“I’m hungry, but I’m good,” David-as-Sanders said after being welcomed, “and if you don’t mind, I’m going to dial it right up to a ten. We’re doomed!”
Whether one is for or against Bernie Sanders, Democrat or Republican, left or right, this impersonation of the Democratic candidate by Larry David is an instant SNL classic. It absolutely helps that Larry and Bernie have a very similar sounding voice and inflection. The parody of Bernie’s efforts to be seen as the “man of the people” in many ways helped to promote his campaign. After the video went viral, this skit became the best thing to happen so far in Sanders’ run for president by reaching many who do not follow politics and know little about Sanders. The parody helped him and his policy positions become much more widely known. Sanders even jokingly stated,
“I think we’ll use Larry at our next rally. He does better than I do.”
The very Seinfeld-esc manner in which this persona was delivered connected to many of the viewers in a very familiar way.
“I don’t have a Super PAC — I don’t have a backpack,” he proclaimed. “I carry my stuff around loose in my arms! I own one pair of underwear, that’s it! Some of these billionaires, they have three, four pairs!”
No one can say for sure at this juncture if Bernie will indeed win the nomination but it is clear that the SNL skit helped to nudge him in the right direction. We can only hope that Bernie does indeed win the Democratic nomination if for no other reason than we will get to see more of Larry David’s spot-on Bernie Sanders impression.