Fey a dead ringer for small-town mayor from Alaska’s meth capital

SNL producer Lorne Michaels must have had mixed feelings Saturday night.

On the one hand, his show drew its largest audience for a season premier in seven years, largely because of Tina Fey’s spot-on imitation of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

On the other hand, Michaels is a long-time supporter of Palin’s running mate, John McCain.

Fey teamed with Amy Poehler as Hillary Clinton in a “non-partisan message” to discuss sexism in the 2008 presidential campaign. Fey as Palin mugged for the camera, cocked an imaginary rifle, and admitted she doesn’t know what the Bush Doctrine is.

The skit highlighted Palin’s inexperience, while the jokes targeting Clinton centered on her determination to get to the White House.

Lorne Michaels has contributed $2,300 to McCain’s campaign, but political differences haven’t hindered his working relationship with the publicly Democratic Fey.

Michaels has teamed with Fey since she left Saturday Night Live after the 2006 season. He is a producer of Fey’s scripted comedy show 30 Rock, as well as her first feature film, Baby Mama, in which Poehler also starred.

Fey declared her support of Hillary Clinton in this year’s election in a February skit on SNL, in which she declared “bitches get stuff done.”

SNL cast members Will Forte and head writer Seth Meyers have donated to the Obama campaign.

Obama was scheduled to appear on SNL’s premier show, but canceled because of Hurricane Ike. Michaels told the Washington Post that Obama will have opportunities in the future to return to the show. Saturday would have been Obama’s second appearance; he made a cameo on SNL in November 2007.

John McCain hosted SNL in 2002, and appeared on the show again last May.

Palin has yet to make her SNL debut, but a spokesperson for Palin told CBS News that Palin found the sketch funny, especially since she once dressed up as Tina Fey for Halloween.

Below, Fey and Poehler open SNL:

Tweet This! Share on Facebook

Click here to sign up for the Muckety Newsletter

• Tina Fey continues on a roll with Little, Brown book deal - October 6, 2008
• Jimmy Fallon taking Conan O’Brien’s chair - May 13, 2008
• Tina Fey’s husband is bit player in 30 Rock, major player in her life - April 28, 2008
• Lynn Forester de Rothschild was Muckety’s top search last week - September 21, 2008
• Sarah Palin withholds medical records - November 3, 2008
• Palin secured millions in earmarks for small town in Alaska - September 2, 2008
• Sarah Palin finally releases medical summary - November 4, 2008
• She knows mavericks, and John McCain, you’re no maverick - October 7, 2008
• Is John Coale handling another high-profile calamity? - July 9, 2009
• The governor’s new clothes - October 22, 2008