Not necessarily what agrees with their politics. If Biden walked around the stage and appeared to be in a fog they would rip him up for it. But he didn't give them enough to work with so they don't target him.

[Beregond2]

8. I'm not so sure.

Satire only works if you have a POV. If you try to be even-handed, it takes the teeth out of it. It's like trying to hit someone while hanging from a wire. Your feet have to be firmly planted somewhere, or you are just flailing around, to no effect.

On SNL, the writers clearly have a liberal bent, which is why their attempts to spoof Dems are so much weaker than their jibes at Repubs. If Palin appears, they will have to bend over backward to honor her POV, and it will seem lame and hypocritical.

[Az]

13. I think the bend is more situational than pov

Its just harder to do comedy from the conservative pov. It comes off as derisive and mean spirited. Its power mocking the little guy. Not an easy way to pull that off and keep most of the audience in touch with the comedy.

[Bluenorthwest]

12. Neutral like George Carlin or like John Stewart?

Neutral is not funny, ever. Neutral like Chris Rock or like Sarah Siverman? That 'true to the art' line is balderdash.

[Az]

15. Seriously?

Jon Stewart will take it to a liberal dem if they leave themselves open to lampooning. He does it very often. He even took swipes at Obama and Biden in the recent debates. Its just that conservatives tend to be more target rich for comedy than liberals are. And Palin in particular is an amazing comic mine to dig into.

George Carlin's comedy took on idiots and fools. It doesn't matter to him who they are. Again the conservatives just offer a more rich environment for them to target. But George would take shots at liberal groups like PETA in a heart beat. Comedy attacks power and cognitive disconnects. Where ever they exist that is where comedy will go after. It is neutral to ideology.

[Johonny]

16. actually TDS

often bombs when they try to do equal time comedy. You can tell their hearts aren't in it and the material isn't as good. I agree a comedian needs to jump on concepts that are funny (the Dems are funny at times) but there's a difference between that and being neutral. Most comedians are not neutral.

[Az]

17. That may be true

But TDS often repudiates the claim that they are liberal. And he will often take the left to task for their problems. Consider when he shot down Crossfire. While Bowtie Boy caught a huge swipe he took a shot at the left side of the panel as well.

I suspect that its not so much that their hearts are not in shooting at the left. Its simply harder to do comedy ripping on someone trying to help others. Its just not good for laughs. The right finds itself in self contradictory positions all the time. This creates the environment for comedy. Claiming to be for the little guy while lowering taxes for their rich buddies. Its this sort of cognitive disconnect that makes them prime for it. Meanwhile the left is saying that people in need sometimes need help. Where do you find comedy in that sort of position? Its just not viable.

[krawhitham]

4. Let her on and DESTROY her while she is watching 1st hand

[jfkraus]

5. Palin IS the joke.

All they have to do is let Palin talk. All Fey did was repeat what Palin said anyway.

[juno jones]

7. I doubt she will appear.

For one, her appearances are even more engineered than the chimp's. Live from NY they will be booing her ass. I can't wait for the Philly hockey game. That should set the tone.

[rvablue]

9. When is this hockey game? Any chance it's big enought to be nat'l televised? n/t

[Me.]

10. I Doubt Tina Fey Would Appear With Palin

Aside from being a diehard dem, she's smart enough to know that her Palin impersonation has sent her career to the moon and if she appears with Palin the joke would then be on her. I expect Palin will be on the 25th of Oct. show, but I don't expect to see Tina Fey there.

[gatorboy]

11. She's not appearing. SNL already said it was a rumor.