Debate '76 - SNL

Ann Wrabel (Karen Black) moderates a debate between a medicated President Gerald Ford (Chevy Chase) and Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter (Dan Aykroyd), with questions on Ford's visit to Poland and Carter's Playboy interview. [Season 2, 1976]

#SNL

[tylerkochman]

For those wondering: the needle in his arm is a reference to the Swine Flu vaccination he publicly received in a photo op

[GuildsmanPirate]

I’m in awe over the way they would call out Ford, Kissinger and the support of the overthrowing of Salvador Allende in favor of Augusto Pinochet. The way Chevy calls out specific tortures is brutal. Love this sketch so much

[juggaleaux]

I like how the candidates actually stop talking when their time is up.

[LastFanStanding]

I'm 99% sure Belushi was actually bumping coke during this sketch.

[christopherthorkon]

When Chevy Chase was going to play Ford, they decided to simply have him go out as is -- no impersonation, no special makeup, no special bald cap. It worked brilliantly.

[cpawlak]

“Last year I went to the Capitol of Poland. Offset, Milwaukee is a beautiful city.” LMAO best line.

[jayydee]

Chevy looks like a conservative Jim Morrison

[grapes]

So a guy named Chevy is playing a Ford

[TrevorDBrown]

... the eternal question "Why?", that has plagued philosophers from Socrates, to Saint Thomas Aquinas, to Bob Dylan.

[TheSuperHeartOrgFoundation]

1:00 "i can name that tune in 4 notes" ;)

[clashy_grit]

This skit continues to be a favorite. Gerald Ford trying to fill that glass = mood.

[stillsearching]

Dan Akroyd's Carter is fantastic.

[dustinheese]

Chevy Chase physical comedy will always break me. Love the glass and pitcher gag.

[robert]

“And of course I had to call a few secret service men to come in and spin that desk around while I put the bulb in” Fucking dying 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[frankdeste]

The Needle in his (Chevy Chase) arm was supposed to represent the Swine Flu times never change!

[derpmcgerp]

Lol, look at the credits. Every line is some sort of joke or reference. XD

Under Carter's Special Consultants: *Mr. Peanut*
Under Carter's Dental Consultants: *Dr. Seuss*

Ford's Wardrobe: *A MISTAKE*
Carter's Makeup by *MICK JAGGER*

[JacobSnell]

Despite the low budget, lack of makeup artists, etc. it's really nice to see a time where they had to really stretch the reality to make it funny. The real debates were so serious, professional, cordial, and fact-based, that it required a lot of work to make a sketch out of it. After the 2021 debate the material had already wrote itself for them.

[Velo]

Oh the good old days of SNL!! Miss them.

[gertrudemcfuzz]

"At this moment, in my heart, I'm wearin' a leather mask and breathin' in your ear"

[jcarterla]

Is this the "back when the show wasn't political" thing I'm always reading about?