Kate McKinnon once again nails Hillary Clinton in one of her over-the-top impersonations on Saturday Night Live. Hillary has frequently been a target for the political skits on Saturday Night Live, but this is nothing new for political candidates. Some of SNL’s most famous comedians have gotten their start by learning and copying the facial expressions, vocal nuances, and mannerisms of the front-runners in America’s elections. Saturday Night Live has managed to stay relevant by striving to keep up with whatever is currently trending and arguably seems to have its finger on the pulse of America. Right now, presidential candidates are fodder for everything from late-night comedy to serious discussions on news-talk radio and television.
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Enter Kate McKinnon , one of SNL’s most talked-about stars. Her take on Hillary has been one of the most recognized political impersonations on the show since Tina Fey’s Sarah Palin and Dana Carvey’s George Bush. Her admiration for the female presidential candidate hasn’t hurt. Last season, McKinnon had the opportunity to actually do a sketch with Mrs. Clinton. Clinton played a bartender, Val, who served drinks to Kate’s version of Hillary Clinton. Afterward, in an interview with Time , the actress sang the candidate’s praises for her likability and willingness to play along.
I thought that she did a great job. It was the greatest day of my life, I’ll say that. She was so incredibly warm and wonderful and the first time she read it through, (she) hit all of the comedic beats that we wanted her to. She was just really great in the sketch. That made it so much easier.”
In Saturday’s SNLskit, McKinnon captured the essence of Clinton’s efforts to rise above her opponent, Senator Bernie Sanders, (Vermont – I) and his connection with New Yorkers. Hillary spent the better part of last week seeking to remind voters that she’s the quintessential New Yorker due to her two-terms as U.S. Senator for New York from 2001 to 2009. She desperately needs a win over Sanders in the upcoming New York primaries, so she set out to prove just how well she fits in. Ms. McKinnon didn’t miss a detail and played it up well in her skit.
New Yorkers know that navigating their way across the city is a big part of who they are and how they, unfortunately, spend a great portion of their time. In the spirit of staying relevant, Mrs. Clinton made an effort to one-up Sanders after he mistakenly commented that he believed New Yorkers still use tokens to access the subway system. They haven’t used tokens since 2003. This past week, Hillary headed straight for the New York subway system, media in tow, to prove her worth as a genuine New Yorker. Mrs. Clinton hasn’t driven a car since the 1990’s, so her use of public transportation systems should certainly be a breeze. Unfortunately, she made multiple failed attempts to swipe her Metrocard . Once on the subway, some New Yorkers asked for photos while others barely seemed to notice her at all. One lady, surrounded by the media circus and Secret Service agents who weren’t budging, even missed her stop.
Enter Kate McKinnon and her energetic persona. Ready to depict Hillary Clinton and her struggle to maintain her New York state of mind, she brought her skills to the stage. Kate’s Hillary pretended to eat a street vendor hot dog and roasted nuts, all while wearing a New York Yankees ball cap she referred to as a Mets (pronounced “Meets”) hat. Kate also depicted Hillary referring to herself as an underdog in the race, a reference to her recent string of losses to Bernie Sanders on the campaign trail.
Kate McKinnon played up Hillary’s failed attempts at swiping her card, even following up with an attempt to climb over the turnstiles. When that too failed to work, she then turned to the camera and told New Yorkers she’d take a cab instead.
“I’ll take a cab instead. Cab is the best way to get around.”
Again, Kate McKinnon has brought Hillary Clinton’s campaign vibe to Saturday Night Live. Do you think she’s done a good job of capturing the candidate? Let us know in the comments below.
[Photo by Andrew Renneisen/Getty Images]