Blankley baselessly claimed Franken helped write SNL parody of NY Times reporter suggesting Palin family incest

Written by Matt Gertz

Published

Tony Blankley baselessly asserted in his column that a Saturday Night Live sketch portraying a New York Times reporter who writes a story suggesting incest in the Palin family was “written with the assistance” of Al Franken. In fact, Franken reportedly had a role in the creation of a different SNL sketch.

In his September 24 column, syndicated columnist Tony Blankley baselessly asserted that a sketch from the September 20 edition of NBC's Saturday Night Live -- which portrayed a New York Times reporter who writes a story suggesting that Gov. Sarah Palin's husband had engaged in incest with his daughters -- was “written with the assistance” of Al Franken, the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party candidate for U.S. Senate in Minnesota. Blankley wrote: “More appalling, NBC's 'Saturday Night Live' suggested that Gov. Sarah Palin's husband had sex with his own daughters. That scene was written with the assistance of Al Franken, Democratic Party candidate for Senate in Minnesota. Talk about incest.” Blankley provided no evidence for his assertion. In fact, Franken reportedly had a role in the production of a different sketch, titled “McCain Approves Open,” that aired during the same edition of SNL.

On September 21, the Associated Press reported that Franken contributed to the sketch, in which, "[w]hile recording campaign commercials, [Sen. John] McCain is forced to say that he 'approves this message' over a series of increasingly vicious and ludicrous attacks against [Sen. Barack] Obama":

Franken had a phone conversation last week with SNL creator Lorne Michaels, his campaign spokeswoman Colleen Murray said Sunday. She described the talk as two friends of more than 30 years catching up, and she said Franken told Michaels about his experiences on the campaign trail.

In relating a story about recording campaign commercials, Franken noted how all political candidates must say they “approve this message” in their ads -- and editorialized that he thought it must be a difficult task for McCain, whom many Democrats and pundits have accused of leveling dishonest charges against Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

In the sketch, which led Saturday night's show, McCain is played by “SNL” veteran Darrell Hammond. While recording campaign commercials, McCain is forced to say that he “approves this message” over a series of increasingly vicious and ludicrous attacks against Obama.

Not long after the conversation between Franken and Michaels, “SNL” head writer Seth Meyers contacted Franken and they spoke briefly about the idea, the campaign said. Franken was not involved in writing any of the specifics of the skit, Murray said.

“Lorne Michaels decided Al's real-life experience was funny, and it became an accidental inspiration for a comedy sketch,” Murray said.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported on September 22 that, at a campaign event, Franken acknowledged he talked to Meyers about the idea behind “McCain Approves Open,” but asserted that he " 'didn't know' it would become a sketch":

At a campaign event Sunday in St. Paul, Franken acknowledged that he had talked to Meyers. Franken insisted that “I didn't write a word'' and that he ”didn't know'' it would become a sketch. “I thought he might write it but I didn't know. I didn't know anything about it,'' Franken said.

Franken noted how candidates must say they ”approve this message'' in their ads -- and editorialized that he thought it must be a difficult task for McCain, whom many Democrats and pundits have accused of leveling dishonest charges against Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.