People who wake up each morning dreading what President Trump has said or done the previous night may not want to revisit the emotional rollercoaster of Election Day 2016, but “11/8/16” nevertheless provides a fascinating portrait of the country’s mood, filtered through the real-time reactions of a cross-section of Americans with various political affiliations.
Producer Jeff Deutchman, working with 16 filmmaking teams across the country, takes the temperature of the electorate as the results roll in, less as a chronicle of Trump’s upset than the thoughts and feelings of the people who fear or hope their lives will be affected by the outcome.
Starting with Amrit, a Sikh cab driver in New York and ending 24 hours later with Vernon, a homeless man in Honolulu, “11/8/16” cuts between more than a dozen individuals, their friends and family in locations across the U.S. Other participants include Eric, a miner whose family believes Clinton hates the coal industry; Anthony Ray, voting for the first time in decades after being exonerated from a 30-year death sentence; Jesus, a community organizer representing a community of DREAMers who are terrified of a Trump administration; Tom, a businessman who likes to troll his wife by refusing to take off his “Make America Great Again” hat; Calene, a housewife supporting third-party candidate Evan McMullin; Christina, managing editor for the politics section of the Los Angeles Times; Hana, a fresh-faced college student; and Vetress, a Chicago businesswoman-turned-activist polling her friends and neighbors about which candidate will help them the most — or at least do the least damage.
For the most part, the filmmakers record their subjects passively, declining to challenge their assertions about the candidates’ views, values or policies, which may rankle some viewers with strong points of view about Clinton or Trump (or both). But given the gobsmacking outcome of the election, which even the film’s Trump supporters did not expect — the choice not to engage feels almost sweetly naïve, the well-intentioned byproduct of a “both-sides” mentality.
This objectivity fails to account for an anger in the electorate that Sierra, a producer of video content for Hillary For America, is the only one interviewee to acknowledge in the immediate aftermath of Trump’s victory. That said, it’s less a shortcoming of the film than a sobering reminder of liberals’ perhaps blindly optimistic pre-November 8 view of American politics.
As liberals and pundits scratch their chins and wipe away tears as the results roll in, the film also offers a thumbnail view of the talking points that dominated the last days of the election cycle, and reiterates the power of the media to shape voters’ opinions about candidates. Admittedly, combat veteran Adrian’s contention that Trump would be a better candidate because “he’s willing to start a dialogue” about tough subjects (referring to his “Access Hollywood” scandal as an example of creating important discourse) feels fairly outrageous, no matter on what side of the political spectrum you fall. But Tom’s belief that Clinton would cheat in order to win, or Eric’s family hoping Trump will reform the coal industry while Clinton will simply wipe it out, all comes straight from talking points hammered home on Fox News and in political ads, tailored and coordinated to impact the people not just likely but the most eager to believe those claims.
While there’s an enormous relief in watching exonerated death row convict Anthony Ray participate in the electoral process without incident, it’s heartbreaking to see reactions from the DREAMers Jesus represents who voice very real fears (and fears that effectively came true) about what might happen to them and their families if Trump is elected.
Conversely, the disappointment of the young (and not-so-young) white liberals gnashing their teeth over Clinton’s loss feels a bit like the episode of “The Simpsons” where Lisa Simpson briefly dates Ralph Wiggum — you can pinpoint the sound when their hearts rip in half! — but there is something extremely powerful, especially in retrospect, about the way in which the collective certainty of not just Democrats but most pundits and the media as a whole was demolished by Trump’s victory.
As a film whose ending is known before the first frame unspools, it would be interesting to revisit these individuals a year later and see how the election impacted their lives, and their opinions about Trump or Clinton may have changed. Its intimacy certainly invites viewers to remember where they were, what they were doing and how they were feeling as events unfolded, whether they want to or not.
But if nothing else, “11/8/16” showcases the sad fact that there is no such thing as “too soon” any longer, because whether you saw the 2016 election as a disappointment or a victory, it captures not just a moment, but uniquely, a single event that changed — and constantly forces us to re-evaluate — the past, present and future all at the same time.
'SNL': The 25 Very Best Sketches of Season 42, Ranked (Photos)
"Saturday Night Live" is like a comedy fire hose. Some "SNL" sketches are hilarious and memorable; others don't really land. And still others get overshadowed, with audiences not realizing how great a sketch was until later, or maybe never. With plenty more "SNL" 42 to go, we've compiled the very best sketches of the season so far, and we'll keep it updated from week to week.
NBC
25. “Jingle Barack” (Host: Casey Affleck, Dec. 17, 2016) Invoking Run DMC’s “Christmas in Hollis,” this wound up being a pretty catchy song about the possibility of this being the last Christmas ever. The song celebrates (kind of) Barack Obama during his last Christmas in office, but the person who really gets honored is Joe Biden, thanks to Leslie Jones’ verse about how attracted to him she is. Watch it here.
NBC
24. "Rap Song" (Host: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, May 20) What started out as a goofy premise for a sketch -- Keenan Thompson is a rapper introducing guest acts for his latest track, but the cast list gets out of control -- turned into a stealth return of fan-favorite Tom Hanks character David S. Pumpkins. It was weird in a perfect way, and just enough Pumpkins to make the joke work without overselling it. Watch the sketch here.
NBC
23. “Walking Dead Chappelle’s Show” (Host: Dave Chappelle, Nov. 12, 2016) It’s just a series of callbacks to “Chappelle’s Show” characters who were funny a decade ago. Still, Chappelle playing almost every role in this “Walking Dead” send-up is a good reminder of how funny that show was. Watch the sketch here.
NBC
22. "Shud the Mermaid" (Host: Scarlett Johansson, March 11) This one is mostly makeup and gross innuendo, as Kate McKinnon and Scarlett Johansson play mermaids who are more fish than maiden. McKinnon and Johansson’s commitment to being totally nasty really sells the joke though. Watch the sketch here.
NBC
21. "Trump People's Court" (Host: Alec Baldwin, Feb. 11) "SNL" made good on Trump's all-caps "SEE YOU IN COURT" tweet by taking the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to "The People's Court." But Judge Milian hassling Trump about his travel ban was a bit too short to really take off. Watch the sketch here.
NBC
20. “Stranger Things” (Host: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Oct. 8) “SNL” answers a very important question of “Where is Lucas’ family in ‘Stranger Things?’” When they show up looking for their son, they turn out to be the only sane people in the whole supernatural Midwestern story. The standout of this one is Melissa Villaseñor’s Winona Ryder impression. You can watch the sketch here.
NBC
19. “Haunted Elevator (featuring David S. Pumpkins)” (Host: Tom Hanks, Oct. 22) Of everything that aired during Tom Hanks’ ninth episode hosting “SNL,” his David S. Pumpkins character resonated the most for some reason. The dancing skeletons gag can’t sustain laughs for as long as it’s dragged out, until the final punchline redeems the whole thing. You can watch the sketch here.
NBC
18. “The Librarian” (Host: Margot Robbie, Oct. 1) Margot Robbie is Ms. Dalton, the sexy librarian all the high school guys oogle. And then Yello’s “Oh Yeah” kicks on and you think it’s going to be some crazy adolescent fantasy — except it becomes horrifying. Robbie as the gross, hairless, murdering librarian continually tops herself as the sketch goes on. You can watch the sketch here.
NBC
17. “Live Report” (Host: Margot Robbie, Oct. 1) At first, a newscast where Kenan Thompson can’t believe Mikey Day’s nerdy guy is married to Margot Robbie draws a light chuckle. Then Leslie Jones gets in on the act and suddenly it’s a multi-pronged conspiracy like investigation. And then Thompson drives it home when he realizes Matt Shatt is wearing crocks with socks. You can watch the sketch here.
NBC
16. "Jeff Sessions Gump" (Host: Octavia Spencer, March 4) Kate McKinnon's Jeff Sessions tells random strangers on a park bench about the rough week he's been having. McKinnon slays the impression of both Sessions and Forrest Gump, and her reference to Kellyanne Conway's #Couchgate gaff through the lens of Gump was a standout moment. Watch the sketch here.
NBC
15. “Whiskers R’ We with Kristen Wiig” (Host: Kristen Wiig, Nov. 19) It’s the Thanksgiving for “Whiskers R’ We,” so Kate McKinnon’s "SNL" cat lady Barbara DeDrew is joined by Furonica — a cat-lover more intense than she is. Kristen Wiig and McKinnon are hilarious together here. It would be worth it for the descriptions of the cats, but Barbara and Furonica’s implied attraction adds its own great layer. You can watch the sketch here.
NBC
14. “Trump vs. Clinton: Round 2” (Host: Emily Blunt, Oct. 15) The weirdest debate made for the funniest "SNL" debate sketch. Moments like Alec Baldwin’s Trump fidgeting in the background and his scary flyby when Hillary Clinton (Kate McKinnon) has her back turned perfectly capture the actual event. It’s been tough to make election jokes that were funnier than what actually happened in real life, but this sketch manages. You can watch the sketch here.
NBC
13. “Pizza Town” (Host: Aziz Ansari, Jan. 21) Cops discover a suspect in a closed kids pizza restaurant, where the animatronics keep switching on. Aziz Ansari absolutely kills as the Chuck E. Cheez-esque character, but everyone in the sketch is hilariously convincing as the stilted, incredibly unfun-looking robot band. You can watch the sketch here.
NBC
12. "Welcome Video" (Host: Kristen Stewart, Feb. 4) "SNL" did a phenomenal job dismantling Trump's first travel ban with this heavily edited US immigration video. Beck Bennett's ruthless tone as the editor adds a particular level of hilarity. Watch the sketch here.
NBC
11. “Through Donald’s Eyes” (Host: John Cena, Dec. 10) A first-person look at how Donald Trump sees the world is funny in a goofy way, as he watches super-simplified news reports or Kellyanne Conway runs in to calm him. But then it turns the corner into hilarious as Trump looks in a mirror — and what he sees is John Cena. You can watch the sketch here.
NBC
10. “A Day Off” (Host: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Oct. 8) During the election, it seemed like Trump Campaign Manager Kellyanne Conway couldn’t catch a break. Even on her day off, Conway (Kate McKinnon) is explaining way the ridiculous things Trump has said. Everything here is great, from Conway’s increasingly care-free activities to the nonsense on-the-fly explanations she gives for Trump’s comments. You can watch the sketch here.
NBC
9. “Donald Trump Press Conference” (Host: Felicity Jones, Jan. 14) Right after the infamous, unverified memo supposedly including compromising information about Trump from Russian intelligence, we get Trump’s first press conference. It was ridiculous in real life but insane with Alec Baldwin playing Trump and delivering a beautifully fast succession the repeated line “You’re in.” You can watch the sketch here.
NBC
8. "Trump sings 'Hallelujah" (Host: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, May 20) In a perfect callback to its post-election episode, in which Kate McKinnon as Hillary Clinton sang Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," "SNL" gathered its whole Trump administration cast together for one last hurrah. Scarlett Johansson even returned as her "Complicit" sketch version of Ivanka Trump. It was a elegantly simple comment on the most scandal-filled week of the Trump presidency. Watch it here.
NBC
7. "Donald Trump Calls World Leaders" (Host: Kristen Stewart, Feb. 4) With two weeks of executive actions and plenty of news, "SNL" channels everything (and animosity toward Steve Bannon) in one sketch. And it manages to exceed reality as Baldwin's Trump goes off the rails calling world leaders, and even channeling Hitler. You can watch the sketch here.
NBC
6. “Five Stars” (Host: Aziz Ansari, Jan. 21) Riffing on an episode of “Black Mirror,” Aziz Ansari and his Uber driver (Bobby Moynihan) are both struggling in increasingly ridiculous ways to impress the other to earn a five-star rating. The best “SNL” sketches are the ones that feel a shade away from real life and this one taps something fundamental about the social media-infused world. Also, Moynihan gives Ansari a foot rub on the highway. You can watch the sketch here.
NBC
5. "Lester Holt Cold Open" (Host: Melissa McCarthy, May 13) Alec Baldwin let loose on Donald Trump with his funniest turn in the role as he gave an interview to Lester Holt. Highlights include explaining what "prime the pump" means and channeling Richard Nixon. Watch the sketch here.
NBC
4. "White House Press Briefing 2 (Host: Alec Baldwin, Feb. 11) Returning for a second spin as Sean Spicer, Melissa McCarthy riffed on her own best moments from her first turn a week earlier. The sketch's high point was when Spicer used a doll of Disney's Moana as a visual aid, saying the Trump Administration would send her to Guantanamo Bay. That is, until McCarthy as Spicer started chasing the White House press corps around on a fully motorized podium. You can watch the sketch here.
NBC
3. “Black Jeopardy” (Host: Tom Hanks, Oct. 22) In a charged national moment approaching the election, this sketch gets at an essential truth: We’re all a lot more similar than we are different. More than that, every answer in “Black Jeopardy” is hilarious and feels spot-on. Doug’s right, giving Apple your fingerprint is how they get you. You can watch the sketch here.
NBC
2. "Easter Message from Sean Spicer" (Host: Jimmy Fallon, April 15) After White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer made comments comparing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to Hilter, Melissa McCarthy appeared on "SNL" as Sean Spicer to apologize. Donning an Easter Bunny costume, Spicer wrongly explained the story of Passover and made a few more Assad-related gaffes. Watch the sketch here.
NBC
1. "White House Press Briefing" (Host: Kristen Stewart, Feb. 4) Melissa McCarthy made a surprise guest appearance as White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, and absolutely killed it. Yelling at reporters, spraying them with Super Soakers, pulling out stuffed animals as visual aids -- it was all hilarious. And then Spicer rushed the press with the podium. You can watch it here.
NBC
1 of 26
From the Trump vs. Hillary to Melissa McCarthy as Sean Spicer, these are the best of SNL 42
"Saturday Night Live" is like a comedy fire hose. Some "SNL" sketches are hilarious and memorable; others don't really land. And still others get overshadowed, with audiences not realizing how great a sketch was until later, or maybe never. With plenty more "SNL" 42 to go, we've compiled the very best sketches of the season so far, and we'll keep it updated from week to week.
NBC
NBC
