By Juliana Stumpp
Co-A&E Editor
It wouldn’t be an election year without the actors on “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) poking a little fun at Mitt Romney and Barack Obama as well as their corresponding vice presidents. In previous years, comedians have made some legendary skits that shined some light on the seriousness and heaviness that comes with the election.
10. “Shepherd Smith-Mitt Romney Cold Open”
Done in the early stages of Romney’s campaign, this skit featured the conservative Romney family, the provocative Kid Rock who supported the candidate, and a creepy interviewer. The Romney boys explained to America how they relate to them by liking similar things such as cinema and “do-wop.”
9. “Halloween Party”
The year before Obama took office, he was still a senator but was known as the head Democratic candidate and had a surprise appearance on SNL. The skit was a Halloween party hosted by the Clintons. Amy Poehler portrayed Hilary Clinton when she was hoping to run for president.
8. “Mitt Romney Ads”
This was a mock commercial, approved by Obama, about Romney closing down a steel plant and interviewing former workers about their experiences with the Republican candidate. Stories included Romney not being considerate in a hospital to him purposely laying off job after job.
7. “Bill and Saddam Cold Open”
President Clinton called up Saddam Hussein to try and start a war to get the publicity away from the affair between him and Lewinsky (his mistress). The three then entered a three-way call gossiping and plotting like teenagers.
6. “Sarah Palin Rap”
During Weekend Update, the actual Governor Sarah Palin made an appearance but declined to perform her piece. Amy Poehler, then Weekend Update anchor, performed instead. The skit featured Eskimos, Palin’s husband and Palin shooting a moose.
5. “Cosby Obama”
Michelle Obama, played by SNL veteran Maya Rudolph, presented a new show about the Obama family, a knock off of “The Cosby Show.”. The family included Michelle, Barack, Sasha, Malia Obama, Joe Biden and Secret Service Agent Conners in the show titled “The Obama Show.”
4. “Dad and Son Go Hunting”
In this sketch, Dana Carvey played the forty-first president George H. W. Bush and his son George W. Bush who spent some father-son time. As father Bush attempted to have a serious conversation about his son being president, George W. was focused on shooting a deer.
3. “Palin/Clinton Open”
This is one of the skits that put Tina Fey (as Governor Sarah Palin) on the map as an impersonator with outstanding one liners such as, “I can see Russia from my house.” Along side her was Poehler, as Hilary Clinton, visibly annoyed at Palin’s casual attitude about politics.
2. “Obama Visits Biden”
When Will Ferrell came back to host the SNL show, he reprised his famous impersonation of former President George W. Bush as Joe Biden’s “imaginary friend” who had been hiding in the White House since his term ended.
1. “Couric/Palin Open”
Sarah Palin, played by Tina Fey, was interviewed by journalist Katie Couric, played by Amy Poehler. Couric gave Palin a “second chance” to explain her foreign policy but she comes off as unqualified and senseless.