Chris Rock on Election 2008

Last night on Saturday Night Live, Chris Rock appeared on the cold open (what's a cold open?) to give his thoughts about the 2008 presidential race. While his riff on Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama was great, it was also a little too long for our meager transcribing chops this morning. So we give you his thoughts on the Republican contenders:

On the Republican side, we have McCain and Giuliani. Now, is it just me or wasn't McCain too old eight years ago?

And then we have Giuliani. Now Giuliani's great. He's great - in a crisis. But in real life, Giuliani's kinda like a pit bull. He's great when you have a burglar, but if you don't, he just might eat your kid.

You can see Rock's whole segment on the Saturday Night Live website.

Rock also has a movie that opened this week, I Think I Love My Wife. While the NY Times film critic A.O. Scott seemed to enjoy it, we're wary but ultimately curious, since we love Chloe in the Afternoon by the brilliant Eric Rohmer.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on March 18, 2007 10:13 AM

Comments [rss]

marie

I'm not a fan of Clinton, but I'm really tired of some of the pro-Obama people saying she can't win because women hate other women, Can't I dislike her based on her too-conservative politics? And I guess Rock conveniently forgot the Salem witch trials--women were definitely lynched in this country for no real reason. Now I have to vote for Clinton, just because Rock is an asshole. Thanks for ruining things for Obama, Chris!

Not Amused

You have a point their "HOMO" . Just think about this for minute, Did you stop to think that maybe the fact that there aren't any jokes about Natives,Jews,Or Clans could be the comedians way of watering down there acts for a target crowd ? Did you take into consideration the fact that maybe some comedians aren't comfortable with making fun of certain groups (And if offend some of the wrong folks it could mean carrer suicide)? That they may have issues with the response that they will incur from that crowd (i.e, The guy that played "Kramer" on Seinfeld) . Cracking jokes is one thing when it's people that you know, When you do that for a living you have follow certain rules of the game . Chris Rock has been doing this for a minute now and I bet he has Had show where he thought he rocked the house, Also where he bombed . Being that he's a professional at this, I bet the guy reviews footage from old shows as well as the responses and builds his act off of that . In the long run it's give them what they want, & hope they laugh . Because there's no Unemployment for comedians "HOMO" !

Whitney

Chris Rock made the same joke on Real Time with Bill Maher on Friday, and it was a lot funnier then...

Robin

I Think I Hate My Career.

Billy

Rock--his new movie sucks so he has to try to be funny with the same shtick he pulled on all those other shows he was on this week. Getting to be like George Carlin, former spontaneous funny man now reverted to spewing out overworked memorized mini monologues. Not funny, in either its delivery or content.

BrooklynNative

Considering the news that he is back with his wife to promote the movie, I find him as phoney as the people he jokes about.

squidfly

[3] Posted by: homo | March 18, 2007 12:35 PM

...and you had it bad in your mama's womb....she had it bad when you where born...your dad had it bad so he left your ass...obviously your havin it bad beacause your so angry... are you threatend by some big bwad bwack man, who stole yer guuurl...so sad...so sad, poor little lad.

LG

My favorite part: "Is America ready for a black president? Why not? We've had a retarded president for eight years!"

anon

I thought it was bland, predictable, and most important--not funny at all.

boring

Rock used almost all of those jokes this week on his talk show circuit plugging his new movie. Letterman, Conan, Larry King, etc.

homo

Why is it black people always say they had it bad? They only had it bad for 150 years. Try the Jews, Native Americans or the Ancient WHite Lotus Clan. They've had it bad for thousands of years. I don't hear any thing from the Indians. Black people just love to throw pity parties.

mihow

Sometimes I wish black comedians didn't always have to make their jokes about their race, fat comedians didn't need to make their jokes about being fat, and gay comedians didn't need to make their jokes about being gay. It gets tiring and old REALLY fast. I felt that way for a few minutes during his monologue last night. Is it possible to be funny anymore without employing all the clichés?

However, the whole bit about voting for a retarded person during the last election made me laugh out loud.

Not that making fun of retarded people is funny.