Throughout history in the United States, politics has always remained a hot, slightly controversial topic. It is not a surprise that people often disagree on how the government should be run, keeping the topic disputed as the years go by.

Regardless of the tension that politics causes in the United States, numerous sources use the American government as a form of comedy, the most well-known example of this being Saturday Night Live. Television programs that poke fun at topics such as these, using humor and media to spread awareness about diplomacy in a comedic manner, can play a key role in how the American people view politics and the people within it.

Saturday Night Live (SNL) is a show that has been running for over four decades now, never seeming to grow tired of displaying acts of political satire. Originally, the show was designed to appeal to an audience of 18-34 year-olds, making teens a good audience. Even considering that, despite the comedic aspects, they might learn a thing or two from it.

The show airs every Saturday on NBC, each week containing a musical guest appearance, with the addition of a special celebrity host some nights that essentially guides the show. Throughout the show's history, it has featured numerous well-renowned celebrities whose careers have jump-started from being on SNL, including comedians like Bill Murray and Tina Fey. Additionally, a variety of late-night hosts also got their start at SNL, such as Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers.

Saturday Night Live's main stage, by Steven Dahlman on Wikimedia Commons.

The Sarah Palin Reaction

Despite the show’s prominent list of stars, as previously mentioned, it is mainly known for its parodic depictions of American politics, among other skits. These political skits tend to feature prominent celebrities impersonating presidents, vice presidents, and other politicians; the skits are used to portray people in a certain exaggerated way for comedy.

Some of the most well-known politician impersonations in SNL include: Chevy Chase’s portrayal of Gerald Ford, the 38th president of the United States, and Tina Fey’s portrayal of Sarah Palin, the former governor of Alaska. Though the comedy these skits are intended to reflect, these skits can also have a real-life impact.

When Fey’s portrayal aired amidst the 2008 Presidential election, it immediately became one of the most iconic skits from the show, while simultaneously creating a further negative public viewpoint of Palin. During her vice presidential campaign with Republican nominee John McCain, the general consensus in the United States was that Palin was unprepared for the role and lacked intelligence. Her reputation was already derelict with nobody taking her seriously, and the SNL skit only furthered the public’s resentment against her. When asked about the skit, Palin displayed her resentment; she said, “I know that they portrayed me as an idiot, and I hated that.”

This is a beneficial example of political satire’s negative impact on the public eye. When shows like SNL portray well-known politicians in a certain way, whether false or not, it can twist the average person’s mindset and how they view such politicians. Even though Palin was already looked down upon, her alter ego’s appearance on SNL only worsened this perception of her.

Kamala 'Hopeful' Harris

With the election occurring recently, the show brought its A-game with its political sketches; the two most commonly seen depictions of politicians on the show as of late include portrayals of President-elect Donald Trump, played by James Austin Johnson, and Kamala Harris, played by Maya Rudolph. Less than three days before the election, Harris herself was featured on the show, alongside her SNL alter ego, Rudolph.

In the skit, the Democrat told Rudolph, “You got this.” This moment was quite notable for the show, especially for fans of the show, with Harris being the first vice president to make an appearance on the show in its impressive 48-year runtime.

Positive portrayals of politicians such as this, with Harris coming across as a hopeful, genuine, and enthusiastic person, can improve public perception. Even though it is known that Harris did not win the 2024 presidential election, that does not mean that the public image of her was disrupted negatively by this skit.

When people see others in an inspired mood, it lifts their mood and makes them feel alive and energized, suggesting that the positive portrayal of the fake and real Harris had a positive impact on viewers.

30 Rock Saturday Night Live, by Anthony Quintano on Wikimedia Commons.

The Power Satire Holds

Politics will persist to be an outstandingly controversial topic in the United States, and now it has been examined that comedy can be a useful medium for making the subject be talked about in a more light-hearted manner. Political satire, even when exaggerated for comedic effect, remains a powerful tool to raise awareness and focus on government in the United States, even if people disagree with its depictions of politics.

Since 1975, Saturday Night Live has followed a long and controversial path, serving as a blueprint for political satire in American media and continuing to shape and influence people's political opinions to this day.