This survey of presidential rhetoric indicates a unique merging of Washington DC and New York City, as SNL appears in presidential rhetoric to deflect questions, promote sociability, and, perhaps, to simply get a laugh.

Josh Compton

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/2040610X.2016.1139808

From content analyses to effects studies to rhetorical and critical analyses, we have a growing body of scholarship exploring political humor on United States late night television. The growing body of political humor scholarship reveals how late night comedy characterizes politics and politicians. What has not yet been explored, however, is how United States’ politicians characterize late night television humor. Recognizing Saturday Night Live (SNL) as a unique type of late night television political humor in the USA, this essay turns to SNL mentions in United States’ presidential remarks, including mentions by Presidents George Bush, George W. Bush, Gerald Ford, and Bill Clinton. Directions for future scholarship in this area are also proposed.

Compton, J. (2016). Live from D. C.: Saturday Night Live political parody references in presidential rhetoric. Comedy Studies, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/2040610X.2016.1139808