Legal Commentary

What I think of the "SNL" spoof of Hillary's "3 a.m." ad.

By Ann Althouse

In typical "SNL" fashion, it goes on way too long ? and that's especially glaring when you're spoofing an ad ? because it's inherent in the nature of an ad to be short. You're not spoofing an infomercial. But it's mildly amusing if you think the topic is unfair commercials, and it's substantially intriguing if you think the issue is whether "SNL" is in the tank for Hillary.

Think about it. We're seeing her long, completely unfair ad ? and, yes, they've told us to think about how unfair it is. But the ad really does push us to think that Hillary Clinton has a lot of experience and Barack Obama is a neophyte. The fact that we know it's an exaggeration doesn't prevent it from stimulating our anxieties about the underlying truths. And if we're disposed to look at a comedy sketch and find it funny, then our minds slip into the place where we perceive the thing that is being exaggerated. Our defenses are down. Don't you love Amy Poehler? In the tank!

Full post as published by Althouse on March 09, 2008 (boomark / email).