Darrell Hammond John McCain

SNL cast Member Darrell Hammond portrayed 2008 Republican presidential nominee John McCain in a September 20, 2008 edition of Saturday Night Live. The sketch opened the second episode of SNL's 2008 season, and follows on the heels of the Sarah Palin Hillary Clinton sketch.The sketch showed McCain approving several absurd attack ads regarding Democratic Nominee Barack Obama.Orlando Sentinel: "Saturday Night Live" with James Franco... (September 21, 2008). The skit was reportedly written from an idea generated by Al Franken.Politico: Franken helps craft McCain 'SNL' skit (September 20, 2008)

Producer 1: "And then this last TV ad has no dialogue, it's just a hip-hop track with fast cuts back and forth between Obama, Pacman Jones, Ludacris, Michael Vick, Marion Barry, Al Sharpton, O.J. Simpson, ex-Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, five minutes of that Chuck Berry video, a bunch of blonde strippers, the monster from Predator, and then Mohammad Atta."

McCain: "What is that one trying to say?"

Producer 1: "You know, it's not really trying to say anything. We'll just let people make of it what they will."

McCain (turns to other producer): "Do you think it's fair?"

Producer 2: "I do."

McCain: "Ken?"

Ken: "That's the fairest thing I ever heard!"

McCain: "In that case, I'm John McCain, and live from New York, it's Saturday Night!"

• Orlando Sentinel: "Saturday Night Live" with James Franco... (September 21, 2008).

• Chicago Sun-times: Live From New York, It's... (September 11, 2008)

• The Associated Press: `SNL' returns with spotlight on prez... (September 11, 2008)

• NewsBusters: 'SNL' Does McCain-Bashing Skit Written by Al Franken (September 21, 2008)

• Politico: Franken helps craft McCain 'SNL' skit (September 20, 2008)

• Hulu Video: McCain Approves Open: Saturday Night Live (Time: 4:42)