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| Palin joins her mimic on US show | Palin joins her mimic on US show |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin has joined her mimic in a much anticipated appearance on the US comedy show, Saturday Night Live (SNL). | |
| Tina Fey's impersonations of Sarah Palin have proved a hit with millions of Americans, thanks in part to her resemblance to the Alaskan governor. | Tina Fey's impersonations of Sarah Palin have proved a hit with millions of Americans, thanks in part to her resemblance to the Alaskan governor. |
| On the show, Mrs Palin showed she could join in on the jokes at her expense. | On the show, Mrs Palin showed she could join in on the jokes at her expense. |
| She played it straight as Fey took her off, bopped to a comical rap and delivered SNL's famous opening line. | She played it straight as Fey took her off, bopped to a comical rap and delivered SNL's famous opening line. |
| 'Garbage truck' | 'Garbage truck' |
| The NBC show began with a fake news conference where her spokesman told journalists "no recording devices and don't write anything down." | The NBC show began with a fake news conference where her spokesman told journalists "no recording devices and don't write anything down." |
| This is the most important election in our nation's history and you want her, our Tina, to go out there and stand with that horrible woman? Alec Balwin joking about Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live href="/1/hi/world/americas/us_elections_2008/7678554.stm">Palin plays it safe on US comedy | |
| Tina Fey then appeared as Sarah Palin, wearing a fitted red jacket and rimmed glasses. | Tina Fey then appeared as Sarah Palin, wearing a fitted red jacket and rimmed glasses. |
| "I am looking forward to a portion of your questions," she said, a jibe at the way the Republican vice presidential candidate - and other politicians - have avoided answering a number of questions during the election campaign. | "I am looking forward to a portion of your questions," she said, a jibe at the way the Republican vice presidential candidate - and other politicians - have avoided answering a number of questions during the election campaign. |
| Asked about her views on John McCain and Barack Obama in the last presidential debate, the fake Mrs Palin says of Mr Obama: "His words are smooth when he's talking, he's like an angel whispering in your ear. He makes John McCain sound like a garbage truck unloading trash at a landfill. | Asked about her views on John McCain and Barack Obama in the last presidential debate, the fake Mrs Palin says of Mr Obama: "His words are smooth when he's talking, he's like an angel whispering in your ear. He makes John McCain sound like a garbage truck unloading trash at a landfill. |
| Mrs Palin, who has in the past said she loved Tina Fey's impersonations, was first seen watching the show from the backstage with the show's executive producer Lorne Michaels. | Mrs Palin, who has in the past said she loved Tina Fey's impersonations, was first seen watching the show from the backstage with the show's executive producer Lorne Michaels. |
| Actor Alec Baldwin joins them, under the impression that Mrs Palin is Tina Fey. | Actor Alec Baldwin joins them, under the impression that Mrs Palin is Tina Fey. |
| "This is the most important election in our nation's history and you want her, our Tina, to go out there and stand with that horrible woman?" Mr Baldwin, a known left-winger, says to Mr Michaels. | "This is the most important election in our nation's history and you want her, our Tina, to go out there and stand with that horrible woman?" Mr Baldwin, a known left-winger, says to Mr Michaels. |
| Told of his "mistake", Alec Baldwin apologises. But Sarah Palin retorts: "I must say, your brother Stephen is my favourite Baldwin brother." | Told of his "mistake", Alec Baldwin apologises. But Sarah Palin retorts: "I must say, your brother Stephen is my favourite Baldwin brother." |
| Mrs Palin then comes on stage to replace her mimic, who swiftly exits when she sees her. | Mrs Palin then comes on stage to replace her mimic, who swiftly exits when she sees her. |
| "I'm not going to take any of your questions," she says. "But I do wanted to take this opportunity to say, "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night." | "I'm not going to take any of your questions," she says. "But I do wanted to take this opportunity to say, "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night." |
| Dancing moose | Dancing moose |
| Later in the show, Mrs Palin is seen bopping in her chair as cast member Amy Poehler raps a song which the vice-presidential candidate said would hurt her election campaign if she performed it herself.Fey's looks, mannerisms and accent closely resemble Palin's | |
| During the song, Eskimos, an impersonator of her husband Todd and a large moose dance on stage. | During the song, Eskimos, an impersonator of her husband Todd and a large moose dance on stage. |
| At one point, Mrs Poehler shoots the moose who falls to the ground, a jibe at Mrs Palin's passion for hunting and fondness for guns. | At one point, Mrs Poehler shoots the moose who falls to the ground, a jibe at Mrs Palin's passion for hunting and fondness for guns. |
| The BBC's correspondent in Washington, Rajini Vaidyanathan, says Gov Palin's performance on the show was in many ways what you would expect from a politician running for office. | |
| The best and most risque gags were delivered by actors and SNL cast members, rather than by Sarah Palin herself, she says. | |
| Our correspondent adds that Mrs Palin played the role of the comedy sidekick in the show, but did come across as someone who did not take herself too seriously and was happy to laugh at the jokes made at her expense. | |
| Fey's spoof Sarah Palin has done wonders for Saturday Night Live's viewing figures. | Fey's spoof Sarah Palin has done wonders for Saturday Night Live's viewing figures. |
| Ratings for the show have gone up, averaging 8.3 million viewers, and the sketches are drawing as many as 9.3 million hits online. | Ratings for the show have gone up, averaging 8.3 million viewers, and the sketches are drawing as many as 9.3 million hits online. |
| It is not clear whether Republican presidential candidate John McCain watched the show, but earlier in the day said that he thought Tina Fey and his running mate were "separated at birth". | It is not clear whether Republican presidential candidate John McCain watched the show, but earlier in the day said that he thought Tina Fey and his running mate were "separated at birth". |