Here are some things that are long overdue:
- A restaurant that lets you call in a breakfast order the night before and then delivers it in the morning at a specified time so it serves as both a meal and a wake-up call.
- Jay Pharoah replacing Fred Armisen in the role of Barack Obama on Saturday Night Live.
- A rapper who goes by the name Gats B titling his debut album ‘The Great Gats B.’
Luckily, beginning this Saturday, at least one of those things can get crossed off. Saturday Night Live Grand Poobah Lorne Michaels announced in an interview with the New York Times yesterday that Pharoah will be taking over the role of the president for the upcoming season.
Fred Armisen has been the show’s President Obama since 2008, but Mr. Michaels said he would be relying on Jay Pharoah, who joined the cast in 2010.
“Jay has been doing Obama in his act this summer, and Jay is coming into his own,” Mr. Michaels said. “I just thought it might be time to shake it up.”
Mr. Armisen will still have an enormous amount to do, Mr. Michaels said, describing that 10-year player as “the backbone of the show now.” [NY Times]
I get that you don’t want to bring in a brand new cast member and throw him to the wolves right away by having him portray the most powerful person in the world, but, yeah, the trigger probably should have been pulled on this one a while ago. Even if it’s not a perfect solution, there was always something that made my skin crawl a little about a high-profile, influential comedy show having a white guy put on makeup and pretend to be the country’s first black president, especially when there was a black dude who also did the impression standing just off-camera. I know the show has a bit of a history with playing fast and loose with political impressions (see, Dan Aykroyd refusing to shave his mustache while playing Jimmy Carter), but this one just feels right, and I’m glad it’s finally settled.
NOTE: I’m serious about that breakfast delivery thing btw.
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“Jay has been doing Obama in his act this summer”
This summer? He makes it sound like a new thing. Did they conduct this interview in 2008?
Since the President is half white and half black, I feel like it’s equally fair for either a white OR black cast member to play him.
If there is a half white half black cast member, they should obviously have dibs, but otherwise it’s only equitable to allow it to go either way.
Are you suggesting Jay Pharoah where white face?
To be the most fair, shouldn’t a half Kenyan, half white Hawaiian person play him?
To be fair and balanced, shouldn’t a Muslim guy play him?
That’s half white Kansan. I think an Indonesian should play him.
Here is a visual aid to properly express my feelings about this glorious news.
I’m excited for the guy, but that news really pales (aw, that’s a shit pun, isn’t it?) in comparison to how brilliant the breakfast delivery service idea is…
I’m so tired of chewing my own food.
Danger, I know you never critique actors’s performances in your posts, but could you tell me who do think does the better impersonation? Is this only about skin color? Fred Armisen is mediocre. Is Jay Pharoah better?
Pharoah is good. I saw his comedy show a couple weeks back and his impressions are damn funny when you’re 3 drinks deep. So, drink before you watch SNL and it will be funnier. I don’t feel like I should have to tell people that but there it is.
Armisen’s Obama is awful. Pharoah’s is very good.
I think his impression is way better than Armisen’s from what I’ve seen, but I’ve only seen a handful of clips online. I don’t know how it will play out. My point is more that I’m glad they’re giving him a shot.
We could open a frozen yogurt cafe that delivers breakfast and call it “Wake Me Up Before You Froyo”.
Is anyone else terrified by this line: “Mr. Armisen will still have an enormous amount to do, Mr. Michaels said, describing that 10-year player as “the backbone of the show now.””
So it’s going to be like Portlandia: Live From New York?
Yes, yes I am. He’s been the worst non-Kenan Thompson member of the cast for a while.
Fred Armisen makes my skin crawl too and it has nothing to do with blackface. Hate that smug, unfunny turd cutter.
from Pajiba. worth a watch:
[www.youtube.com]
Like all of Jay’s impressions, they are good, not funny. Don’t get so psyched about this, you’re gonna get let down.