By Amy Rudolph
Elm Staff Writer
Political figures are constantly thrown into the spotlight, sometimes even of their own freewill. Everything that they do is put under a magnifying glass and scrutinized mercilessly and they often become the butt of many jokes. Comedians build politician’s actions into their sets, especially stand-up comics. Comedic television personalities like Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel have used interviews with these figures to weave a new comedic framework. Other programs use battle tested methods that have worked for years. When these politicians and leaders go on comedy shows they know to make sure that they are laughing with the comic and not being laughed at because when they are laughed at, they are laughed at by the whole country. One small slip up can resolidify the opposition’s views while witty comebacks to jokes can help bring them more supporters.
Both major party candidates have used comedy shows as a new platform to garner support, especially from the younger generation of new voters. Most of these comedy shows are on very liberal networks like NBC or are produced by online channels such as College Humor. NBC has been given the most opportunities to feature the candidates in their programming through outlets such as “Saturday Night Live” and “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.”
“Saturday Night Live” has always been at the forefront of commenting on the behaviors and actions of political and public figures. Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have had fun poked at them and in some cases become the one being laughed at not with. So far only Hillary Clinton has appeared on SNL and she has twice, once during the 2008 election cycle and now the 2016 one. In a skit in which Clinton acts with current Clinton impressionist Kate McKinnon, she uses her onscreen time to talk about herself as a “regular citizen” who stands for or against certain policies. As McKinnon’s Clinton agrees or disagrees with actual Clinton, or “Val” as she is referred to, McKinnon pokes fun at how long it took “her” to come to these realizations as “Val” defends Clinton. This was a way for Real Clinton to address claims that she was behind the times on many issues in a way that seems more like a dialogue than a joke, which works in her favor as she speaks directly to the viewers at home. In the skit “Val” says that Clinton gives off a “young, cool vibe” which Clinton needs.
Both candidates are looking for the “young, cool” image to relate better to the younger voters. When Clinton and Trump go on these programs they want to remain approachable but well-versed and educated on what they are talking about. Trump has become the butt of almost every joke in the liberal media since he became a contender for the Republican party nomination. Trump’s racist sentiments have not gone over well with many young people and he falls behind on polling for that demographic. On “the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon,” Trump was given ample opportunity to explain his positions in the least offensive way possible and still failed to do that. Fallon, a SNL alum, could have easily dug into Trump and essentially ruined him in the 18 minutes that he was featured but surprisingly did not. Trump explained his views on his Muslim registry and said that Muslims were dangerous but reassured Fallon that it was only a “temporary ban.” Fallon questioned him about how he thought people would receive it as it is discriminatory and Trump cited the lone audience member who clapped as affirmation that his proposed plan was a good one. Few of Trump’s statements were applauded until Fallon made the segment more light hearted by messing up Trump’s signature combover.
Trump may not have been seen as more approachable as he stuck to his guns about his harsh views, but Clinton has also had trouble getting away from her frigid image during her political career. It is a sad reality that women politicians are seen as more aggressive or cold, a perception that was highlighted in Clinton’s SNL skit in which McKinnon’s Clinton said she loves a “scalding hot vodka,” playing up on the fact that it would seem hot to an ice cold Clinton.
On Zach Galifianakis’ mock interview show for College Humor, “Between Two Ferns” Clinton had a hard time getting away from that harmful stereotype. In the segment, Galifianakis acts as a clown by trying to scare Clinton before being overpowered by Secret Service agents. As Galifianakis’s antics keep up and he asks Clinton questions, her tone makes them seem as though the question aggravating and it is annoying her to have to answer. Reviews of the performance have been positive as many people thought that the show was hilarious so she may have still achieved her goal while staying within her typecast.
For Clinton, the battle for the millennial vote is not much of a contest anymore as more young people support her positions than Trump’s. The problem for Trump is in part because of his views but more so his lack of relatability. Though both candidates are wealthy one-percenters, Clinton comes off as more of the average Joe as she is a grandma and married her college sweetheart. Perhaps Trump needs to begin to recognize that not many people are given a “small loan of a million dollars” from their parents and adapt his plans to gain the support of the groups that he is neglecting. Either way, one candidate will win and it may come down to a race for new voters.
The influx of young adults into the political sphere will mean nothing if the youth vote does not go out and do their civic duty. See you at the polls on Nov. 8. Remember, if you don’t vote, you can’t complain.