CNN thinks Palin spoof is funny

Wolf Blitzer appreciates Tina Fey's spoof of Sarah Palin:



This is not the only time that SNL lifted exact phrases from the politicians for the comedians' dialog. Other Sarah Palin lines from the VP debate were quoted exactly, as well as lines from the presidential candidates themselves.

What does it mean that the comedy shows are so closely aligned with the world of politics (including people getting their news from the Daily Show)? The ratings for the SNL episodes about the election were huge- on tv and on the internet. What does it mean that CNN and other cable news channels were covering--and apparently supporting--this type of comedic politics? Is comedy a legitimate source of political insights, or is it an insufficient or biased form of agenda-setting?

It's one thing for a comedy show to openly skewer the politicians, and another thing when the strait-laced cable news takes a side- even if done tacitly. Or is it all just done in fun?

"The greatest show TV has seen in years"

James Poniewozik writing about new election night technologies:
"Election night captured in miniature the brilliance and ridiculousness of election 2008 in the media. NBC painted an electoral map on New York City's Rockefeller Center skating rink and stood its hosts in front of enough virtual Greek columns to stage a hundred Obama rallies; 3-D graphics sprouted out of studio floors and hung in the air; and CNN unveiled the most amazing and goofy innovation, 3-D projections of studio guests speaking to the network's anchors like Princess Leia asking Obi-Wan for help in Star Wars."

SNL spoofs the giant digital election maps:


Entertained yet? Kind of makes you long for the simple days of Tim Russert and his whiteboard.