ChristopherChandler.net

Okay so apparently this excellent skit on NBC from last Saturday night, parodying the benefactors of the bailout plan was edited from the original version aired. On SNL’s site, the skit is still up, but has been significantly altered, and censored. Bloggers have posted the uncensored version on their blogs in numerous places on the internet. One of the funniest things about the skit is the captions that C-SPAN gave at the bottom. Also a comment about congress dismissing any accountability to those who made the economy what it is today has been removed as well. I am kind of upset by this censorship for a couple of reasons:

1. Comedy – This was a joke. People get very uptight when they are made fun of, and in this financial crisis that we are currently in, we as the American people NEED to laugh once in awhile. Especially about things that happen to us everyday, some more than others.

2. Free Speech – Really, there was nothing that offensive in the skit to the general American public. Did NBC think that we would just not notice the fact that it had been edited? I mean, it’s been on the internet in uncensored form already, and it hasn’t even been a week since it aired. It’s still fresh in our minds.

I am sure some very large wallets had something to do with this censorship, and I do not agree with it. I’d understand if a skit was blatantly offensive, but this is nothing compared to what else is on television these days. This makes me worry to for these so called “Complete Seasons” of Saturday Night Live on DVD. At the rate they are going to produce these seasons, some people may have missed a glaring omission like this in 10+ years. I am glad that people have an archived version of this skit so it will always remain in the hands of those who enjoy it. -C