Was comedian Victoria Jackson blacklisted from the Saturday Night Live’s 40th anniversary show because of her anti-Obama political views?
It’s a question even some bloggers and commentators are raising following the special live show that aired on NBC on Sunday.
Jackson, who spent six years as an SNL cast member from 1986 to 1992, found herself watching the show on a screen in an “overflow room.” She was not invited to participate in the comedic routines by producer Lorne Michaels, nor was she invited to watch in the studio. She was the only cast member in the overflow room.
Jackson is an outspoken critic of the Obama administration and recently posted a satirical video on YouTube titled “There’s a Muslim Living in the White House,” which was a sequel to an earlier video called “There’s a Communist Living in the White House.” She has also spoken out against the “gay” themes incessantly portrayed on “Glee” and other prime-time TV shows.
“I know the show is not a conservative Christian show, so they probably wouldn’t like me in general,” Jackson told radio interviewer Rusty Humphries.
But it might not be that simple, she concedes.
“Sarah Palin and (Donald) Trump. They were in the audience. They’re conservative …So they had some token conservatives, they were in the audience,” Jackson told Humphries.
“The only thing I can think of is the gay thing because it is such a strong movement.”
Listen to full radio interview below:
[jwplayer Clq8Q3tL]
The choices of who was prominently featured on the 40th anniversary show and who was not were not lost on reviewers such as Roger Friedman, who blogs for Showbiz 411. He noticed who was seen and not seen, and maybe a few who were kept hidden. He wrote:
“‘SNL40’ is a lot like a high school reunion. If you went off to become popular and successful, you’re back. But if things got weird after you left, forget it. Hence the glaring omission of Dennis Miller, who was a great “Weekend Update” host but turned conservative mouthpiece in years later. And no Victoria Jackson, who was a chirpy blonde on the show but now fights for the Right. (UPDATE I’m told she was in the audience, but otherwise unseen.)”
Inside Edition also did a piece on Jackson’s conspicuous absence from the commemorative show.
“You cannot make fun of Obama. Even SNL does not make fun of Obama. They are afraid,” she told Inside Edition.
Jackson said Inside Edition “twisted my story a bit,” by editing out certain key points of the interview.
Jackson on her website downplayed any connection between her lack of a role in the anniversary show and her political views. She thanked producer Lorne Michaels for her time on the program.
“I’m so grateful I got to be part of an American Institution whose goal was and is just…laughter. Laughter is important,” she wrote on her website, VictoriaJackson.com.
Watch Victoria Jackson’s interview with Inside Edition:
[jwplayer TbJsZx2Y]
Here is what she had to say on her website about the Inside Edition interview.
“When Inside Edition asked me why I thought I was left out of the Live Show Studio, and seated in the overflow room instead, I did NOT say it was because I was a conservative. I looked into their camera and said, ‘I don’t know.’ —-I mean, it could have been a bracelet mistake, or maybe I smelled bad.—-
Inside Edition exaggerated my story by writing, ‘There was drama behind-the-scenes because former cast member Victoria Jackson says she was kept in an overflow room away from other cast members. She says it was because she is a conservative.’ This is not truthful. There was no ‘drama.’ I was placed in an ‘overflow room’ but didn’t pay much attention to it until Robert Smigel came in there for some food, saw me, and asked me why I was sitting there for the past 2 1/2 hours. I told him that the usher looked at my bracelet and told me to sit here. They were pretty strict about it too. Smigel pointed out that I was the only cast member in the ‘overflow’ room and Smigel insisted I go back with him into Studio 8H.
I did not tell Inside Edition that I was in the overflow room because I am a conservative. I may have implied it by referencing the Constitution and the Bible…and it did cross my mind. But, Sarah Palin and Trump were in 8H, the main room. They’re conservatives.
Inside Edition says I was ‘kept away from other cast members.’ Not true. See pictures below. Inside Edition fudged.”
Jackson said Inside Edition also “left out the part where I said that several people in the celebrity crowd whispered to me that they share my political views…and that I think it’s interesting that they had to whisper. Fear of Blacklist? Freedom of Speech? It used to be cool to disagree with the Government, what happened? Why is Obama’s Administration the only one that is off-limits to questioning?!)”
She concluded by saying:
“So, it’s still a mystery. Did Lorne Michaels’ beautiful 20-year-old-assistant make a mistake and hand me the wrong bracelet? (Bracelets were handed out telling the ushers/security team which room you were assigned to). Was I blacklisted for disagreeing with the President/media’s ideology? Was it because I am a Christian? Is it because I believe in the Biblical definition of marriage and publicly spoke out against homosexual themes in prime time TV shows? Is Lorne ashamed of me? What do you think?”
