Can a Post-Fey/Palin 'SNL' Still Thrive?

By Mike Hess Posted Sep 26th 2009 10:29AM

Last season, a golden egg filled with laughs and publicity was laid in the lap of 'Saturday Night Live' during the 2008 TV season and election year. By mere chance, republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin happened to look exactly like 'SNL' alumnus Tina Fey. Even better for the show, Fey's ability to pull off an uncanny impression of the Russia-seeing former governor of Alaska propelled the show into nearly every weekend headline in the lead-up to the presidential election. But now that Sarah Palin is not a major news topic and the political cycle has died down, can 'SNL' keep up their momentum in a post-Palin world?

"The thing about 'Saturday Night Live' is they always survive. They do well and then sometimes they hit really big and you never know," Roger Friedman, an entertainment journalist who writes The Hollywood Reporter's 'Showbiz 411' column, tells PopEater. He goes on to cite that Andy Samberg's digital shorts paired with the popularity of the 'Weekend Update' news skit should be enough to keep 'SNL' going strong. "It's based on the news, so you have to wait for things to happen to respond to them," Friedman said.

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Tina Fey proudly holds up her Emmy that she snagged for her dead-on Sarah Palin impression on 'Saturday Night Live.' Click for More Pics of Fey >>>

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Actress/writer Tina Fey attends the Governors Ball for the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Los Angeles Convention Center on September 20, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. 61st Primetime Emmy Awards - Governor's Ball Los Angeles Convention Center Los Angeles, CA United States September 20, 2009 Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic.com To license this image (58435832), contact FilmMagic.com

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LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 20: Actress Mariska Hargitay (L) and Tina Fey arrive at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Nokia Theatre on September 20, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Tina Fey;Mariska Hargitay

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LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 20: Actress Tina Fey arrives at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Nokia Theatre on September 20, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Tina Fey

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Actors Tina Fey and Jack McBrayer attend the Governors Ball for the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Los Angeles Convention Center on September 20, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. The 61st Primetime Emmy Awards - Governors Ball Los Angeles Convention Center Los Angeles, CA United States September 20, 2009 Photo by Mathew Imaging/WireImage.com To license this image (58433411), contact WireImage.com

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Actresses Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Tina Fey attend the Governors Ball for the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Los Angeles Convention Center on September 20, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. The 61st Primetime Emmy Awards - Governors Ball Los Angeles Convention Center Los Angeles, CA United States September 20, 2009 Photo by Mathew Imaging/WireImage.com To license this image (58433720), contact WireImage.com

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LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 20: Actresses Mariska Hargitay and Tina Fey arrive at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Nokia Theatre on September 20, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mariska Hargitay;Tina Fey

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LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 20: Actress Tina Fey backstage at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Nokia Theatre on September 20, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Tina Fey;Alec Bladwin

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Sandy Deane, the managing editor of AOL Television, seems to think otherwise, wondering whether 'SNL' can rebound this season. "The show will probably peak with the season opener due to the Megan Fox effect, then it'll be all downhill from there," Deane tells PopEater.

"Without Tina Fey's Palin and Amy Pohler's appearances to boost interest, it's going to be a huge challenge for the show to maintain buzz beyond Samberg's digital hits," Deane continued.

Fey even won an Emmy this past week for her portrayal of Palin.

Highlights of the Fey-Palin Era

Couric Interview

VP Debate

Friedman says that if there's one thing he's learned over time, it's that Lorne Michaels generally comes out on top.

"You never bet against Lorne Michaels. He's outlived everybody, he's always right, he has incredible instincts," Friedman says.

Tags: andy samberg, AndySamberg, sarah palin, SarahPalin, saturday night live, SaturdayNightLive, snl, tina fey, TinaFey

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