Saturday Night Live/George W. Bush

George W. Bush Saturday Night Live
Actor(s)	Will Ferrell (28 appearances + 2 specials; 1999-2002) Chris Parnell (6 appearances; 2002-2003) Darrell Hammond (2 appearances; 2003) Will Forte (20 appearances; 2004-2006) Jason Sudeikis (6 appearances; 2006-2007)
Creator(s)
First Appearance	25x02 - Heather Graham/Marc Anthony
Last Appearance	32x20 - Zach Braff/Maroon 5
Episode Count	64 + 2 specials

George W. Bush is the 43rd President of the United States. Throughout most of his term, he has been very common as an impression on SNL, and members of the cast have switched off in the role. He became a popular impression during the 2000 election and the first year of his presidency for Will Ferrell, but after Ferrell left the show, several actors traded off in the role until Will Forte took over for the latter half of the twenty-ninth season and all of the following two seasons. Early in the thirty-second season, Jason Sudeikis took over the impression.

Basic Information

In the lead-up to the 2000 election, Texas Governor George W. Bush, the eldest son of former President George Bush, was considered a frontrunner for the Presidential nomination, even before he announced his candidacy. He won a tight, hotly contested race against Vice President Al Gore.

Will Ferrell portrayed Bush throughout the 2000 election. In his initial appearances, Ferrell made light of Bush's folksy mannerisms and admitted drug abuse as a young man. However, after the press began to question Bush's intelligence and awareness of global issues, Ferrell portrayed Bush as less and less intelligent. By the end of the election, Ferrell sent Bush up as a grown man with the mentality of a seven-year-old. However, in the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attacks, Ferrell pulled back in this aspect of the impression. In fact, SNL pulled back altogether in its Bush impressions. There were only two Bush impressions in the first six episodes of the season which began immediately after the attacks, and both portrayed Bush as a tough-talking cowboy of a leader.

As the "War on Terror" and later Iraq War dragged on, Bush faced increased criticism from the press and American public. The SNL impressions retained the element of lack of intelligence throughout Bush's presidency, but they shifted their central focus to more political satire. After Ferrell left, SNL had trouble finding a new recurring impressionist. Chris Parnell and resident political impressionist Darrell Hammond both took stabs at the role before Will Forte took over in the latter half of the twenty-ninth season and presided over the 2004 election. However, early into the thirty-second season, he was replaced by newcomer Jason Sudeikis.

Oddly, despite Bush's popularity as a character, his wife, First Lady Laura Bush, has never been impersonated on the show as of the middle of the thirty-second season.

Appearances

1. 25x02 - Heather Graham/Marc Anthony: (Ferrell) "Genetically Created Candidate."
2. 25x06 - Jennifer Aniston/Sting: (Ferrell) "Weekend Update." Bush appears on WU to discuss his memoirs and admission that he had taken drugs as a young man, but he is too high to talk and ends up ripping off his shirt.
3. 25x11 - Alan Cumming/Jennifer Lopez: (Ferrell) "Breakfast in New Hampshire."
4. 25x13 - Ben Affleck/Fiona Apple: (Ferrell) "Weekend Update."
5. 25x16 - Christopher Walken/Christina Aguilera: (Ferrell) "Father & Son Bush."
6. 26x01 - Rob Lowe/Eminem: (Ferrell) "First Presidential Debate."
7. 26x02 - Kate Hudson/Radiohead: (Ferrell) "Second Presidential Debate."
8. 26x03 - Dana Carvey/The Wallflowers: (Ferrell) "Third Presidential Debate" and "Dad & Son Go Hunting."
9. 26x04 - Charlize Theron/Paul Simon: (Ferrell) "A Glimpse of Our Possible Future."
10. 26x05 - Calista Flockhart/Ricky Martin: (Ferrell) "The Presidential Couple."
11. 26x06 - Tom Green/David Gray: (Ferrell) "Decision 2000."
12. 26x07 - Val Kilmer/U2: (Ferrell) "Palm Beach."
13. 26x08 - Lucy Liu/Jay-Z: (Ferrell) "Chi-Chi's."
14. 26x09 - Charlie Sheen/Nelly Furtado: (Ferrell) "Cheney's Message to the Rich."
15. 26x10 - Mena Suvari/Lenny Kravitz: (Ferrell) "Clinton's Final Address."
16. SP4 - Thursday Night Live (I): (Ferrell) "The Clinton Gift Registry."
17. SP5 - Thursday Night Live (II): (Ferrell) "Bush's Refund Check."
18. 26x12 - Sean Hayes/Shaggy: (Ferrell) "Bush's Bipartisanship."
19. 26x14 - Conan O'Brien/Don Henley: (Ferrell) "A Message from President Bush." Bush reassures the nation he is, unlike Vice President Cheney, in excellent health due to the fact that he does nothing.
20. 26x16 - Alec Baldwin/Coldplay: (Ferrell) "Bush's Deal with China."
21. 26x18 - Pierce Brosnan/Destiny's Child: (Ferrell) "Father & Daughter Bush."
22. 27x02 - Seann William Scott/Sum 41: (Ferrell) "Bush's Warning to Osama."
23. 27x05 - Gwyneth Paltrow/Ryan Adams: (Ferrell) "Arab Myths."
24. 27x07 - Derek Jeter/Bubba Sparxxx and Shakira: (Ferrell) "You Might Be a Terrorist."
25. 27x08 - Hugh Jackman/Mick Jagger: (Ferrell) "Gore's White House Call."
26. 27x11 - Jack Black/The Strokes: (Ferrell) "The Pretzel Incident."
27. 27x13 - Jonny Moseley/Outkast: (Ferrell) "The Axis of Evil."
28. 27x17 - The Rock/Andrew W.K.: (Ferrell) "The Guccione Peace Plan."
29. 27x19 - Kirsten Dunst/Eminem: (Ferrell) "Bush's Briefing."
30. 28x02 - Sarah Michelle Gellar/Faith Hill: (Parnell) "Bush's Address to Hussein."
31. 28x05 - Nia Vardalos/Eve: (Parnell) "The Republican Majority."
32. 28x12 - Jennifer Garner/Beck: (Parnell) "Forget About Iraq."
33. 28x15 - Salma Hayek/Christina Aguilera: (Parnell) "Bush's Press Conference."
34. 28x16 - Bernie Mac/Good Charlotte: (Parnell) "The Situation in Iraq."
35. 28x18 - Ashton Kutcher/50 Cent: (Parnell) "USS Abraham Lincoln."
36. 29x04 - Kelly Ripa/Outkast: (Hammond) "Weapon Discoveries."
37. 29x06 - Alec Baldwin/Missy Elliott: (Hammond) "The New Iraqi Government."
38. 29x12 - Drew Barrymore/Kelis: (Forte) "Mike's Bar, 1968."
39. 29x18 - Lindsay Lohan/Usher: (Forte) "Bush's Preparation."
40. 29x19 - Snoop Dogg/Avril Lavigne: (Forte) "White House Friends."
41. 30x01 - Ben Affleck/Nelly: (Forte) "First Presidential Debate."
42. 30x02 - Queen Latifah: (Forte) "Second Presidential Debate."
43. 30x03 - Jude Law/Ashlee Simpson: (Forte) "Ninth Presidential Debate" and "Bush & Blair Press Conference."
44. 30x05 - Liam Neeson/Modest Mouse: (Forte) "Kerry at the Beach."
45. 30x06 - Luke Wilson/U2: (Forte) "White House Apprentice."
46. 30x09 - Topher Grace/The Killers: (Forte) "Tsunami Press Conference."
47. 30x10 - Paul Giamatti/Ludacris f/ Sum 41: (Forte) "The Bush Daughters."
48. 31x01 - Steve Carell/Kanye West: (Forte) "White House Press Conference."
49. 31x02 - Jon Heder/Ashlee Simpson: (Forte) "Bush's Cronyism."
50. 31x03 - Catherine Zeta-Jones/Franz Ferdinand: (Forte) "Special Report."
51. 31x04 - Lance Armstrong/Sheryl Crow: (Forte) "Weekend Update."
52. 31x06 - Eva Longoria/Korn: (Forte) "Special Report."
53. 31x09 - Jack Black/Neil Young: (Forte) "Santa Cheney."
54. 31x13 - Natalie Portman/Fall Out Boy: (Forte) "Bush's Address."
55. 31x17 - Tom Hanks/Red Hot Chili Peppers: (Forte) "The Gas Plan."
56. 32x01 - Dane Cook/The Killers: (Forte) "Eckstrom for Comptroller." Bush makes a campaign stop for one of the few Republican candidates who still wants his help—the South Carolina candidate for comptroller.
57. 32x03 - John C. Reilly/My Chemical Romance: (Forte) "Special Report w/ Brit Hume." Fox News' Hume lists the problems Bush is having in Iraq, but he accepts that everything will be fine as an answer.
58. 32x06 - Ludacris: (Sudeikis) "A Message from the President."
59. 32x07 - Matthew Fox/Tenacious D: (Sudeikis) "Bush/Maliki Press Conference." Bush and Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki hold a press conference, but Bush is not thrilled with Maliki's answers as to how badly the Iraq War is going.
60. 32x08 - Annette Bening/Gwen Stefani & Akon: (Sudeikis) "An Address from President Bush." Bush takes suggestions from average Americans as to what should be done with Iraq.
61. 32x10 - Jake Gyllenhaal/The Shins: (Sudeikis) "Presidential Address." Bush lays out a plan to send all uniformed people who have had weapons training into Iraq in an attempt to sent 75 million troops to quell the insurgency.
62. 32x16 - Peyton Manning/Carrie Underwood: (Sudeikis) "Press Conference." Bush holds a press conference stating that he has faith in Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez, despite accusations of corruptions. He also says that if there were any wrong doing, Gonzalez would have hell to pay, which prompts the Attorney General to flee the conference.
63. 32x18 - Scarlett Johansson/Björk: (Sudeikis) "Presidential Press Conference." Bush states that the investigation over 10 fired US Attorneys is complete, as far as the White House is concerned and outlines several evasions he plans on taking so that his staff doesn't have to testify.
64. 32x20 - Zach Braff/Maroon 5: (Sudeikis) "Presidential Address." Bush outlines the various points of vindication against critics of the Iraq war, since the government hates the United States too much to be a puppet and gasoline prices are climbing exponentially. He then explains that he's going on vacation until Labor Day and leaving the country in Condoleezza Rice's hands.

Key Cabinet Members

• Name: Dick Cheney - Vice President
• Portrayed By:
  • Phil Hartman (1 appearance; 1991)
  • Darrell Hammond (22 appearances + 1 special; 2001-2007)
• Total Appearances: 23 + 1 special

1. 16x12 - Kevin Bacon/INXS: (Hartman) "Desert Storm Press Briefing."
2. 26x09 - Charlie Sheen/Nelly Furtado: (Hammond) "Cheney's Message to the Rich."
3. SP5 - Thursday Night Live (II): (Hammond) "Bush's Refund Check."
4. 26x19 - Lara Flynn Boyle/Bon Jovi: (Hammond) "Cheney's Energy Policy."
5. 27x03 - Drew Barrymore/Macy Gray: (Hammond) "Cheney in Afghanistan."
6. 27x08 - Hugh Jackman/Mick Jagger: (Hammond) "Gore's White House Call."
7. 27x09 - Ellen DeGeneres/No Doubt: (Hammond) "Dick Cheney's Snow Globe."
8. 27x11 - Jack Black/The Strokes: (Hammond) "The Pretzel Incident."
9. 27x12 - Britney Spears (2): (Hammond) "Camp X-Ray."
10. 27x14 - Jon Stewart/India.Arie: (Hammond) "Cheney's Concerns."
11. 27x19 - Kirsten Dunst/Eminem: (Hammond) "Bush's Briefing."
12. 28x01 - Matt Damon/Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: (Hammond) "NBC Special Report."
13. 28x02 - Sarah Michelle Gellar/Faith Hill: (Hammond) "Bush's Address to Hussein."
14. 29x17 - Janet Jackson: (Hammond) "Condoleezza's Preparation."
15. 29x18 - Lindsay Lohan/Usher: (Hammond) "Bush's Preparation."
16. 30x02 - Queen Latifah: (Hammond) "Vice Presidential Debate."
17. 30x10 - Paul Giamatti/Ludacris f/ Sum 41: (Hammond) "The Bush Daughters."
18. 31x02 - Jon Heder/Ashlee Simpson: (Hammond) "Bush's Cronyism."
19. 31x04 - Lance Armstrong/Sheryl Crow: (Hammond) "A Message from the Vice President."
20. 31x08 - Alec Baldwin/Shakira: (Hammond) "The Tony Bennett Show."
21. 31x09 - Jack Black/Neil Young: (Hammond) "Santa Cheney."
22. 31x13 - Natalie Portman/Fall Out Boy: (Hammond) "Bush's Address."
23. 31x17 - Tom Hanks/Red Hot Chili Peppers: (Hammond) "The Gas Plan."
24. 32x13 - Forest Whitaker/Keith Urban: (Hammond) "Happy Valentine's Day from the Cheney Family."
25. 32x20 - Zach Braff/Maroon 5: (Hammond) "Presidential Address." Cheney appears throughout Bush's speech, approving of the way he's dispatching critics until he admits one failure and disappears suddenly.

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• Name: Condoleezza Rice - Secretary of State
• Portrayed By:
  • Maya Rudolph (9 appearances; 2001-2006)
  • Janet Jackson (1 appearance; 2004)
• Total Appearances: 9 (Rudolph & Jackson simultaneously in one episode)

1. 27x08 - Hugh Jackman/Mick Jagger: (Rudolph) "Gore's White House Call."
2. 27x19 - Kirsten Dunst/Eminem: (Rudolph) "Bush's Briefing."
3. 29x17 - Janet Jackson: (Jackson) "Condoleezza's Preparation." (Rudolph) "Weekend Update."
4. 29x19 - Snoop Dogg/Avril Lavigne: (Rudolph) "White House Friends."
5. 30x06 - Luke Wilson/U2: (Rudolph) "White House Apprentice."
6. 30x10 - Ludacris f/ Sum 41: (Rudolph) "Rice Confirmation Hearing."
7. 30x20 - Lindsay Lohan/Coldplay: (Rudolph) "Hardball."
8. 31x17 - Tom Hanks/Red Hot Chili Peppers: (Rudolph) "Colin's Place."
9. 32x01 - Dane Cook/The Killers: (Rudolph) "Weekend Update." Rice and former President Bill Clinton discuss Clinton's responsibility for the 9-11 attacks and their past affair.
10. 32x20 - Zach Braff/Maroon 5: (Rudolph) "Presidential Address." Rice takes control of the country when Bush decides to go on an extended three month summer vacation.

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• Name: Donald H. Rumsfeld - Secretary of Defense
• Portrayed By:
  • Darrell Hammond (10 appearances; 2001-2006)
• Total Appearances: 10

1. 27x05 - Gwyneth Paltrow/Ryan Adams: (Hammond) "Fiesta Politica."
2. 27x06 - Billy Bob Thornton/Creed: (Hammond) "Department of Defense Press Briefing."
3. 27x08 - Hugh Jackman/Mick Jagger: (Hammond) "Gore's White House Call."
4. 28x09 - Jeff Gordon/Avril Lavigne: (Hammond) "Charlie Rose."
5. 28x10 - Ray Liotta/The Donnas: (Hammond) "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'."
6. 29x19 - Snoop Dogg/Avril Lavigne: (Hammond) "White House Friends."
7. 30x06 - Luke Wilson/U2: (Hammond) "White House Apprentice."
8. 30x07 - Colin Farrell/Scissor Sisters: (Hammond) "Town Hall Meeting."
9. 30x08 - Robert DeNiro/Destiny's Child: (Hammond) "Pentagon Press Briefing."
10. 32x05 - Alec Baldwin/Christina Aguilera: (Hammond) "Weekend Update."

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• Name: John Ashcroft - Attorney General
• Portrayed By:
  • Darrell Hammond (3 appearances; 2001-2004)
  • John McCain (1 appearance; 2002)
• Total Appearances: 4

1. 27x04 - John Goodman/Ja Rule: (Hammond) "Ashcroft's Press Conference."
2. 27x07 - Bubba Sparxxx and Shakira: (Hammond) "You Might Be a Terrorist."
3. 28x03 - John McCain/The White Stripes: (McCain) "Hardball."
4. 30x05 - Liam Neeson/Modest Mouse: (Hammond) "Weekend Update."

General Election Opponents

• Name: Al Gore
• Portrayed By:
  • Kevin Nealon (1 appearance; 1988)
  • Mark McKinney (3 appearances; 1996-1997)
  • Will Ferrell (3 appearances; 1997-1999)
  • Darrell Hammond (17 appearances; 1999-2006)
• Total Appearances: 24

See Bill Clinton.

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• Name: John Kerry
• Portrayed By:
  • Seth Meyers (13 appearances; 2002-2006)
• Total Appearances: 13

1. 28x08 - Al Gore/Phish: (Meyers) "Al Gore's Monologue."
2. 29x07 - Al Sharpton/Pink: (Meyers) "Candidate Party."
3. 29x09 - Jennifer Aniston/Black Eyed Peas: (Meyers) "Democratic National Committee (II)."
4. 29x11 - Megan Mullally/Clay Aiken: (Meyers) "Nightline."
5. 29x12 - Drew Barrymore/Kelis: (Meyers) "Gore's Endorsement" and "Mike's Bar, 1968."
6. 29x20 - Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen/J-Kwon: (Meyers) "Hardball."
7. 30x01 - Ben Affleck/Nelly: (Meyers) "First Presidential Debate" and "Kerry Campaign Stop."
8. 30x02 - Queen Latifah: (Meyers) "Second Presidential Debate."
9. 30x03 - Jude Law/Ashlee Simpson: (Meyers) "Ninth Presidential Debate."
10. 30x04 - Kate Winslet/Eminem: (Meyers) "Clinton's Endorsement."
11. 30x05 - Liam Neeson/Modest Mouse: (Meyers) "Kerry at the Beach."
12. 30x10 - Paul Giamatti/Ludacris f/ Sum 41: (Meyers) "Rice Confirmation Hearing."
13. 31x11 - Peter Sarsgaard/The Strokes: (Meyers) "Weekend Update."