Sarah Palin Makes 'SNL' Debut

The NBC comedy show opened last night with a sketch featuring Tina Fey as Palin holding a news conference that has not happened in the real campaign.

"First off, I just want to say how excited I am to be in front of both the liberal elite media as well as the liberal regular media. I am looking forward to a portion of your questions," Fey's Palin character told a group of reporters.

At one point during the sketch, the camera cuts away to a shot of the real Palin watching Fey's impersonation along with 'SNL' executive producer Lorne Michaels.

"You know, Lorne, I just don't think it's a realistic depiction of the way my press conferences would have gone," Palin said.

She then tells Michaels she really wanted to do a sketch that she personally wrote about "30 Rock," the NBC show Fey currently stars in. He responds simply with: "Honestly not enough people know that show."

A short time later, "30 Rock" co-star Alec Baldwin shows up and speaks to Michaels and Palin as if he thinks the Alaska governor is actually Fey, pleading with Michaels not to let Fey appear onstage with Palin. "This is the most important election in our nation's history and you want her, our Tina, to go out there and stand with that horrible woman?" Baldwin says.

When Michaels reveals that it was actually Palin and introduces her to Baldwin, he acts embarrassed and tells her, "I see. Forgive me. I feel I must say this: You are way hotter in person."

Palin then briefly passes Fey before making her way to the press conference podium. "Thank you, thank you," the governor said to applause from the studio audience. "No, I'm not going to take any of your questions, but I do want to take this opportunity to say, 'Live from New York, it's Saturday Night.'

Palin reappears at another point during the show's Weekend Update segment during which cast member Amy Poehler performs a rap song that the Alaska governor said she decided not to perform herself because it "might be a bad idea for the campaign."

"My name is Sarah Palin, you all know me. Vice presy nominee of the GOP. Gonna need your vote in the next election," Poehler rapped, as actors dressed as Eskimos danced onstage along with a moose and a look-alike of Palin's husband, Todd.

"McCain got experience, McCain got style. But don't let him freak you out when he tries to smile -- cause that smile be creepy," Poehler rapped, as Palin looked on with her head bobbing to the music. "When I'm VP, all the leaders in the world 'gonna finally meet me," Poehler's rap continued.

Published 10/19/08 by