5 of the Funniest Presidential Candidate Parodies on SNL

'Saturday Night Live' has a storied history of making fun of our politicians. Here are 5 of its best attempts at lampooning those who've made a run for the White House.

by Katherine Webb

Published on March 10, 2018

3 min read

Saturday Night Live has always been known for delivering some uncanny impressions. But the sketch comedy series often seems to be at its best when it takes on political personalities. From Gerald Ford to Barack Obama, SNL has skewered each and every U.S. president who’s sat in office since it started airing in 1976.

But it hasn’t limited its parody to sitting presidents. The series has also hit comedy gold with its take on the presidential candidates. Here are five SNL performers who perfected the art of parodying presidential candidates.

1. Tina Fey as Sarah Palin

Tina Fey as Sarah Palin on 'Saturday Night Live' — Source: NBC

When former Alaska governor Sarah Palin became Sen. John McCain’s running mate in the 2008 election, it didn’t take long for her to catapult to fame. And that overnight celebrity made her a prime target for the creators of Saturday Night Live, who had an ace up their sleeve. Former cast member Tina Fey bears a striking resemblance to the Alaskan Republican, so it was inevitable that she’d be invited back to the show to portray her.

Fey returned to Saturday Night Live several times during the final weeks of the 2008 presidential election. And while could have relied on looks alone to sell her performance, she delivered much more. From Palin’s distinctive accent to her occasionally cheeky mannerisms, Fey perfectly captured every piece of the politician’s public persona. The resemblance was so uncanny that even when she stood side-by-side with Palin during her own appearance on SNL it was difficult to tell them apart.