I'm sick of Donald Trump's “SNL” hosting appearance and it's still a few days away. There are organized protests, casual musings about how and if he'll be “funny,” and a lingering sense that Trump truly believes this will make him look cool. Fortunately we have an “SNL” alum offering her perspective on the presidential hopeful, and it's not a rosy one.
Nora Dunn, the five-season “SNL” alumna who played one half of the Sweeney Sisters with the late Jan Hooks, weighed in on Trump's upcoming appearance with a HuffPost column about how “SNL” has changed and why the Donald won't be the first or last time the show is disappointing.
There have been many incredible moments and big laughs and eye-popping craziness on Saturday Night Live. And that will continue, I hope. The show is part of our collective conscious. Trumps' appearance will not be a shining moment, but it won't be the first one that doesn't glow. He's a lout, a boor, and a jerk, but he's trending. I'm not sure what can be done without insulting him, and do we really make fun of people to their faces now? It's supposed to be behind their backs. Making fun of Sarah Palin while she was right there was awkward, at best. It didn't go over.
SNL isn't the same, but how could it be? Things change. When it comes to Trump's hosting skills this week, I wouldn't expect much. His appearance doesn't really matter, and that's the biggest disappointment of all.
Even better, Dunn recalls meeting Trump and being shocked to find him amiable.
Trump came up to SNL a couple of times when I worked there. He seemed like a nice fellow, gracious, and even humble back then. Yes, he was notorious for publicly humiliating his wife, but what man with huge money and fame hasn't done that at some point in his life? He was a popular New York character. I also met Trump at Telluride when he came backstage to congratulate me on my one-woman show. He was, once again, gracious and complimentary and honored me with more than just the few obligatory lines. He actually had intelligent and genuine things to say. So when he came out as a Birther I was surprised.
In 1990, Dunn famously walked off the show during a week in which comedian Andrew Dice Clay was set to host.
It's hard to say whether Donald Trump's appearance will do anything but confirm what many voters like or dislike about him, but it's clear that even former Studio 8H denizens know he won't be the first dubiously controversial figure to throw down a monologue on that stage.
Also: I vote for Pat Stevens.