Gov. Paterson, blind advocates rip SNL skit
December 15th, 2008
From the New York Times, New York Post and AP/ABC:
New York Gov. David A. Paterson, who is legally blind, criticized a skit on this weekend’s “Saturday Night Live” that portrayed him as disoriented and bumbling and made disparaging comments about people with disabilities.
“There is only one way that people could have an unemployment rate that’s six times the national average – it’s attitude,” he said in response to reporters’ questions. “And I’m afraid that the kind of third-grade depiction of individuals and the way they look and the way they move add to that negative environment.”
His communications director, Risa B. Heller, said: “this… skit unfortunately chose to ridicule people with physical disabilities and imply that disabled people are incapable of having jobs with serious responsibilities.”
The National Federation of the Blind also criticized the skit, saying it perpetuates stereotypes and amounts to an attack on all blind Americans.
In the skit, Fred Armisen (above) portrays a goofy Gov. Paterson who refers repeatedly to cocaine use and holds upside down a chart representing the unemployment rate. (Video here.)
Partial transcript, in which Armisen as Paterson talks about whom to choose to fill the Senate seat that Hillary Clinton is expected to vacate:
I’m tired of all these fancy two-eyed smart alecks from the big city running the show.
It’s time we get someone from Utica, Syracuse or Schenectady, towns where people have a little something off about them. I mean they don’t have to be blind. I mean someone maybe with a gamy arm, or maybe the giant gums with the tiny teeth. Let’s get one of those in the Senate.
I mean, no matter who we pull out of the freak bin, it will be better than the garbage piles New Jersey elected.
Note New York Post headline: ‘Paterson in blind rage over SNL skit’
UPDATE: See also:
Governor Paterson (rightfully) hates Saturday Night Live — Christopher Rosen in the New York Observer
Hey Fred Armisen, screw you — Daily intel column in New York Magazine
You decide: Did SNL cross the line? — Fox forum — 60 comments and rising
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December 16th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Why the stereotype that those who access this blog don’t watch SNL? Aren’t we trying to remove stereotypes about people with disabilities through education? I love SNL, and I’m absolutely disappointed by their skit about Gov Paterson and word choices.
December 16th, 2008 at 8:18 am
I know I’m “preaching to the choir” here, as I would bet that most who access this site seldom watch SNL anyway. In my work with people with disabilities, here in NYS, I know that we have a lot of work to do as a culture, to be “at ease” with people who have physical and mental disabilities. For instance, how welcome are people with disabilities in our mainline churches … the community where they should be most easily welcomed?
The best part is that the Governor took a stand and addressed the issue and let it be known that many people find this type of humor offensive. We need to keep educating those who respond with the attitude “Give me a break, it’s funny”.
People with disabilities are people. The “freak shows” eventually disappeared from the Circus circuit, and with continued education to the majority, this kind of humor will disappear as well.
December 16th, 2008 at 8:12 am
I doubt that Saturday Night Live will suddenly become more sensitive about portrayals of disability, but I do think that drawing attention to the the underlying issue of how stereotypes and negative portrayals contribute to prejudice is important. I suspect that Governor Paterson knows that most people will see his reaction as simply being a poor sport about being the target of satire, but he could not keep quiet about an how this affects all people with disabilities particularly those who are blind. It’s one thing to keep quiet in the face of a personal slight, but another to be silent when an issue affects all people with disabilities.
December 15th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
I usually enjoy SNL’s political parodies, especially when the make fun of the stupidity, arrogance, or narcissism of politicians. But making fun of someone just because of their disability is no different than mocking someone’s race, gender, or other immutable characteristic.
The Paterson skit was not funny at all, especially since it implies that Paterson can’t effectively do his job simply because he his blind. I would hope SNL recognizes where it crossed the line.
I realize that pop culture (i.e. Farrely Bros, Larry David, Seinfeld, etc.) have made many feel it is acceptable to mock the disabled, but their humor typically focuses on the personality of a particular disabled individual and not just their disabiity (though they have crossed the line as well.) If Lorne Michaels and crew don’t understand the difference than they should face the same type of outrage cast upon Don Imus, etc. as their parody was just as offensive.
December 15th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Saturday Night Live obviously doesn’t care about anyone with a disability. The show opened this week with a mock hearing of Governor Blagojevich in which a cast member asks him “are you retarded?” The Blagojevich character answers that the correct term is developmentally challenged. So, they know better yet choose to mock people with special needs, all for a laugh. I put Saturday Night Live and Lorne Michaels in my official Ben Stiller Hall of Shame wall.
December 15th, 2008 at 8:49 am
Good for Gov. Paterson for speaking out. With everything else that he has to worry about it would be all too easy to just let this nasty little skit slide by without comment. Gov. Paterson never set out to be a spokesperson for people with disabilities but I’m glad to see that he is stepping up from time to time.