Josh Greenbaum’s documentary Playing POTUS: SNL’s 50 Years of Presidents is a lighthearted but uneven exploration of how Saturday Night Live has shaped America’s perception of presidents through comedy. While the film acknowledges its own limitations—such as avoiding pre-SNL presidential satire or deeper analysis of non-SNL media like The Simpsons—it leans heavily on the show’s iconic impersonations to drive its narrative. With contributions from legends including Dana Carvey, Chevy Chase, and Kate McKinnon, the documentary celebrates the absurdity and cultural impact of political parody, even if it occasionally falters in its scope and coherence.
The film opens with Vaughn Meader’s groundbreaking Kennedy impersonation on The First Family, a Grammy-winning comedy album, and briefly touches on the Smothers Brothers’ satirical takes before diving headfirst into SNL’s legacy. Greenbaum’s focus on SNL stars’ personal anecdotes—like Dana Carvey’s struggle to portray George H.W. Bush or Alec Baldwin’s Trump impersonations—highlights the show’s role in blurring the line between fiction and political reality. Even segments on less successful imitators, such as Will Forte’s George W. Bush, add levity, while experts contextualize how these portrayals seep into public consciousness.
However, Playing POTUS feels strangely narrow in its ambition. It sidesteps significant omissions: Tina Fey’s Sarah Palin parody, Donald Trump’s controversial SNL hosting gig, and pre-SNL references like That’s My Bush! or W. Instead, the documentary fixates on SNL’s own brand of comedy, leaving gaps in its exploration of broader political satire. A fleeting mention of Sarah Cooper’s Trump impersonations—or the notable absence of pre-2000s media—further underscores its limitations. The film’s three-act structure, complete with a whimsical voiceover, prioritizes entertainment over depth, resulting in a documentary that’s engaging but frustratingly incomplete.
