When Lorne Michaels and George W. Bush Talked That ‘Saturday Night Live’ Impression
If you’ve never seen Will Ferrell doing George W. Bush on “Saturday Night Live,” you missed out on some pure comic gold.
Ferrell squinted and drawled his way through impressions of the former president, invoking classic “Bushisms” as he went.
Turns out, Bush had a few issues with that.
During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live Thursday night, Bush recounted a playful argument he once had with “SNL” creator Lorne Michaels.
“I had dinner with Lorne Michaels, the head of ‘Saturday Night Live,’ and he said, ‘I put a great speechwriter on you, and he came up with “strategery,”’ Bush recalled. “And I said, ‘Wait a minute, I said “strategery.”’ And he said, ‘No, you didn’t say “strategery.”’ I said, ‘I damn sure said “strategery.”’ He said, ‘We invented it.’ I said, ‘Well, let me ask you this: Did he come up with ‘misunderestimate?’”
That aside, Bush said imitations never really bother him — adding that he used to get a kick out of the White House Correspondents’ dinner comedy bits.
“I love humor,” he said. “The best humor is when you make fun of yourself.”
Kimmel then quipped: “Well, tell that to the president.”
Watch Bush’s full interview below:
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning journalism this Passover.
In this age of misinformation, our work is needed like never before. We report on the news that matters most to American Jews, driven by truth, not ideology.
At a time when newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall. That means for the first time in our 126-year history, Forward journalism is free to everyone, everywhere. With an ongoing war, rising antisemitism, and a flood of disinformation that may affect the upcoming election, we believe that free and open access to Jewish journalism is imperative.
Readers like you make it all possible. Right now, we’re in the middle of our Passover Pledge Drive and we still need 300 people to step up and make a gift to sustain our trustworthy, independent journalism.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
Only 300 more gifts needed by April 30