News Satire Roundup: February 8th-February 11th

Monday, February 8 – The show was on fire tonight.  Between the widespread entrance failures (what was Carson even doing, and I loved Trevor’s remark re:  Kasich, that when the moderators can see your empty podium and still not realize someone is missing, you know they’re not planning to ask you any questions,) Trump as the T-Rex of the GOP, and Rubio’s inability to prove that he’s not a robot, the Republican debate provided some hilarious fodder to work with.  I always love Jessica, and her piece about Beyoncé’s Super Bowl halftime show was splendid; Guliani criticizing Beyoncé for forcing “middle America” to think about race was simply preposterous, and Jessica gave him what for.  It was fun to see guest Gillian Jacobs.  She and Trevor calling out Dan Harmon to write a Community movie made me smile, and I like her fangirling over Hedy Lamarr.

Tuesday, February 9 – The story on candidates in New Hampshire pandering to Dunkin’ Donuts was short but sweet – I especially loved the Goldman Sachs dig about Clinton and Bush campaigning in the drive-through.  Cruz and Trump trading barbs on who loves waterboarding more was terrible but sadly unsurprising; Trevor didn’t have to do much more than shake his head and go, “Are you kidding me with this?”  The story on Clinton’s recent endorsement struggles with female voters felt a little unpolished to me, not hitting quite as hard as it could have.  Jessica’s gloriously-scathing follow-uppiece, though, was a thing of beauty.  She lambasted any suggestion that she votes with her vagina, whether that be by following the “boys” who support Sanders or voting for Clinton solely out of uterine solidarity.  The musical guests, The Suffers, had a nice, laidback groove that I enjoyed – a little different, but cool.

Wednesday, February 10 – Most of the primary craziness was covered well; highlights included Kasich going from “invisible” to 2^nd place, Rubio’s supporters assuring him they know it’s his fault, and Sanders polling well with “Your Facebook Friends.”  Roy’s field piece, trailing a pair ofhardcore Carson supporters in New Hampshire, really interested me.  I loved that its stance was so moderate, showing both the goofy (the couple thought a tinny “Yankee Doodle Dandy” emanating from an article of clothing “got the message out,”) and the reasonable (they wanted to hear what every candidate had to say, not just Carson.)  Olivia Wilde was the guest, promoting Vinyl on HBO.  They also talked about Body Team 12, an Oscar-nominated documentary short she produced, which sounds fascinating.  Wilde is an actress I’ve liked so much better after she stopped doing House (though not as much as my girl Jennifer Morrison!)

Thursday, February 11 – Lots of short segments here.  The Supreme Court blocking Obama’s climate plan was depressing.  A porn site using its ads to help charitable causes sounds wild, but I guess I could see it; I liked Trevor’s postulation that social change was the sites’ plan all along.  Jordan’s piece comparing Trump to a ringmaster was fine but unremarkable, though interviews with Trump supporters are always crazy, and I enjoyed the Coney Island performer Jordan spoke to.  Best segment of the night, for me, was the piece on assorted fast food woes.  I loved Trevor’s childhood aspirations to “eat a Big Mac and end apartheid,” his mutual outrage with Roy over the high calories in a McDonald’s salad, and Roy’s suggestion the government take a page from Denny’s, which paid “reparations” to a Black couple it treated badly.  The interview with Ben Stiller, talking about Zoolander 2, was a bit meh, nothing special.