Al Gore on SNL: The Value of Self-Deprecating Humor

Al Gore's visit to Saturday Night Live last week was a standout. The former presidential candidate was there to mark NBC’s “Green Week” and to promote his book “Our Choice: A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis.”

In “Weekend Update” with Seth Meyers, when asked to comment on how Obama was doing on the environment so far, Gore suggested that the president could use his mandate to do even more. “He won the popular vote, Seth, and we all know that’s the one that counts,” joked Gore.

He went on to say that “we are at a critical moment when it comes to the climate crisis” and so to draw attention to the problem “I’m gonna start acting crazy.” He talked about the pranks he plans to pull on people in power to do that. “Instead of science, I’m going with crazy,” he said. One idea he has is to tape toy guns to trees so politicians know that the forest is coming to get them.

What made it brilliant was the deadpan delivery. The juxtaposition of opposites (dry delivery juxtaposed to going-rogue context) broke through our expectations. It got our attention. It was the funniest piece in the entire show.