ShareThisHere's a nonpartisan look at our five favorite presidential and vice presidential candidate impressions of all time, rated on a 0-to-5 scale for the actor or comic's resemblance to the candidate, impersonation and strength of material. Candidates from all parties were eligible, and getting elected wasn't a prerequisite. Argue our choices below.Tina Fey as Sarah PalinResemblance: FIVE STARS -- The first thing everyone thought when they saw Palin: "She looks like Tina Fey."Impersonation: THREE STARS -The degree of difficulty is low here. Just drop your "g's" and throw in a "doggone it!" once in a while.Material FOUR AND A HALF STARS -- The former "SNL" head writer rose to the occasion. "Can I phone a friend?" Genius.Dana Carvey as H. Ross PerotResemblance: THREE STARS -- With help from the "SNL" makeup people, Carvey looked just weaselly enough to pass as Perot.Impersonation: FOUR AND A HALF STARS- Carvey was more famous for his George H.W. Bush impersonation, but his Perot was better.Material: FOUR STARS -- "Can I finish?" never got old. The sketch where Perot confronted trick-or-treaters was a classic.Rich Little as Richard NixonResemblance: THREE STARS -- Only one actor on earth -- Paul Dooley, not Little -- has the jowls to look like Nixon.Impersonation: FOUR AND A HALF STARS -- At a time when political impressions could get you in trouble, Little was daring.Material: THREE STARS -- Much of the humor seems dated now, but it'll still make you laugh. Check him out on YouTube.John Travolta as Bill ClintonResemblance: TWO STARS -- The "Primary Colors" candidate was inspired by Clinton, but Travolta looks more like JFK.Impersonation: FOUR AND A HALF STARS -- He nailed the voice and the body language, down to the way Clinton would eat a powdered doughnut.Material: THREE AND A HALF STARS -- Director Mike Nichols and writer Elaine May did an excellent job adapting the book. Dramatic but still funny.Chevy Chase as Gerald FordResemblance: HALF STAR -- Chase didn't even bother to try to look like Ford. "SNL" had no prosthetic scalps in 1976?Impersonation: THREE STARS -- Chase's Ford could have been anyone, but give him credit for falling off that Christmas tree.Material: FOUR AND A HALF STARS -- Remember when Chase used to be funny? Impersonating Ford was a career highlight.Honorable mentionsWill Ferrell as George W. Bush; Carvey as George H.W. Bush; Phil Hartman as Bill Clinton; Vaughn Meader as JFK; Rich Little as Ronald Reagan.(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
Reviewing the best candidate impersonations
Submitted by SHNS on Wed, 10/15/2008 - 11:36
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