SNL editing job to help Barney Frank

Andrew Malcolm reports on how NBC has re-posted the hilarious and quite revealing skit that they did on Saturday night about the bailout. Here is the reposted skit.

Here is Lorne Michaels' explanation of the change.

In a previously scheduled interview this afternoon to discuss “Saturday Night Live’s” upcoming prime-time specials, executive producer Lorne Michaels explained that he was not aware that the Sandlers were real people when the sketch aired Saturday night.

“I, in a state of complete ignorance, thought they were characters in the piece,” he said. “I did not know they were real, up until somebody called me about it on Monday. And I went, what? Now, that’s entirely my fault. Entirely.

“When I spoke to them, I can assure you this: They are very, very real. I think they were angry, I think distraught, I think they were not expecting to turn on the television and see that. First of all, I pleaded incompetence, which is not a thing I do often, and the fact that I did not know they were real is 100% my responsibility.”

The bit was penned by veteran “SNL” writer Jim Downey, who writes a large share of the show’s political sketches. Downey had heard of the Sandlers and “felt that from what he read and what he was basing it on, he thought it was a fair hit,” Michaels said.

But after speaking to the couple, Michaels said he and other executives decided to take the sketch offline to edit out the most offensive lines. The chryon under the couple that referred to them as “people who should be shot” was removed, as was a reference their “corrupt activities.”

He noted that the Sandlers did not request the changes but that he felt it was an appropriate step to take.

I don't mind their taking out the "People who should be shot" line. In the atmosphere that is out there today about our financial system, it's understandable that perhaps SNL doesn't want to be seen as inciting murder.

However, that wasn't all that they took out, as Malcolm points out.

But a comparison of the two versions shows that actually a little more than that was cut. What also was excised was any mention of the involvement of Massachusetts' Rep. Frank in the Sandler subprime mess.

Frank is the influential chairman of the House Financial Services Committee and an ardent political protector of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which participated in the subprime problem.

In the original skit Sandler addresses Frank, saying, "And thank you Congressman Frank as well as many Republicans for helping block Congressional oversight of our corrupt activities."

To which Frank replies enthusiastically, "Not at all!"

A spot on line, but apparently SNL thought better of ridiculing the actual role that Frank has played in this whole financial mess.

They never seem to think better of skits bashing Republicans even throwing out a little incest joke about the Palins. But mention Frank's real role in blocking any regulation of Fannie and Freddie and that has to be excised. Typical.

You can see the original skit here.