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SNL video roundup: Did they go too far with Paterson spoof?

By April MacIntyre Dec 15, 2008, 21:21 GMT

Gov. David Paterson (D-NY) did SNL go too far this time? EPA/KEVIN DIETSCH

The "Weekend Update" segment of SNL on NBC featured actor Fred Armisen who played New York's Governor David Paterson, imitating his expressions and voice.

Paterson is legally blind, and he took issue with the skit.

"I can take a joke," Paterson told the Daily News.

He categorized the SNL spoof a "third-grade depiction of people and the way they look" that could lead others to believe that "disability goes hand-in-hand with an inability to run a government or business."

The following is a released press statement by Tara A. Cortes, PhD. RN, President and CEO of Lighthouse International (Founded in 1905, Lighthouse International is a leading non-profit organization dedicated to preserving vision and to providing critically needed health care services to help people of all ages overcome the challenges of vision loss):

"Lorne Michaels, the cast and writers of Saturday Night Live should know better. In their skit of Governor Paterson they crossed the line between parody and pandering to demeaning stereotypes.
Governor Paterson, like all elected officials, should be judged by his actions. To use his disability as the focal point of comedy is in very poor taste. We applaud the courage it takes every day for people who are blind and visually impaired to live productively and effectively. Saturday Night Live has taken a cheap shot at that courage. When Governor Paterson assumed office, Lighthouse International, along with many advocates for people who are visually impaired, shared a sense of pride that progress had been made in dispelling stereotypes. SNL has set that progress back. They should issue an on-air apology."

Have a watch and weigh in; did SNL go too far with this one?

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