Palin headed for the SNL Spotlight?

By Ethel C. Fenig

You just knew this was going to happen. According to Chicago Sun Times entertainment columnist Bill Zwecker, Sarah Palin will probably appear on Saturday Night Live as...herself. Or Tina Fey, who admittedly, does a wicked impression of Palin.

[A] top honcho from the John McCain campaign tells me there's a debate going on about how to respond.

Some key McCain staffers are content with Palin joking about the "SNL" routines on the campaign trail -- as when scribbled "I'm not Tina Fey" on a supporter's cell phone and said she'd dressed as Fey on Halloween. But others -- including the governor herself -- think a return punch on the NBC airwaves is what's needed.

I'm hearing some sort of Palin tweak of Fey's American Express commercials is in the works.

Oh no. How about Palin giving Fey lessons on moose skinning? Or teaching Fey some geography?

For instance, yes Russia really does border Alaska and Palin, as governor, has to be concerned about her neighbor and another one, North Korea, because both have missiles capable of reaching the US. And if that happens Fey won't have the freedom to mock Palin.

Perhaps Palin could do an opening skit showing Fey how a real woman multi tasks--taking care of family as she governs a state and runs for vice president all the while saying "Live from Washington! It's the White House!"

Guaranteed to have higher ratings than the vice presidential debate.

Rick Moran adds:

You might recall Richard Nixon going on the #1 rated TV show at the time, Rowan and Martin's 'Laugh In,' and playing himself while saying "Sock it to me!"

Politicians who play along and make fun of themselves are seen in a much better light by the public than those who complain about the jokes and impressions. Reagan used to love it when Rich Little performed in front of him, clearly enjoying the jokes making sport of him immensely. Even George Bush #41 used to laugh at Dana Carvey's eery impersonation of him.

Palin should go on the show and go along with the mocking - as long as it doesn't get vicious. She should also insist on zinging Fey a couple of times just to show that she can dish it out as well as take it.