John McCain is following in his running mate's footsteps.  Tomorrow, on a brand new Saturday Night Live, McCain will make a cameo.  The news comes this morning.  It was widely rumored that McCain's opponent, Barack Obama, would be the one to make a cameo on Saturday Night Live this weekend.  This being the case, this announcement of McCain's involvement is something of a surprise.  It wouldn't be shocking either, then, if it was announced later today that Barack Obama will also make an appearance on SNL tomorrow night.  When Sarah Palin made her highly-publicized guest appearance on the sketch comedy series a couple weeks back, the show garnered its highest ratings in fourteen years.  Only days away from the general election, Saturday's episode will surely bring in a healthy audience, though perhaps not as big as the Palin episode.

John McCain is no stranger to Saturday Night Live.  In 2002, he even hosted an episode of the series.  But, those were back in the days of a happy-go-lucky, mostly universally beloved John McCain.  The presidential campaign has been a contentious one, and it's unclear whether either candidate would be willing to appear on the show together.  The Obama campaign, however, can't be overly pleased with the idea of McCain and Palin both appearing on SNL during the stretch run without their candidate making a cameo.  Perhaps SNL has something in mind similar to the 2000 campaign when, on the final SNL before the election, both Al Gore and George W. Bush made a brief taped appearance during the Cold Open.  Palin's extended appearance, however, has likely raised the stakes.  Neither McCain or Obama would want to half-ass it.

Ben Affleck hosts tomorrow night's episode with musical guest David Cook, the most recent winner of American Idol.  Saturday Night Live has become appointment viewing during this election season, and for good reason.  They always excel in the realm of political satire, and Tina Fey's Sarah Palin has given the series a water-cooler lightning rod over the last two months.  I know I'll be watching tomorrow night.


-Oscar Dahl, BuddyTV Senior Writer
Source: AP
(Image Courtesy of NBC)