speaking of SNL, anyone else think it's about time they hired a Black actor to play Obama

[BklynChick]

We're gonna have 4 years of his presidency, and maybe longer. I don't like the guy who plays him, and it should be someone Black.

Edited to fix hours to years. Sorry!

[skooooo]

1. ...

:popcorn:

[Whalestoe]

2. I don't care if he's black or not.

That guy just does a really, really, really shitty impression.

[Matariki]

16. Did you see this bit - it was hysterically funny. Really funny.

The guy is getting better at doing Obama, but 'McCain's' lines - OMG

http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/update-thursday-final-debate/768721

[AirmensMom]

3. You mean 4 years, right? n/t

[Xipe Totec]

This is going to be good

:popcorn:

[Left Is Write]

4. Well, I certainly hope we have more than four HOURS of his presidency.

[Curtland1015]

5. You mean "years"? Otherwise, I don't really have a problem with the guy doing the impression...

...not being black. But I do wish he was BETTER at the impression.

[BklynChick]

7. sorry, fixed it, must have hours on the brain

[Teaser]

6. Yes, also MacBeth should be Scottish

I'm sick of the damn Sassanach actors playing him.

[LisaL]

28. And the guy who plays McCain should actually be in his

seventies.

[Botany]

8. The guy who does Obama is great

you see that is why it is called acting ......

also SNL almost never goes for perfect look alikes.

[skooooo]

10. I like him too!

He's pretty funny.

[TexasObserver]

9. It's not the race. It's the fact that Fred Armisen is so terrible as Obama.

You can name on one hand the funny skits that have featured Fred Armisen. The guy is not funny, and he's terrible in that pathetic impersonation he tries of Obama.

But, yeah, a black Obama would be nice on SNL. Armisen is hideous as Obama. He gets none of it right.

[Kahuna]

56. He does a great Prince though.

:rofl:

[TexasObserver]

66. Prince, the judge in the Anna Nicole Smith case, the guy with Ben Affleck

That's THREE skits he's been funny. Only the Prince skits were repeated, and Mya Rudolph helped carry them.

He's just not funny.

[pnwmom]

11. Isn't it about time they hired a black comedian at all?

[eShirl]

18. um

I think Kenan Thompson is black

[pnwmom]

20. Oops. I guess that shows that SNL had disappeared from my TV screen for

some time -- before Tina Fey's Sarah Palin showed up.

[fujiyama]

46. Hell isn't it about time they hired a FUNNY comedian?

Tina Fey is single handedly carrying the show - and she isn't even a member!

[kerry-is-my-prez]

54. yep that's what's so dumb. Ironically, they've had a bunch of them in other seasons.

n/t

[krkaufman]

61. I must be watching an episode from another season,

... from back when Kenan Thompson was on the show.

[JI7]

12. he doesn't have to be black, he just needs to be good, and this guy SUCKS

[hlthe2b]

21. Agree... Darryl Hammond did a terrific Jesse Jackson Thursday

And the current guy is improving, but is just not likely to ever be as on target as Tina Feye is with Palin or Hammond with any number of characters.

[sunnybrook]

50. Daryl Hammond is unusually talented

On par with Dana Carvey, as far as impressions go. Comedians that REALLY do good impressions on SNL are few and far between. But they need someone equally great as Hammond is as McCain. It would be SO improved. The guy on the internet that did Obama in his room is superior to this guy. I also would like him to resemble Obama a little more.

[JI7]

13. on DU Videos there was a video of a guy who did a very good Obama

even if the guy doesn't have much comedic talent elsewhere i think it would be worth it to hire him even just to do Obama.

[JimGinPA]

14. It Would Be Nice If He Smiled Once In Awhile...

Obama sure does.

[eShirl]

22. I know, he looks constipated and depressed

definitely not Obama-like

[eShirl]

15. I don't care what race he is, as long as he is good at it

the current guy isn't nearly as good at portraying Obama as I would like

[blogslut]

17. edited

I suppose there would be actors who could do a better impression and it's no secret that there's always been a lack of representation when it comes to black cast members on SNL. Just the same, Fred Armisen is of mixed race and it's not like Kenan would do any better.

[quantass]

19. Shoe polish is good enough for me, as long as the actor is good..and the present guy is not.

[Az_lefty]

23. Yes...Kris Rock. All he has to do is tone it down a bit.

[LisaL]

27. Except he doesn't much resemble Obama.

[Left Is Write]

36. Or sound like him.

[sad sally]

52. Have you seen Michael Keegan Kee (sp?) on Mad TV?

He does a good impression - both looks and voice. And Bobby Lee does a funny McCain.

[quantass]

24. Hey Black, White, Alien doesnt matter. Just actually do a decent job. Everyone sucks so far

[LisaL]

25. Obama is bi-racial.

[AlinPA]

32. Good point.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

41. As someone who is bi-racial, THANK YOU for pointing this out.

[TahitiNut]

26. Well, then perhaps the actor should be biracial? Half black and half white?

:eyes:

[ejbr]

53. Makes the most sense n/t

[bridgit]

29. I wouldn't think so, Darrel Hammond's been doing Jesse Jackson for years

Fred Armisen is a funny dude

[LisaL]

30. Yea, just as soon as they hire 72 year old man to play McCain.

Dah.

[AlinPA]

31. No, he does a good job and is getting better. I like the way he ends sentences, a bit like Obama.

[Kahuna]

33. Race doesn't matter. I'd just like someone who can handle O's

cadence better.

[WeDidIt]

34. They should hire Alphacat

He's got Barack Obama down:

OBAMA PREPARES FOR DEBATE (everything he can't say)
(YouTube Video)>

[Starbucks Anarchist]

35. They should hire Christopher Duncan (VIDEO):

He plays Obama on the Tonight Show sometimes and does a really good impression:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8N_VAdYOgU

(Might be too crude for some, but his Donald Duck and Louis Farrakhan impressions are also hilarious.)

:rofl:

[MJkcj]

37. I like him

I don't think they need a black actor. I like this guy. He would be better if he had the charisma that Obama does..

[MJkcj]

38. how about will smith?

He is cute like Obama.

[LisaL]

39. And a big movie star who is not likely to do a TV show.

Maybe he will play Obama in a movie.

[kimsterdemster]

45. yes! n/t

[jesus_of_suburbia]

40. Doesn't bother me in the least. Obama is half white too, you have to remember.

I'm mixed race myself.


When a friend asks me what race I am, I tell them I am mixed.


When a stranger who doesn't know me well asks me, I say I am human, just like you.

[nsd]

42. Nah, the guy they have is okay. He's getting better, though he's not there yet.

Obama is half-white, after all. Besides which, the look doesn't matter that much -- it's a parody. Years ago, Chevy Chase played Gerald Ford, even though they don't look anything alike.

[slampoet]

43. Fred does a terrible Obama. So yes. But they need to hire more non-ivy league graduates in general.

The lack of Black people on SNL is Directly related to the lack of Blacks at the Harvard Lampoon.

[kimsterdemster]

44. Will Smith? n/t

[Phx_Dem]

47. They should hire that guy on You Tube that did the

impecible immitation of Barack preparing for the debate.

[MJkcj]

49. yes, the You Tube guy!

He was so funny!

[ejbr]

48. Biracial or black? n/t

[treestar]

51. Don't watch it any longer. No black not ready for prime time players now?

Eddie Murphy or Garrett Morris? :rofl:

They always have someone who does the President. Chevy Chase did not look the least like Gerald Ford, but he did it. Then there was Dan Akroyd doing Jimmy Carter. After that, I kinda fell out of the SNL viewing audience.

[Left Is Write]

65. Kenan Thompson is a cast member, but he's not right for the part of Obama.

I was curious about the history of black performers on SNL, so I did a little checking. I can't find any black performers listed in the cast for the years 1986-1989, and the other years there were only one or two black performers.

[EffieBlack]

55. It would be nice if SNL had more black actors PERIOD

[notaboutus]

57. Obama is bi-racial

He is half white. I just don't like the actor they use and the fact that they portray him as simple and goofy when he is highly intelligent and articulate. I am not impressed by SNL.

[LiberalHeart]

58. SNL is an equal opportunity employer.

[krkaufman]

59. Or how about just finding someone how can do a decent impression ...

... or maybe the writers could maybe work 5% harder and come up with a relevant satirical approach to Obama, rather than the made-up nonsense they've done so far.

[Occam Bandage]

60. Isn't it about time they hired a funny actor to play Obama?

[krkaufman]

62. Thinking about it, SNL doesn't have a cast member doing Palin, either.

They're pulling-in former cast member Tina Fey, who's been off the show for a season or two, since starting her own show.

[BlooInBloo]

63. They need the youtube guy, of course.

[AZBlue]

64. You mean 8 years, right?

[johnlucas]

67. The guy from Mad TV is better

Keegan-Michael Key from MadTV is a MUCH better Obama. Everybody always talks about SNL but MadTV's been doing some excellent work on the political parodies. NOBODY trumps Tina Fey's Sarah Palin but SNL's Obama is not quite right and I ain't just talking about the lacking amount of makeup they use to make him darker. He doesn't sound so much like Obama except for key moments and just doesn't have the feel of the guy. While Keegan resembles him, even has the height, not to mention the voice and mannerisms of Obama.

That's how I see it.

Edit: Just saw Christopher B. Duncan's Obama and hands down that is the best! God! Hahahahaha! But Keegan is an excellent #2 choice at least compared to Armisen.
Christopher B. Duncan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8N_VAdYOgU

Keegan-Michael Key
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wSelz4Nh4g

Second Edit: Comedian J.A. is tied at #1! Funny guys!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcYQkI478PI
John Lucas