Over the weekend SNL said goodbye to Amy Poehler. Actually, she is the one who said goodbye. I think SNL would be happy to have her as long as she wanted to stick around. But, the big news from the show was that Fred Armisen was on Weekend Update portraying Governor Paterson of New York who is blind. Apparently the sketch made both the Governor and The National Federation Of The Blind unhappy.
They thought that SNL was taking cheap shots at blind people and that SNL was saying blind people can't have serious jobs. I don't know what to think because I'm not blind. I guess I should believe the National Federation Of The Blind, but I also got the feeling from some of their statement that blind people should only be portrayed in a positive light. OK. I get that, but isn't the fact that there is a blind person who is Governor of New York already an indication that blind people are more than capable of having a serious job?
I think part of the problem is that although I know Paterson is the Governor of New York and I have a seen a few photos of him, I have never heard him speak and so I don't know if the portrayal is an accurate exaggeration. Take a look at the two clips below and see what you think. SNL has never been politically correct. Do you think they were just being satirical or were they being insensitive to the blind?
I don't know, but I'm not against make a big deal out of nothing. Sometimes, I think getting people talking and thinking about an issue is more important that the vehicle used for highlighting that issue in the first place.
ReplyDeleteBut I'd never heard him speak either, so...
I hate when people get offended by satire. Get the sand out of your vaginas.
ReplyDeleteI think I may have seen him on the Colbert Report once, and from what I remember, he doesn't speak that way. But I don't think the issue is with his voice.
ReplyDeleteI believe that if you advocate for equality, then you cannot complain against satire. This is no worse than Chevy Chase as Ford, or John Goodman as Linda _____ (forgot her name, part of the Monicagate scandal). Guess what? This is equality. You don't get to have a reserved, glorified position where you are immune from mockery. Deal with it.
My Mom is almost blind from macular degeneration. She thought it was funny.
ReplyDeleteShe said he was probably pissed about the other jokes made about him but knew he would look like an ass if he complained about the jokes about weed and his affairs.
Wasn't The National Federation of the Blind the group that was all up in arms about the movie "Blindness", too, saying it put people who are blind in a bad light? The movie actually only portrayed one blind bad apple, and the chaos was more about people who are opportunistic, not specifically blind.
ReplyDeleteThat said, what I took offense at was Fred meandering about the studio. I don't think that Gov. Paterson really walks about aimlessly and cluelessly as portrayed.
i don't think the govs seen it yet, so nothing to worry about.
ReplyDeleteKinda borderline because it doesn't seem relevant or warranted unless I missed something recently.
ReplyDeleteBut totally agree with Katy. Voice was not far off either IMO, and he nailed the impersonation.
Look what they did to Janet Reno, and to all the presidents, every politician, hell--everyone!
No free pass against being made fun of just cuz you have a handicap or condition.
HAAAAA, sandman!
ReplyDeleteI thought the sketch was hilarious and I had no idea the governor was blind. I think they are over-reacting.
ReplyDelete"I hate when people get offended by satire. Get the sand out of your vaginas"
ReplyDeleteexactlllllly.
It was hysterical!! For god sake it's SNL. Thats the stuff I expect from them and thats why I still watch the show.
ReplyDeleteEmobacca... i couldn't agree more!
Sandman, that was funny.
ReplyDeleteI thought Fred wandered on camera during Amy's goodbye to keep things from getting too serious when Amy began to tear up.
I think providing some comic relief to something as terrifying as going blind is a good thing.
Anyone famous enough to be mocked on SNL just has to suck it up and be happy they are famous.
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ReplyDeletebwahahahah.....bjipv[p0isfgj[ bogjmb go;ji dt!!!!!
ReplyDeletehahahaha!
that shyt WAS so Funny!!!!!! I'm still frickin laughing!!!
I reallt don't think it was offensive being that it was comedy relief....and like Emma said that's why we are still watching SNL!!
i thought it was hilarous, some people are just not happy unless they have somethign to complain about, i mean it was on SNL not meet the press...lighten up
ReplyDeleteIf a group wants equality in all things, doesn't that actually include ALL things, good and bad. I don't think anyone or anything should be exempt from being satirized or made fun of. But, then again, I have always thought that the PC movement of the past decade has ruined the world for creativity.
ReplyDeleteBeing from NY, I have heard the Govenor speak a lot. IMO, Armisen nailed the voice and mannerisms. He also got the whole downstate NY/upsate NY social and political rivarly thig down, along with all the crap talking NY-ers engage in when it comes to Jersey. Of course it was over the top, but it was satire. I thought it was really funny.
ReplyDeleteOh and Sandman, you made me pee my pants a little.
So let's say goodbye to comedy if anyone gets their panties in a twist any time there's a politically incorrect joke.
ReplyDeleteThat's why they're jokes.
Actually I thought this item was going to be about Fred Armisen wandering in front of the camera while Amy gave her goodbye speech -- that it was rude.
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ReplyDeleteI can't be bothered to track down the video as I have no clue who the guy is, but the picture looks like a British former-politician called David Blunkett who is also blind.
ReplyDelete(jk)Do they get styling tips off the same website?(/jk)
Jesus dogshit! People need to calm down! It's not as if they were telling Hellen Keller jokes or whatever.
ReplyDeleteJesus Christ, these people need to lighten the hell up already. This shit is getting ridiculous! Also, I think maybe people need to take a long, hard look at themselves...we obviously have it WAY too easy here in this country, if this type of shit is what some people get all worked up over. Maybe they should remember that most of the world has way more pressing problems like poverty, starvation, genocide (and we've got the first two right here at home), and just count their fucking blessings that we've got it so good that people can make something so minor and asinine into such a big deal. Maybe if they want to make a difference, they should do some charity work, and spend their time on something that REALLY matters, instead of this idiotic, whiny, crybaby bullshit.
ReplyDeleteGod, I LOATHE people like this....we should send THEM to some Third World hellhole, and bring one of the starving citizens of that country here. Maybe those mouthy assholes need to learn a little something about REAL issues of importance?
My 12-week-old son is blind due to being born with a condition called Microphthalmia.
ReplyDeleteAnd I laughed at the skit. It was funny. End of story.
The voice was exaggerated, but the eye thing was dead on...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY6wjDdiUdU
smokeyourselfthin, i am totally with you. And even more, dont you think that the national fed. of the blind overreacting to this is exactly what makes blind people look bad? They appear to be non-humorist, PC people who cannot laugh at themselves- which is just really no the case in my opinion! So if anything, they are hurting the cause...
ReplyDeleteYou should totally find Gov. Paterson interview on The Colbert Report. He is a funny and smart guy. I thought SNLs sketch of him was pretty lame, but I don't think much of SNL. Only watched for Hugh Laurie, ffwrded through most of it but watched Weekend Updated for Amy. Amy is going on to better stuff!
ReplyDeleteOnce they start making exceptions, SNL may as well go off the air. No one can make you look ridiculous without your assistance.
ReplyDeleteI thought they were making fun of the governor, not his blindness. I think most people are smart enough to realize blind people don't usually wander around aimlessly while gabbing on their cell phones.
ReplyDeleteThat whole bit made me literally LOL.