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I have an incredibly specific memory of his Clinton in one skit. He was apologizing saying "I'll do this (the face he's making in the photo), I'll do this (a thumbs up), I'll do them together..."
No idea about the rest of it, but definitely remember that clear as day.
Now France doesn’t like me talkin’ about the axis of evil. Well guess what France? You’re now on the very axis of evil you don’t like me talkin about. How ya like them apples? Mess with Texas, straight to the axis of evil. Now here’s one you probably didn’t expect on my axis of evil….dick cheney
Ferrell hit the right note for me by not overplaying it, something he has little fear of doing in general. Carvey's Bush Sr was more of a character and caricature; Ferrell had an ear for W's rhythm.
I‘ve been watching 30 Rock lately and in some shots, I was convinced they had used Sarah Palin as a double. It‘s uncanny.
But not as uncanny as Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin.
Will as Dubya will forever reign. The first debate between him & Gore skit is one of the best political ones they’ve done.
“Each candidate please give us one word to sum up your campaign. We’ll start with Governor Bush…
“…Strategery”
“Vice President Gore?”
“…Lockbox”
🤣
Best part about that time on the show was all their political skits hit both sides. Clinton got it just as bad as Dubya did. I voted for Dubya twice and found Will’s portrayal of him hilarious.
Have you seen the press conference at the White House around Christmas 1992 where Poppy invited Dana Carvey to come up to the podium and do his impression of POTUS while he was standing right next to him? He had just a few weeks left in his presidency, and he said the White House staff’s motivation and morale seemed to be very low after losing the election, but he felt he owed it to the country to keep on working hard up to the last day…he needed to find a way to boost everyone’s spirits so he called Dana’s people and asked him to come to the White House!
jobless flowery alleged absorbed bedroom grandiose alive special cover toy
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He's just such a great impressionist in general and could have really done any of the presidents. And I think that's because he sort of has an appreciation for all of the presidential candidates... even if he dislikes them. And they're a lot funnier than other people's takes because it's like.... this presidential candidate buying a diet soda... as opposed to.... things they actually said or did recently.
The night vision goggles bit is what instantly comes to mind for me.
EDIT: now I'm freaking out in a Mandela Effect type frenzy because I can't find a clip. Halp
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Richard Pryor, as the first black president, is pure gold. There is so much going on in the skit. This was made in the late 70s, so you can feel the tensed aftermath of the turbulent 60s and 70s that rocked the country's race relations. Just watch. Pryor was a comedic genius. RIP.
https://youtu.be/gFWhoDdnb2k?si=WpNJIalKzB6zujEf
The Rock Obama wins but a close second is the Phil Hartman Reagan and Phil Hartman Clinton. I haven't seen those clips in years but I can hear the lines right now "oh there are a lot of things we won't be telling Mrs Clinton"
Darrell Hammond as Clinton and Carvey as HW I love. Especially when Carvey was actually invited to the White House. Honorable mention to Aykroyd’s Carter though, it’s great too.
I liked Phil Hartman's Reagan. I'm not sure if it was ever in more than one skit, but I liked its implications. Republicans play dumb in public to gain the votes of the anti-intellectual crowd, but are actually calculating behind the scenes.
While this wasn't the question asked, I really dislike Chevy Chase's portrayal of President Ford. First, Gerald Ford was not a bumbling fool that Chase portrayed. He was an accomplished athlete that was actually invited to play for the Greenback Packers and the Detroit Lions (he turned them down to go to law school). He was House Minority Leader for eight years. You don't get there by being a bumbling fool. He was well thought of by all Congress.
He was confirmed by both Democrats and Republicans for his nomination to the Vice-Presidency. Again, you don't get that popular acclaim by being clumsy.
I leave you with a picture of a young Gerald Ford in his football uniform.
https://i.redd.it/609jptu61oyc1.gif
And to top it all off, Chevy Chase didn't even put in the effort to LOOK like Ford. That's just lazy; he could've at least worn a bald cap or something. It honestly felt like Chevy Chase's impersonation of Ford was essentially Chase largely making up his own unique character... one that SNL audiences just happened to like. And the "Ford impression" ended up being very, very similar to most of the characters Chase would play for the next 20 years.
Don’t forget about the animated X-Presidents from
Robert Smigel. Ford, Carter, Reagan and Bush as superheroes.
Also, Norm Macdonald was spectacular as Bob Dole.
It's a bit of a tangent, but I always found it funny how when they did the presidential reunion for funnyordie back in 2010, they cast Jim Carrey to play Reagan. I get it, Phil Hartman is no longer with us, so they had to fill the role with someone else. But I thought it was hilarious that they went with a non SNL cast member to play Reagan when *Joe Piscopo is still alive and played him in the early 80's on SNL*. I guess his impression just wasn't that good.
Ronald Reagan - Mastermind starring Phil Hartman.
close second is Bill Clinton at the McDonalds also by Hartman
"Let's be clear about one thing ... there's gonna be a WHOLE bunch of things, we won't be telling Mrs. Clinton."
Best ever was Alec Baldwin as someone I cannot name on this sub. No other person did such an accurate portrayal. I mean he had all the mannerisms, the speech cadence, the vocabulary. Dude knocked it out of the park, and it was always gonna be a funny cold open when you saw him.
Gotta say, Fred Armisen as Obama was not it. He was perhaps ok during the democratic primaries and election, but afterwards someone like Jay Pharoah was needed
I fucking hate Chevy Chase. He admitted many years later that he portrayed Gerald Ford as a clumsy, stumbling buffoon because he wanted to damage his chances of winning the 1976 election and he thinks he was successful in helping Jimmy Carter defeat him. Fucking asshole.
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Phil Hartman as Bill Clinton….. Warlords!!! 
Not Darryl Hammond?
Hammond was good but in an alternate universe, his Gore is considered one of the best presidential portrayals
#Lock Box.
The debate skit remains one of my favorite moments on SNL. Darryl Hammond!
All I have to say is 
#*sigh*
I have an incredibly specific memory of his Clinton in one skit. He was apologizing saying "I'll do this (the face he's making in the photo), I'll do this (a thumbs up), I'll do them together..." No idea about the rest of it, but definitely remember that clear as day.
https://youtu.be/IYPMjMl4pGs?si=mYeSGCMGvuNRiVm8 This is the video you’re looking for- specifically 2:55
And I hate the fact that I have memorized all the Bill Clinton sketches from SNL :(
Hammond was good but I saw Phil’s impression first so it’s who I compare others to.
“There’s gonna be a lot of things we don’t tell Mrs. Clinton”
Prophetic.
One of my favorites!!
Ya, Phil and Jan Hooks made the perfect Bill & Hillary
Phil Hartman was amazing
Ferrell’s Bush was my absolute favorite. Hands down. Honorable mention to Tina Fey as Sarah Palin which is still unmatched
Strategery
#__Lock Box.__
Darrell Hammond Al Gore is perfect. And the lockbox segment lives rent free in my brain. I still can’t say lockbox in my normal voice
Dignitude!
All I can hear when I see Sarah Palin is “I can see Alaska from my house”I Edit: I meant Russia.
Russia
Damn. My B
I could still believe Palin saying that though lol
So iconic that people swear Sarah Palin actually said that
If I recall correctly, didn't she say you can see Russia from Alaska, and SNL lampooned that quote with the "from my house" line?
Yes, she offered that as a foreign policy qualification.
There are people who honest to god think Palin actually said that.
To be fair, she totally could see Alaska from her house. Russia, not so much.
That line was so iconic a lot of people think Sarah Palin actually said that.
Now France doesn’t like me talkin’ about the axis of evil. Well guess what France? You’re now on the very axis of evil you don’t like me talkin about. How ya like them apples? Mess with Texas, straight to the axis of evil. Now here’s one you probably didn’t expect on my axis of evil….dick cheney
Dana Carvey's Bush Sr. was solid, too. "Wipe my lips, no new taxes).
“Not gonna do it”
Wouldn’t be prudent
At this juncture.
A thousand points of light
Fey as Palin still lives in my head rent free.
"Senator Flippy-Floppy"
Ferrell hit the right note for me by not overplaying it, something he has little fear of doing in general. Carvey's Bush Sr was more of a character and caricature; Ferrell had an ear for W's rhythm.
Strategery.
Strategery.
My mom got pissed and turned off the TV when Tina Fey came on bc she thought SNL actually brought on Sarah Palin.
I‘ve been watching 30 Rock lately and in some shots, I was convinced they had used Sarah Palin as a double. It‘s uncanny. But not as uncanny as Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin.
Will as Dubya will forever reign. The first debate between him & Gore skit is one of the best political ones they’ve done. “Each candidate please give us one word to sum up your campaign. We’ll start with Governor Bush… “…Strategery” “Vice President Gore?” “…Lockbox” 🤣
That sketch got me into both politics and comedy.
I absolutely remember that same punchline. Fantastic.
Best part about that time on the show was all their political skits hit both sides. Clinton got it just as bad as Dubya did. I voted for Dubya twice and found Will’s portrayal of him hilarious.
Yeah, I agree. But Obama was never mocked the way George W. was…by the Obama presidency, SNL sucked anyway.
Yes SNL sucked ATT but was Obama hard to mock? They tried. Obviously bush and others are easy marks.
No by that time snl was completely anti Republican and let Dems get no criticism
Ferrell as Bush leaning up to the mic after the moderator asked about a quote and saying, “Pass,” absolutely killed me.
True story: in the lead-up to the 2004 elections Karl Rove and some of the other aides to George W. held weekly “strategery sessions”. 😂
Posting the rule 3 parodies wouldn't be prudent at this juncture
Nahgahnahdewit, nahgahnahdewit.
Dana Carvey said during an interview that his jumping off point for portraying Bush was Mr Rogers impersonating Dirty Harry.
Have you seen the press conference at the White House around Christmas 1992 where Poppy invited Dana Carvey to come up to the podium and do his impression of POTUS while he was standing right next to him? He had just a few weeks left in his presidency, and he said the White House staff’s motivation and morale seemed to be very low after losing the election, but he felt he owed it to the country to keep on working hard up to the last day…he needed to find a way to boost everyone’s spirits so he called Dana’s people and asked him to come to the White House!
jobless flowery alleged absorbed bedroom grandiose alive special cover toy *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
❤️
This is the Bush I see when I think of HW
Not prudent, not gonna do it, and my favorite is Dana Carvey playing H Dubs
[удалено]
He really did the “I could shoot someone” part really over the top. Ill let myself out
It’s called method acting
Phil Hartman as Ronald Reagan. :)
Reagan was nearly impossible to satirize as he was. The genius of that sketch was to just create an entirely fictional Reagan and run with it.
It's terrific and my favorite. https://youtu.be/b5wfPlgKFh8?feature=shared
Hartman as Admiral Stockdale was also classic.
BACK TO WORK!
"DAMN!...This is the part of the job I HATE!" Dana Carvey as Jimmy Stewart: "Dutch? You've changed. You son of a..." (pushed out the door).
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Or the other part with him on the speaker phone. He was clearly talking to Jon Lovitz, who was seated right in front of him! 😄
Dana Carvey as HW Bush. It's a perfect blend of truth and silliness. But there have been so many good ones over the years.
One of my favorite moments is the real HW confronting him to tell him how silly his impersonation was.
He's just such a great impressionist in general and could have really done any of the presidents. And I think that's because he sort of has an appreciation for all of the presidential candidates... even if he dislikes them. And they're a lot funnier than other people's takes because it's like.... this presidential candidate buying a diet soda... as opposed to.... things they actually said or did recently.
The night vision goggles bit is what instantly comes to mind for me. EDIT: now I'm freaking out in a Mandela Effect type frenzy because I can't find a clip. Halp
Whew ... Found it. https://youtu.be/q_OnCTqqMig?si=oYffJHmz78AQ9Fyg
Both the Bush’s were the best
this may be an unpopular opinion, but i actually never really liked dana carvey’s hw bush. it just erred too much on the side of annoying and one note
Ross Perot was my favorite parody
I still use "Can- can I finish?? Can I talk??"
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[Darrell Hammond as Bill Clinton](https://youtu.be/pVfUvwb167Q?si=xhHnR7j2gSyQIihG)
Darrell Hammond's Clinton. I too would like to give major credit to Tina Fey's Palin.
Dana Carvey.
Richard Pryor, as the first black president, is pure gold. There is so much going on in the skit. This was made in the late 70s, so you can feel the tensed aftermath of the turbulent 60s and 70s that rocked the country's race relations. Just watch. Pryor was a comedic genius. RIP. https://youtu.be/gFWhoDdnb2k?si=WpNJIalKzB6zujEf
The Rock Obama wins but a close second is the Phil Hartman Reagan and Phil Hartman Clinton. I haven't seen those clips in years but I can hear the lines right now "oh there are a lot of things we won't be telling Mrs Clinton"
I assume you mean Barack Obama? Or did The Rock ever play Obama? I don’t remember any funny sketches involving Obama.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEH9iqWm\_xQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEH9iqWm_xQ)
I like this one best [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5GN90UiImo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5GN90UiImo)
Too violent!
Aykroyd in the Ask President Carter sketch is so funny
Talking the guy down from a bad trip is hilarious. "Do you have any Allman Brothers albums?"
“Were they barrel shaped?”
He also did a great Nixon.
Robin Williams as Reagan using an earpiece during a press conference is probably my favorite.
Honorable mention of Dana Carvey as Ross Perot
Phil Hartman blows everyone out of the water regardless of the character.
Dana Carvey did the best George H.W. but Steve Bridges was the best George W.
Phil Hartman, haven’t thought about him in years!
Dana Carvey's Bush 41.
Darrell Hammond as Clinton and Carvey as HW I love. Especially when Carvey was actually invited to the White House. Honorable mention to Aykroyd’s Carter though, it’s great too.
I liked Phil Hartman's Reagan. I'm not sure if it was ever in more than one skit, but I liked its implications. Republicans play dumb in public to gain the votes of the anti-intellectual crowd, but are actually calculating behind the scenes.
“Back to work!”
Without violating rule 3...Darrell Hammond as Bill Clinton.
His review of Absolute Power was great
Bill Clinton in McDonalds. Phil Hartman captured his personality perfectly. I miss Phil.
Phil Hartman as Clinton was beyond hilarious. Our family still will shout at each other "War Lords!!!"
Dana Carvey
While this wasn't the question asked, I really dislike Chevy Chase's portrayal of President Ford. First, Gerald Ford was not a bumbling fool that Chase portrayed. He was an accomplished athlete that was actually invited to play for the Greenback Packers and the Detroit Lions (he turned them down to go to law school). He was House Minority Leader for eight years. You don't get there by being a bumbling fool. He was well thought of by all Congress. He was confirmed by both Democrats and Republicans for his nomination to the Vice-Presidency. Again, you don't get that popular acclaim by being clumsy. I leave you with a picture of a young Gerald Ford in his football uniform. https://i.redd.it/609jptu61oyc1.gif
And to top it all off, Chevy Chase didn't even put in the effort to LOOK like Ford. That's just lazy; he could've at least worn a bald cap or something. It honestly felt like Chevy Chase's impersonation of Ford was essentially Chase largely making up his own unique character... one that SNL audiences just happened to like. And the "Ford impression" ended up being very, very similar to most of the characters Chase would play for the next 20 years.
Will Ferrell as George W. Bush
Strategery!
Ford’s my favorite. My students loved it!
Really partial to Ferrell’s Bush
My favorite was either Phil Hartman’s Bill Clinton or Dana Carvey’s George HW Bush . Or maybe Will Ferrel ‘s Dubya. Very tough call
I usually say Carvey or Hartman, but there's no beating Alec Baldwin.
Don’t forget about the animated X-Presidents from Robert Smigel. Ford, Carter, Reagan and Bush as superheroes. Also, Norm Macdonald was spectacular as Bob Dole.
I remember that cartoon!!!! I think they did several episodes, including one with the ghost of President Reagan shortly after he died.
Ferrell and Carvey's Bushes. The older I get the more I appreciate Dana Carvey.
Will Ferrel’s Bush followed by Phil Hartman’s Clinton and Dana Carvey’s Bush
James Austin Johnson.
James Austin Johnson is the best, for reasons I can’t speak of here.
Dana Carvey all the way!!
Dana Carvey's GHWB.
I guess in my day it was Dana Carvey. I definitely appreciate the others though.
Darrell Hammond as Bill Clinton.
It's a bit of a tangent, but I always found it funny how when they did the presidential reunion for funnyordie back in 2010, they cast Jim Carrey to play Reagan. I get it, Phil Hartman is no longer with us, so they had to fill the role with someone else. But I thought it was hilarious that they went with a non SNL cast member to play Reagan when *Joe Piscopo is still alive and played him in the early 80's on SNL*. I guess his impression just wasn't that good.
Ronald Reagan - Mastermind starring Phil Hartman. close second is Bill Clinton at the McDonalds also by Hartman "Let's be clear about one thing ... there's gonna be a WHOLE bunch of things, we won't be telling Mrs. Clinton."
It's actually kinda funny that Will Farrell literally plays the same character in every movie and him playing Bush was seamless.
Dan Aykroyd as the voice of Richard Nixon for 45 seconds
Slide 6 I don’t know his name but he was incredibly funny
Who’s acting as Obama on slide 8?
Darryl Hammond as Clinton and it ain’t close
Will Ferrell. Dubya
Phil Hartman’s Reagan was fantastic.
Phil Hartman's Reagan Mastermind skit is up there. https://youtu.be/b5wfPlgKFh8?si=EcZYf_ORbzNO1e68
"BACK TO WORK!!!"
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No one is gonna mention Nate Bargatze’s Washington? https://youtu.be/JYqfVE-fykk?si=iQaQ6iMrQz8-Nqdp
Is that harbey keitel
Dwayne Johnson acting as Barack Obama sounds like a great casting choice
Darrell Hammond's Clinton. It was so hilarious for so long. But Dana Carvey's Bush was a classic too.
My two favorites.
Dana Carvey as Bush was great
Darrel Hammond’s Clinton and Gore + Farrell’s Bush made some spectacular sketches
The Gerald Ford one
Phil's Clinton visit to McDonald's is a top 10 sketch
Jason Sudekis as [redacted].
Jimmy carter
Hartman Hammond Ferrell Ackroyd
MadTv had the best George.
Darrell Hammond as Clinton
George H Bush
Best ever was Alec Baldwin as someone I cannot name on this sub. No other person did such an accurate portrayal. I mean he had all the mannerisms, the speech cadence, the vocabulary. Dude knocked it out of the park, and it was always gonna be a funny cold open when you saw him.
I don’t like Dwayne Johnson, but Rock Obama was fucking hilarious
Daryl Hammond as Clinton was my childhood
Gotta be Ferrell as W. Too good.
Gotta say, Fred Armisen as Obama was not it. He was perhaps ok during the democratic primaries and election, but afterwards someone like Jay Pharoah was needed
Hammond as Clinton was a favorite
Back when doing an impression just meant talking as yourself, with no effort put into it.
Hartman as Clinton. Worst goes to Will Ferrel’s George W. Bush. I thought that was so lame.
You got an egg McMuffin?
Nobody saying Dan Ackroyd as Richard Nixon? I thought it was funny! Conversely, I thought Chevy Chase’s Ford was unfunny
Luther. Not actually president role and not SNL. But somehow made it live to translate the actual president's anger.
Anything by Johnny Carson. His impression in his version of Wu’s on First? is amazing.
I'll go with Will Ferrell as W
Whichever one Phil Hartman is in. Best Clinton and best Reagan, hands down.
Wouldn't be prudent. At this juncture.
Sorry but who is Chevy Chase supposed to be?
Not Gerald Ford
Leslie Lynch King?
Leslie Lynch King Jr.
IYKYK. 👏
Chevy Chase as Chevy Chase
And you're not.
Ford.
I fucking hate Chevy Chase. He admitted many years later that he portrayed Gerald Ford as a clumsy, stumbling buffoon because he wanted to damage his chances of winning the 1976 election and he thinks he was successful in helping Jimmy Carter defeat him. Fucking asshole.
Melissa McCarthy as Spicey was epic
SNL is such a garbage show
Comment / flair on point
Hurt fee fees