Presidents in Parody: Funny or Die's Presidential Reunion
Some of the posts in this series have made reference to a number of the imitations of presidents done by Saturday Night Live actors. In March of 2010, the website Funny or Die brought together a number of these actors for a sketch entitled Presidential reunion. In the sketch, the former presidents speak to incumbent Barack Obama about the Consumer Financial Protection Agency. Some of the actors in the sketch reprised characters going back in some cases to the 1970s. The skit was directed by Ron Howard.
The skit begins as President Obama and the first lady are getting ready for bed. The president is too concerned about a problem with the banks and credit card companies in America. Michelle convinces him to try to get some sleep, but as soon as he does, former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush enter the room. Clinton and Bush offer Obama about how to handle the situation. George H. W. Bush joins the group and adds his advice to the Obamas. Jimmy Carter comes in with a toolbox and begins fixing a random object on the wall and is mocked by the other former presidents. Carter tells Obama to establish a consumer finance agency. He tells Obama that people are becoming frustrated with being conned by banks and credit card companies.
Ronald Reagan then appears before the group, surprising everyone since Reagan is dead. Reagan tells Obama to grow some cojones in order to take on the banks and credit companies. Gerald Ford then enters the room, tripping over a table. Ford suggests the only way to stop the banks is to pardon Richard Nixon. Carter interprets what Ford really means. The group ask Obama if their suggestions helped, but Obama dismisses them, saying they were the reason the mess was created. The group begin taunting Obama until he wakes up and realizes that he does need to be the one to establish a Consumer Financial Protection Agency, and goes rushing off to gather his cabinet.
The actors and the presidents and others the portrayed were:
Fred Armisen as Barack Obama
Maya Rudolph as Michelle Obama
Chevy Chase as Gerald Ford
Dan Ackroyd as Jimmy Carter
Jim Carrey as Ronald Reagan
Dana Carvey as George H. W. Bush
Darrell Hammond as Bill Clinton
Will Ferrell as George W. Bush
Carrey filled in as Reagan, who was portrayed for the most part by the late Phil Hartman. If you haven't seen the sketch, it can be found here. Unfortunately I'm not able to embed it.
The skit begins as President Obama and the first lady are getting ready for bed. The president is too concerned about a problem with the banks and credit card companies in America. Michelle convinces him to try to get some sleep, but as soon as he does, former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush enter the room. Clinton and Bush offer Obama about how to handle the situation. George H. W. Bush joins the group and adds his advice to the Obamas. Jimmy Carter comes in with a toolbox and begins fixing a random object on the wall and is mocked by the other former presidents. Carter tells Obama to establish a consumer finance agency. He tells Obama that people are becoming frustrated with being conned by banks and credit card companies.
Ronald Reagan then appears before the group, surprising everyone since Reagan is dead. Reagan tells Obama to grow some cojones in order to take on the banks and credit companies. Gerald Ford then enters the room, tripping over a table. Ford suggests the only way to stop the banks is to pardon Richard Nixon. Carter interprets what Ford really means. The group ask Obama if their suggestions helped, but Obama dismisses them, saying they were the reason the mess was created. The group begin taunting Obama until he wakes up and realizes that he does need to be the one to establish a Consumer Financial Protection Agency, and goes rushing off to gather his cabinet.
The actors and the presidents and others the portrayed were:
Fred Armisen as Barack Obama
Maya Rudolph as Michelle Obama
Chevy Chase as Gerald Ford
Dan Ackroyd as Jimmy Carter
Jim Carrey as Ronald Reagan
Dana Carvey as George H. W. Bush
Darrell Hammond as Bill Clinton
Will Ferrell as George W. Bush
Carrey filled in as Reagan, who was portrayed for the most part by the late Phil Hartman. If you haven't seen the sketch, it can be found here. Unfortunately I'm not able to embed it.