Al Franken on Political Humor at SNL: ‘Our Goal Was to Get Laughs From Everyone’

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1988 Election Night found me jetting back to New York from Boston, having just hosted Michael Dukakis’ “victory” celebration. Gazing at the twinkling lights of a New England town below, I pondered with longing over our democracy’s grandeur. Although my chosen candidate didn’t emerge victorious, our democratic system continued to be admired by many across the globe.

An upset Jon Lovitz exclaimed sorrowfully as he was the sole passenger on the plane. Hearing this, I decided to offer comfort. However, before I could do so, Jon revealed the source of his deep despair. ‘It’s because now Dana will be the president!’

Jon previously portrayed Dukakis on SNL, which led us to travel there to amuse the Dukakis campaign team. From the outset of the night, it was evident that things weren’t looking good for the governor. My initial joke was, “It seems like it might be a close race, or…we could win by a landslide!!!” By the time Jon stepped up as Dukakis, Bush had already been announced as the winner. However, despite the disappointing result, Jon’s portrayal managed to elicit laughter from the disheartened audience.

Nonetheless, Jon maintained a gloomy demeanor during the return journey. Over the course of Saturday Night Live’s existence, assuming the role of the president has always resulted in significant screen time. Recall Chevy Chase as Gerald Ford, Dan Aykroyd as Jimmy Carter, Phil Hartman as Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, as well as Will Ferrell portraying George W. Bush.

For most of its existence, Saturday Night Live (SNL) has held the unique advantage of being the only live sketch comedy program capable of making timely comments about ongoing events. Unlike late-night shows that joke about politics, SNL stands out due to its reliance on skits featuring sets, costumes, and occasional special effects. As a live broadcast, it means that if Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders spoke about teaching schoolchildren masturbation on Thursday, SNL would have Ellen Cleghorne portraying Elders explaining her stance on live television just two days later.

As a veteran comedy writer who spent 15 seasons at Saturday Night Live spanning three decades, collaborating extensively with esteemed writer and producer Jim Downey on hundreds of sketches, I’ve learned a valuable lesson in politics-themed humor: cater to the knowledgeable while avoiding alienating the uninitiated. In essence, we aimed to entertain everyone by appreciating those who delve into politics and not penalizing those who don’t.

Approximately three weeks before the election, Jim and I penned a satirical sketch depicting a mock debate between Bush and Dukakis. Some of the humor was broad and universally appealing: Jon’s portrayal of a shorter Dukakis necessitating an electric lift to reach a suitable height behind the podium, only to grind to a halt when it reached too high, then lowering him back down again, causing another abrupt stop. Other jokes were more nuanced for those in the know: Bush’s “thousand points of light” and his vague gesture towards creating “a kinder, gentler nation” – a touching idea, but with no concrete policy backing it up.

In recounting the moment that left me in stitches, it all started with a gradual escalation, drawing even those viewers less familiar into the fold. Panelist Kevin Nealon, portraying Sam Donaldson, pressed Dana Carvey’s Bush character on his plans to tackle pressing issues like hunger and homelessness. After offering vague promises, Carvey’s Bush declared he had run out of time. However, Jan Hooks as moderator Diane Sawyer playfully retorted with a sly grin: “Mr. Vice President, you still have a minute twenty.” A back-and-forth ensued, with Carvey’s Bush adamantly claiming he was out of time and Hooks’ Sawyer reassuring him otherwise. In the end, Carvey’s Bush provided an empty summary: “On track. Stay the course. A thousand points of light. Stay the course.” When asked for a response, Lovitz’s Dukakis exclaimed in disbelief: “I can’t believe I’m losing to this guy!” The crowd erupted with uproarious laughter and applause.

The drawing remained impartial throughout, and that was always our intention. Our aim was simply to provide insightful and astute political commentary based on careful observation, not to take sides. For a long time, our show steered clear of advocacy. However, it wasn’t until Donald Trump became president that we began delving into more overt forms of commentary.

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2025-02-12 16:09