On the eve of John McCain's speech to the RNC tonight, the New York Times has an article about how the Arizona senator has gone on the attack against the news media, who at one time he openly courted. For example, he threw a birthday party for himself at the 2004 RNC, which was attended by a number of members of the media elite.But I don't care about how McCain treated the news media then compared to what he does now (well, I do, but not for the purposes of this post). What I really miss is the McCain that could have fit in well on stage at the Upright Citizens Brigade theater.
When you see the uptight McCain on stage tonight, it's hard to believe that he's been a guest on The Daily Show more often than anyone else, and when he used to go on the show as a mere senator and not the Republican presidential nominee, he'd roll with Jon Stewart's punches as well as anyone. After the jump is video of an appearance in 2002, where he comes out and immediately has his own comment on the previous silly story.
If you recall, McCain also hosted Saturday Night Live that year, and I remember that he did a pretty good job, even when he was given characters to play. In fact, in one of the most ambitious SNL sketches I've ever seen (it's over nine minutes long, and has three sets!) he plays a fantastically-creepy husband who's invading Amy Poehler's personal space in this Lifetime movie parody:
Just like every other candidate, McCain appeared on TDS and SNL this past spring; on the latter, he did a good job of riding the wave of "he's old" jokes that were permeating at the time. But showing up on a show because all of the other candidates have -- Last Comic Standing? -- isn't the same as coming on a show and playing along, like he used to do.
There's a reason for this, of course: because of equal time regulations, any McCain appearance would have to be offered to the other candidates, as well. But that doesn't mean that when McCain does appear on the show, he has to be so tense. And, if he gets elected, he'll stay away from those shows just like any other sitting President has, citing the desire to not sully the dignity of the office. But, heck, just for once, I'd like to see a sitting President host SNL. Maybe McCain can be the first; he can reprise his fantastic "creepy husband" role.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-04-2008 @ 11:28AM
Cincinnati Mike said...
Respectfully, I think you have it exactly backwards. As long as Johnny Maverick was bucking his own party on campaign finance, interrogation, judges, immigration...in general, pissing off Bush...he was the media darling. The moment he became the party standard-bearer, the media dumped him cold.
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9-04-2008 @ 11:37AM
Joel Keller said...
To be honest, Mike, the post wasn't meant to be about the politics behind why his relationship with the media has changed. It was just to remember the funny McCain as opposed to the unfunny one we see now. I'd rather this not dissolve into another annoying and out-of-place political argument, as I've seen on other TVS posts.
9-04-2008 @ 12:23PM
Cincinnati Mike said...
I'm with you 100%. Carry on.
9-04-2008 @ 4:51PM
B said...
No, you're wrong. John McCain has decided to pander to the lowest base of his party, and that include knee-jerking "we hate the media because we never do anything wrong and anybody who questions us is part of the liberal elitist media establishment, also they're sexist now too"
9-04-2008 @ 12:28PM
const said...
Cincinnati Mike sums it up perfectly.
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9-04-2008 @ 12:37PM
DavidM said...
So Joel wants the man running for Commander in Chief during a time of war to be the funny guy on a sketch show 24/7 to a media that constantly denigrates him and insults members of his political party as racists and bigots.
You fail Joel, Cincinnati Mike is 100% correct.
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9-04-2008 @ 12:39PM
Frank said...
Well, that's not really fair, Joel...
I mean, you talk about how it's sad that McCain has changed and then cut off talk about why that might have been or the circumstances behind it.
I understand where you're coming from (I'm more than a little sick of the political bickering too...) but I think you kind of had to expect it with a post like this.
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9-04-2008 @ 12:59PM
Cincinnati Mike said...
Thanks, guys. I can sympathize with Joel...it takes about two replies for this to turn into a screaming match. Here's my question, tho. Do you throw out a story like this, and then tell people to chill, or do you just "not go there"? Do you go for the relevance thing, and cover the topic of the day, i.e. politics, or could the TV column be one place where you can go to escape that grind?
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9-04-2008 @ 1:12PM
Tammy said...
I'm with Joel, I like it when politicians can show their funny side from time to time. When they relax a little and let their hair down so to speak. I thought Huckabee was hilarious on SNL last season. There are alot of memorable moments from Nixon saying "Sock it to me" and Clinton playing saxaphone to W having fun at the annual Press Dinner a couple of years ago. Even when they are on talk shows like Letterman and Leno, politicians can deliver a couple of great lines to make you laugh.
I don't want to discuss political leanings either but a nice Top 5 or 10 of Politicians just being funny would be great.
I think once the election is over, we will see the lighter side of McCain again (whether he wins or not.)
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9-04-2008 @ 1:31PM
Allison Solow said...
I think Joel makes an excellent observation and one that should not be confused with any partisan politics. McCain has lost that relaxed sense of self that characterized his appearances on TV, including the light show - SNL - as well as Meet the Press or Face the Nation. He's looking stiff and tense and unlike the old McCain. If I were one of his advisors, I'd recommend that he get back to that guy, get off message, and give voters a chance to see the familiar McCain that seemed comfortable in his own skin. They should do it before tonight's big speech. Whether you're pro McCain or pro Obama, authenticity and projecting your true self is key to reaching voters.
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9-04-2008 @ 2:49PM
Cincinnati Mike said...
That is the dilemma, Allison. Which McCain is the real one? I can tell you that most hardcore Republicans NEVER liked the SNL/Daily Show media darling (other than his military stance.) We like this new guy better, but we're still not sure we trust him. If he goes back to Media McCain, he totally loses his base.
9-04-2008 @ 2:41PM
Patrick said...
Joel, you'll have to make allowances for us conservatives. We're constantly subjected to barage after barage of attacks from the "cool crowd" Jon Stewert groupies like Annie Wu here at TV Squad and quite frankly... we're sick of it.
If I want snarky politacal commentary about Republicans I'll got to Daily Kos or the Huffington Post.
I also want to thank Big Mike in Cincinnati as he came to my defense just the other day on another so called "TV and entertainment" posting.
Thank you Mike!
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9-04-2008 @ 2:54PM
Cincinnati Mike said...
No problem man. THAT one was a damn street fight, and I'll take my share of the blame. I'm sure that's what Joel is trying to avoid. I like to think this current thread is evidence that we can discuss like grownups. Peace, y'all.
9-04-2008 @ 4:19PM
rick cokely said...
lol. I wish I could post pictures, I would totally post that one of the pie chart showing the religions in America with Christianity looking like a big pac-man eating up the other religions with Christian saying "HELP WE'RE BEING OPPRESSED". Not that there is anything wrong with being Christian, but it sure is funny when the "Grand Ol' Party" is claiming that they are constantly being attacked. Just ROFLWAFFLES...
9-04-2008 @ 3:15PM
purpleslog said...
"When you see the uptight McCain on stage tonight..."
What makes you think he will be uptight?
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9-04-2008 @ 3:22PM
chadwick said...
McCain is more serious right now because these are serious times and we need serious people. The media back than digged him because he made digs on everyone else. Before the election he made a choice who to side with. However, even though I do not agree with all his policies I still respect him. That respect the media gave him than disappeared with he devoted himself to the Republican ticket. Now most but not all of the media trashes him because he picked the side that wasn't their favorite. It is media bias when you refer to him as uptight McCain. Maybe that's what we need.
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9-04-2008 @ 3:50PM
Max said...
I think many things about the man have changed since he became the nominee. To be in this position, I think he was forced to change a lot of his relaxed and moderate positions.
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9-04-2008 @ 4:46PM
bsgfan2003 said...
This is the presidency of the United States of America we are talking about. I do not want to see a candidate of either party dancing with a lamp shade on their head.
Uptight is just fine for me.
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9-04-2008 @ 7:04PM
mrkorb said...
Let's not forget the great bit with McCain singing in a dress while he tells Streisand to stick to her job and he'll stick to his. The McCain of 8 years ago is greatly missed.
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9-04-2008 @ 7:14PM
0megapart!cle said...
McCain is a conventional conservative Republican now, nothing more or nothing less. His appeal to independents and somewhat conservative Democrats will disintegrate as we get closer to the election and his actual judgment is called into question. Thank God he is being an asshole to the media, as that is the only thing that could get them to get off the bus, so to speak, and truly examine his policies and his many, many mistakes and miscalculations.
I have to say, I like the McCain shown in that interview, even if I don't agree with his policy. I can definitely see someone less liberally inclined voting for that McCain, even if they considered themselves far from a Conservative. The best thing he could do in this campaign is loosen up, and retake some of his past moderate stances. But we all know he is not going to do that. "Country First" is as shallow as it sounds, and he is a pale shadow of the "maverick" that he used to exemplify.
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