During the 'Early Wrap' segment on Friday's CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith discussed the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan with a panel of media pundits: "The almost unknown, practically under the radar, the Supreme Court nominee, Elena Kagan, before committees this week being funny. She was downright funny."
GQ Magazine's Washington correspondent Ana Marie Cox agreed with Smith and added: "...a Saturday Night Live skit made live, in part because she looks exactly like Rachel Dratch. And it's perfect because Al Franken is on the committee. And I kept on watching like waiting for someone to burst into song or Unfrozen Caveman Senator." Radio host Jane Pratt chimed in: "Her joke was good, the Chinese food joke was good." Smith remarked: "Very funny. Sunday night, and Christmas."
On Wednesday's Good Morning America [1] on ABC, news reader Juju Chang noted Kagan's "lively sense of humor" and later asked co-hosts George Stephanopoulos and Elizabeth Vargas "who is going to play her in the SNL skit?" Vargas replied: "I don't think they could be as funny as Elena Kagan was!"
While the Early Show touted Kagan's comedic performance, neither Good Morning America nor NBC's Today made any mention of the confirmation hearings on Friday. In addition, none of the evening newscast on Thursday made any mention of Kagan's final day of testimony.
Here is a full transcript of the July 2 Early Show exchange provided by NewsBusters' Scott Whitlock:
8:20AM
HARRY SMITH: The almost unknown, practically under the radar, the Supreme Court nominee, Elena Kagan, before committees this week being funny. She was downright funny.
MO ROCCA: Last Justice Standing.
[All laugh]
ANA MARIE COX: American justice. It's funny. I actually thought she was funny, too.
SMITH: Right.
COX: I have to say, watching it immediately, I don't know if I'm allowed to say SNL, but Saturday Night Live, a Saturday Night Live skit made live, in part because she looks exactly like Rachel Dratch. And it's perfect because Al Franken is on the committee. And I kept on watching like waiting for someone to burst into song or Unfrozen Caveman Senator. I mean-
JANE PRATT: Yeah. Right. I haven't been able to watch it just because I feel like- like, I see Al Franken looking like he's kind of falling asleep and I'm like, it makes me feel like I'm going to fall asleep and then I wanted to crack a joke. Her joke was good, the Chinese food joke was good.
SMITH: Very funny. Sunday night, and Christmas.
COX: She took the fifth on Team Edward vs. Team Jacob, which all women do.
[They move on to other topics.]
-Kyle Drennen is a news analyst at the Media Research Center. You can follow him on Twitter here. [2]