Bush and Gore play politics on comedy special

NEW YORK (AP) -- In what was many voters' final look at the candidates before election day, Al Gore and George W. Bush made fun of their duel for the White House on a comedy special Sunday night.

The prime-time "Saturday Night Live's Presidential Bash 2000" was mostly a highlights reel of political satire from the show's quarter-century run.

But Gore and Bush -- the real Gore and Bush -- were on hand at the top of the NBC broadcast to introduce the parodies and, of course, themselves.

Bush, the Republican, reminded viewers he's governor of Texas, "which is bigger than every other state, except one. Also, my father was president."

Hearing that, Democrat Gore, seated in his own comfortable setting, emitted a long, impatient sigh, spoofing his much-commented-upon sighing during the debates.

Bush poked fun at his own frequent language-mangling, describing himself as initially "ambi-lavent" when first invited to be on the broadcast, since he considers some of its comedy "offen-sible."

Gore then broke in with: "I was one of the very first to be offended by material on 'Saturday Night Live."'

The candidates jointly agreed that for either to open the show with its famous catch phrase would be unpresidential.

Cut to Minnesota Governor (and former pro wrestler) Jesse Ventura, who growled, "Live from New York, it's 'Saturday Night'!"

Bush and Gore taped their portions of the 90-second opening separately in New York last month.

Airing two days before election day, their appearances pointed up a presidential campaign in which the rivals have been seen on TV yukking it up with Jay Leno and David Letterman seemingly as much as talking policy with Tim Russert and Dan Rather.

Meanwhile on the "SNL" special, the Republican hopeful's father got in on the act. Seen at home with wife Barbara, George Bush received a phone call from Dana Carvey, who spent years impersonating the former president.

Carvey asked him to do one of the catch phrases Carvey made famous, "for old time's sake."

"Dana, I'd prefer not to do that," Bush replied, deadpan. "Wouldn't be prudent at this juncture."

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