I really don't like the guy who now plays Obama on SNL

[meadowlark5]

He just portrays the president as so smarmy and kind of sleazy. I much preferred Fred Amristad to this new comic.

Sure was a nice, sweet send off they did for Romney. "Ann & Mitt Forever" in a big heart

[Bluenorthwest]

1. The only Obama impression for me is Jordan Peele of Key and Peele...

[Corgigal]

8. Yep they are great

Even President Obama is aware of them. Funny. This is the newest one

[joshcryer]

10. Yes!

<3

SNL should hire him.

[former9thward]

2. I have a very low standard for humor.

But even with that I did not find a single segment of last night's show to be funny. I will agree with you that Amristad was a better Obama.

[meadowlark5]

5. I thought the whole show actually sucked

I didn't laugh or chuckle once After an election like the one we just got through, they had SO much material to work with and that's what we got? That dumb girl skit? the McDonald's skit? Very juvenile.

[ProudProgressiveNow]

19. +1 nt

[HopeHoops]

3. No, me either, but I like his interpreter.

[2Design]

4. definitely needs to be changed

[Evergreen Emerald]

6. I agree.

Armistad was better. This current actor does not do Obama justice.

[dballance]

7. SNL hasn't been funny for more than a decade

Not sure why it's still on.

[aaaaaa5a]

9. I agree. I think he is terrible.

I also don't like the way it went down. I think Amristad was doing a fine job. He was funnier. He looked more like the President. And his impressions where better. I think there was pressure on SNL to get an African American to play the President. And this is why they took it from Amristad. I can tell you I don't know one person who likes the new guy. I don't even think he looks like the President. He's really bad.

[StrayKat]

11. Are we talking about Fred Armisen?

I think Jay's impression is much better.

Armisen is really good, perhaps the most versatile of the current cast. But, his Obama impression was bland. He spoke in his normal voice, didn't adopt many of Obama's mannerisms, and didn't extract the humor that can be found in Obama's character. The script was sometimes funny, but it could have been anyone else reading it, there was nothing uniquely Obama to it.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/99945

Jay Pharoah, on the other hand, tries to emphasize the idiosyncrasies unique to Obama. He imitates the voice, maximizes the hesitations and awkward pauses, draws out some of the facial expressions. Yes, it's overdone, but that's what comedic impressions are supposed to do. I think what you may be perceiving as smarmy is Jay playing up the cool aura that Obama does actually try to affect to up his "likeabilty". Again, it's exaggerated, but it's not drawn from thin air.

[meadowlark5]

12. Nope. I don't like him.

Key and Peele do a good impression without making me get the skeeves watching them. This Jay Pharoh impression of the president does.

To each their own You may think he's funny but from the very first time I saw him do Obama I thought he was conveying an attitude to the audience that I don't think is helpful to the president. Lord knows that man gets enough severe critiguing from the right wing thugs. And this impression of him has an air of insult to it.

[StrayKat]

13. It's a comedy show

"You may think he's funny but from the very first time I saw him do Obama I thought he was conveying an attitude to the audience that I don't think is helpful to the president."

It's not supposed to be helpful to the president. It's not supposed to be a campaign ad. It's supposed to be funny, and parody always does that in a mocking way. The impressions of Biden, Clinton, Romney and everyone aren't exactly flattering either.

The Key and Peele impression is far worse. It implies that the angry black man stereotype Obama is the real man, and the calm, thoughtful figure is just a veneer to fool everyone.

[meadowlark5]

15. And every comic making fun of Bush and his stupidity didn't influence people's opinion of him?

Night time comics making fun of Romney all summer with his gaffes didn't have an influence on people's opinion of him?

Once the comics take a political figure or celebrity and make that person the fodder for their comedy, and depending on how they portray that person, can have an influential effect.

You can deny it all you want, but this country is very influenced by media. And when Jay Leno or Jay Pharoh or Jimmy Kimmel begin making Obama look arrogant or smarmy or ineffectual, that can make an impression on people.

When Armistan did Obama, he could parody him without it seeming like he was making fun of the president. I don't feel that way about Jay Pharoh.

If you enjoy it and think it's funny, fine. I'm not going sit and argue opinions with someone

[StrayKat]

17. I'm sorry you felt you were having an argument.

I was having a discussion.

[Blue_In_AK]

14. No one liked Fred at first.

The role probably takes a while to perfect.

[Separation]

16. Key & Peele

They get me rolling every time with Obama & Luther his anger translator. Funniest shit I've seen in a while. Their show as a whole is great. Best comedy on TV since Chapelle show.

[FrenchieCat]

18. My daughter and I said the same thing.....

We discussed the fact that to some White folks, it is obvious that all Black Folks look alike.
Why else have an actor who doesn't even resemble the President in any way including mannerism
be chosen? Are we supposed to go along with that? I'm not.

The actor/comedian plays a buffoon, something our President is not.

[Cha]

20. I don't watch snl or even have a tv..but, from checking out online

impersonators.. I agree that Key and Peele Are Fun-NY! But, this guy Rocks it too..

"99 Problems And Mitt Ain't One of Them" Which takes on a whole new Meaning Now!