2012 Town Hall Presidential Debate - SNL

Candy Crowley (Aidy Bryant) moderates the 2012 Town Hall Presidential Debate as Mitt Romney (Jason Sudeikis) and Barack Obama (Jay Pharoah) answer questions from undecided Long Island voters (Fred Armisen, Bill Hader and Tom Hanks). [Season 38, 2012]
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[@Verlarn]

*"Libya."* The buildup & execution of that joke sometimes makes me laugh randomly when I'm trying to fall asleep.

[@dielaughing73]

He's got pretty good comedic chops. Might make something of himself one day.

[@Samsquamsh]

@@dielaughing73 Who? That Hanks guy? Pfft, yeah MAYBE one day he'll be worth a darn. lol

[@samprice7746]

I love the implication that Romney's son is an undecided voter

[@fishjj76]

Or maybe that Mitt Romney has stacked the audience.

[@rondaallen7211]

he wasn't. Dad just got him a seat.

[@bentorres4620]

I never caught on to that before, that's funny!

[@terryjt1]

It was a recycled bit. There's an old SNL debate sketch where George H.W. Bush is one of the undecided voters asking a question to George W. Bush.

[@elizabethjolly2335]

This was Aidy's first big sketch, and she killed it despite being super nervous. Afterwards she talked about how Tom Hanks and Bill Hader ran her down the hall and everyone cheered for her.

[@markdavies9117]

Sudeikis captures the essence of Romney and his voice. I wish we had seen more of Jay Pharoah on the show. Both great talents!

[@sergeant_salty]

SNL is the best at under utilizing and rejecting real comedic talent

[@jburtson]

I’m amazed by how calm and well informed these presidential candidates are

[@tmystery9505]

You look like a trans

[@amazing_bastard]

@@tmystery9505 so?

[@gregfaber3417]

@@Lord_Horker aw someone's triggered. Unhappy in your own life so you gotta bring others down.

[@stevenhosea4849]

Jonathan Burtson Goodness. Hi. Bye. Yes

[@DereBear]

J. A. Bro you gotta learn what’s sarcasm on the internet. I know your comment is 2 years old but like daaamn r/woosh.

[@rickrose5377]

THAT was spectacular: brilliantly written and brilliantly performed. Hanks is a genuinely great comic actor. 90 seconds and he nailed it.

[@mariekano9730]

Ikr that was beyond professional!

[@stevenhosea4849]

Rick Rose Not. Yes. Hi

[@vincentconti3633]

I haven't seen much of this show since the days of Belushi and Akroyd and company. I often hear it's not what it was bla bla. This is funny stuff! The world is not going to hell!

[@jakethepillowsnake4098]

"Nothing." "I would also do nothing." 🤣🤣🤣

[@caramelhoney29]

Yep and that’s how it went in the debate.

[@filldawn2016]

The skit was already classic, and then they dropped that i was done 😂😂😂

[@solidsnake4214]

My favorite 😂

[@GregScala]

Jason Sudeikis as Mitt Romney, and Jay Pharoah as Barack Obama. Two amazing snl impressions

[@BookClubDisaster]

They under utilized Jay Pharao's Obama. It's freaking brilliant.

[@TERoss-jk9ny]

Ryan Doyle That’s because they didn’t want to expose how rotten Obama was.

[@NEpatriots88]

They under-utilized Jay the entire time of his tenure. He’s a brilliant comedian and should have been given more time on the show. No, it wasn’t because Obama was “rotten”, ass. He was the right president at the right time. He saved the economy. Look at what is happening now. Trump’s tanking the economy and a recession is predicted in the next three quarters

[@dahigh4life]

@@TERoss-jk9ny Ugh

[@stevenhosea4849]

Ryan Doyle Yes. Hi. Happens.

[@philfairbanksdotcom]

@@NEpatriots88 let's see, broke records on drone strikes and deportations kept all Bush's wars and tripled our military conflicts on the ground in both Middle East and Africa, only Nobel Peace Prize winner to have EVER bombed another Nobel winner (Doctors Without Borders). In fact, one of the members of the Nobel committee said he regrets him getting the prize in the first place. Hell, the "kids in cages" thing started under Obama's watch.

[@juliaheggenes476]

"I'm about to cut you" killed me

[@raziele92]

That would have escalated quickly, Obama being backed by Chiraq, and Romney having those cartel fighting cousins down in Mexico would have made the situation very entertaining if those groups suddenly showed.

[@Theyluvalex2007]

@@raziele92 ok boomer

[@StarkIller-df7gw]

😂😂😂😂

[@CptChaos47]

"Let me at him, Dad!" "Sit down, Tag. Alright? Not now." Killam's face afterwards was the best.

[@jflyiii1682]

Yes!!! OMG that face made me laugh 😂 !

[@StarkIller-df7gw]

😂😂😂

[@JeevatSingh]

The best thing about my plan is you can sit on it and spin😂

[@KushClarkKent]

Fittingly, this had 69 likes. I feel bad for taking that away from you

[@wadedungan3172]

"Candi is he bothering you?" I can't 😂😂😂

[@IndyStudios]

I miss turning on SNL and watching Jay as Barack and Jason as Mitt, this was some of the best election stuff they have ever done

[@thornstrikesback]

Even an SNL sketch is more mature than the Trump vs Biden debate.

[@PathosConsultingGroup]

"bOtH SiDeS"

[@skoodge1340]

Not mature when it comes to trump though. Interesting

[@sergeant_salty]

Trump won 2020🇺🇲

[@1hagerachin]

"Threatening a former Massachusetts governor is a class B misdemeanor and can get a fine up to $100" 🤣🤣🤣

[@StarkIller-df7gw]

Classic! 😂

[@rflcanela]

"I'm undecided", so, I'll kick both asses!! LMAO!!

[@endermeap6488]

“What woukd you do to keep AK-47s and other dangerous assault weapons out of dangerous criminals hands?” “Nothing” “I would also do nothing” Too real, too real

[@tajicbladeofthelegion5474]

People just need to follow your lead and give themselves hexproof, then they AKs couldn't target them

[@endermeap6488]

It does make the burn matchup easy. Shooters are basically burn players, right?

[@yeetsmith1105]

@Bilal Khalid I wipe my ass with the constitution, nothing wrong with that

[@florianwei2278]

Guns you dont need an ak47 to defend youreself if you need one you got bigger Problems

[@the0utlaw259]

People are idiots

[@LeeH688]

I watch this clip only for Bill Hader as Eugene Picanzi. So funny

[@quinnseal4358]

William H same 😂

[@emperater]

That's exactly why I'm back here in November 2018, just for the Eugene Picanzi part

[@tohumblyvogue]

hell yeah. replayed this so much hahah

[@imtryingmybest673]

Me too

[@clairesegura3530]

same lol

[@samira7164]

"this isn't Colorado anymore governor, this is sea level" LMAO

[@georgedonaldson7220]

The Romney impression is soooooooo funny.

[@christinarice1757]

$400,000? That’s what I pay my cats. 😂

[@Envious122]

This was my favorite line, too!

[@gamerman782]

this debate seems like nothing compared to hillary and trump

[@jordankendall2705]

Rogash because it's a debate instead of an argument

[@Brando501st]

Yeah, simpler times :)

[@diegodelgado9764]

No it was barely a debate now carter vs reagan thats a debste watch that one and watch the real one they seem so much more dumbed down

[@georgethomas1148]

@@jordankendall2705 Yeah Obama and Romney was good with speeches nothing else Obama never kept his campaign promises

[@TheMangomelon789]

@@diegodelgado9764 yeah, all they care about now are the sound bites, not the actual debate. It's so disconnected. So many times in one night you'll hear a canned, clearly rehearsed joke or quip or slam. And it doesn't even matter what the initial question was, they'll find a way to talk themselves to their rehearsed lines. It's so sad to watch. I am a college student that loves to debate (though some of the formalized rules suck). I love classroom discussions. "Debates" now are just painful to watch.

[@chrishanlon02]

You can tell how excited Aidy is, I believe this was her first sketch

[@CarysLibri]

Aidy was hilarious! I really enjoyed the penalty for hurting the governor..."the license is $8 per year"

[@ifeelpretty5790]

Her first season and her first "Live from New York it's Saturday Night!"

[@carlyb7870]

ifeelpretty57 awwww!!! That must have been why she was SO excited!!

[@csic123]

"And the best thing about my plan is you can sit on it and spin." Crying from laughing. 😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣

[@jacoblipkestudios7621]

Hahahah same. I also love the part with the guy who says “how about insteadda that, I kick your ass! How would that be?” XD

[@StarkIller-df7gw]

​@@jacoblipkestudios7621 Love the guy who is undecided so wants to kick both their arses! 😂😂😂

[@en273]

I swear if you close your eyes it could actually be Obama speaking.

[@stephanieann6622]

en273 The dude does a damn amazing job.

[@BrianSmith-ix3ns]

+Stephanie Ann for a blayck

[@APOCALYPSE_X-MEN]

Brian Smith Idiotic buffoon.

[@TrunkMonkey3000]

Yes, but I call those nightmares

[@NicholasSteMarie]

@@BrianSmith-ix3ns fuck you

[@Themoomabides]

It’s like watching a more intelligent version of Trump-Biden 2020

[@MeronTeklesenbett]

Word

[@jamellfoster6029]

Yeah when both candidates had brains unlike Biden debating someone with a brain IQ lower than that of a toothbrush...

[@ethanpan2335]

@@jamellfoster6029 How dare you insult toothbrushes like that.

[@jamellfoster6029]

@@ethanpan2335 Lol... Sorry toothbrushes... Trump is dumber than toenail clippings... He's a brainless turd!!!!!!

[@bowlsyelfbasher]

Should of pick ron paul in 08 an 12

[@MichaelBarrett1984]

“Sit down, Tag!”

[@alphamale451]

I am 38yrs old college student😂😂😂 had me in splits

[@tmystery9505]

What's wrong with that?

[@KushClarkKent]

@@tmystery9505 Nothing. It's just not typical. Lighten up. It's comedy!

[@StarkIller-df7gw]

​@@KushClarkKent Isn't that the typical age these days after they finish their gender studies & lesuire and wellness classes in modern Africa! 😂

[@darrensepulveda4373]

Everyone thought presidential debates were crazy back then and look at where we are lol

[@marcusfarcus]

All the Long Island accents are on point! Lol

[@keving2407]

These people are very impressionable. They are from Long Island LMAO

[@mr.skippy4898]

Candi. Candi. Candi. Candi. 😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@AlexandraOlifirowicz]

damn it Aidy is a pro, got poked in the eye just second before they went on air

[@Nikkyeshiva83]

i didnt realize she was on the show this long.

[@lpchung8976]

I love the way Fred looks askance at Tom Hanks

[@Daniel_Delayne]

Hilarious😄

[@Buisness1]

I like the assault rifle question. Hahahhaa They both answered honestly.

[@Brando501st]

That had me wondering if this aired before or after Sandy Hook?...

[@Roccarocks]

@@Brando501stRight before Sandy Hook! Crazy!

[@lionman3378]

The chemistry between these two actors was great!

[@JohnnyBuckrot]

The push and the little things Jason’s doing at 9:21 😂😂😂

[@kingxen6575]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@jaetowns]

That’s me when my siblings are telling on me and telling the truth😂😂😂

[@chinmaypurohit3431]

Sudekis is brilliant.

[@jjwilliams7537]

“Candy is he bothering you?”

[@Be1smaht]

This was goooooold. I didnt realize at the time. " candy is he bothering you? " " c'mon sparky" " dad, let me at him"

[@knightly13]

this was aidy's first time saying live from new york and first time opening the show!

[@stopmasterstudios]

I love how Jason sadakis plays both Joe biden and mitt Romney

[@ryanpeck3760]

Remember when political parody was funny and not funny AND scary?

[@Chlo-ee]

“This isn’t Colorado anymore, Governor. This is sea level” 😂

[@3dgar7eandro]

Oh man the imitation of Obama is too good😅🤣🤣🤣👏👌

[@deepanshchaudhary5094]

Cecily's question was the most substantial and it took the least time to answer..... Perfect imitation of Reality

[@gilanin]

Libya.

[@BrianSmith-ix3ns]

Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Libya lybia Libya libya Labia libya Labia libya Labia libya Labia libya Labia libya Labia libya Labia libya Labia libya Labia libya Labia libya Labia libya Labia libya Labia libya Labia libya Labia libya Labia libya Labia libya Labia libya Labia libya Labia libya Labia libya Labia libya Labia libya buttfucked to death in Lybia Libya Labia libya Labia libya Labia libya Labia libya Labia libya Labia libya Labia libya Labia libya Labia libya Labia libya Labia libya Labia

[@danbee6103]

Gil CJ Iraq.

[@AwesomeBlackDude]

@@BrianSmith-ix3ns what part exactly is Benghazi in the United States?

[@tajicbladeofthelegion5474]

@@AwesomeBlackDude I think it's in the middle of the east, kinda near Missouri

[@bidmcms3]

AwesomeBlackDude it’s a place where Americans died due to criminal negligence in the state department

[@golden4730]

I love how the audience was so unprepared even in the real debate. It's usually the candidates, but that year. It was the audience who came unprepared

[@georgedonaldson7220]

I love the Romney impression. It's so funny. He just sounds crazy...

[@RussellGreerOfficial]

George Donaldson You didn’t have to post that twice.

[@BrianSmith-ix3ns]

+Russell Greer why the fuck not?

[@BrianSmith-ix3ns]

why the fuck not?

[@BrianSmith-ix3ns]

thrice the fuck clot?

[@TheTuubster]

Epic mic drop.

[@PaddyAnarchy]

TheTuubster I

[@Balin93]

"Any time, Casper." LOL

[@sebastian-benedictflore]

Cecily Strong had one line and delivered it perfectly.

[@stevenfoster9402]

"Candi is he bothering you?" 🤣🤣

[@alexanderpanayi7212]

"So you want to kick the Governor ass and the President ass." "I don't know I am undecided."lol

[@tadeolerma5236]

best cold open ever!

[@BrianSmith-ix3ns]

old copin'

[@estherb.redshaw6540]

"nothing" "uh, i would also do nothing" so great

[@neuroling]

This skit broke me down 🤣🤣😂😂 Couldn’t be more perfect. Every minute of it.

[@catherinestratton5836]

That's how much I pay my cats

[@andraenicholson3557]

What would you do to keep assault weapons such as AK-47s off the streets? Romney: Uh, nothing. Obama: I would also do nothing. Shiiiiiiiit man 😆

[@tghk3]

"Winning a coin toss has nothing to do with luck, my friend."

[@GinaSigillito]

Eugene Pacanzi is fantastic.

[@josephmilio9493]

I'm from Long Island this makes me lol

[@ComedyJakob]

What would you do to keep dangerous assault rifles off the streets? Romney: Uh Nothing. Obama: I would also do nothing. Fucking hilarious lol

[@pulkmees]

Dont even care about the sketch, Tom Hanks cracks me up in this so much.

[@Daniel_Delayne]

Moynihan's Dominic Fonte, hilarious😂

[@gradel888]

10:13 the mic drop had me ☠️☠️☠️

[@njohnson3331]

Those were the good old days.

[@tyjonpittman8641]

That Obama Mic drop doe 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@mr.skippy4898]

Damn no matter what pair of glasses he puts on Tom Hanks looks clean AF😎😎😎😎😎😎😎

[@natewrite6982]

The way Jay Pharaoh says not true is the perfect impersonation of Obama

[@jamesweber3797]

Jason sudekis was great as mitt romney. Hilarious. Let me at him dad! No not now tag sit down. Hilarious. I miss candy Crowley.

[@XHobbiesPrime]

Jay Pharoah was so good. I think he was a big loss to the cast.

[@freddyrichards878]

At least there's that other skinny black guy, Chris Redd

[@XHobbiesPrime]

@@freddyrichards878 He's nowhere near as good I think.

[@elizabethlind9947]

I know Jay Pharaoh was so good.

[@byronp2311]

Still trying to parse: "This isn't Colorado. This is sea level". Also, was this before Obama actually 'dropped the mic?

[@captaino16]

The first debate that year was in Colorado and Obama was acting very drowsy and wasn't on his A-game. The second one was on Long Island. And I'm pretty sure he actually dropped the mic during his last year as president, so yes, it was before.

[@rayh.8456]

These are both of the things I came to the comment section wondering, bless u both

[@jimreily7538]

I believe he meant "C-level". So "this is C-Level". C-level a term used to describe high-ranking executive titles in an organization. The letter C, in this context, stands for "chief," as in chief executive officer, chief operating officer, chief financial officer and so on. So, yeah, that's what he meant by that statement. It's a business term. I could be wrong though, it could have been some kind of joke referring to actual sea level, was Colorado being higher than that. Maybe the air is thinner or something, that's the joke ? I think it's C-level. That's what I interpreted it to mean when I first heard it. So that's my interpretation, from 3 years in the future. Officers who hold C-level positions are typically considered the most powerful and influential members of an organizatio

[@jimreily7538]

​@@captaino16Actually that makes more sense. Yeah I think I was wrong about C-level. The joke then would be "I was off my game in the thin air if Colorado, now that we're back at sea level, I'm gonna win." Which yeah, makes more sense. I remember that Colorado debate where he did poorly. I listened to it on the radio. He sounded kind of tired. Maybe the thin air was actually affecting him.

[@landry2611]

😆🤣😂"However, if you do wish to threaten the life of a former Massachusetts governor the license fee is $8 a year"

[@anthonylicausi3566]

"How ya doin, how ya doin, okaaay, here we go." Sounds like my family....

[@rosecward]

Coming here after the shit show of the 2020 Debate and realizing that the snl 2012 debate gives more policy info than the actual 2020 debate.

[@alphamale451]

Dominique Fonte is sooo funny 7:12😂🤣😂🤣

[@jaetowns]

4:56 is literally me when I get into it with my siblings but my mom is standing there😂😂😂

[@JenniferDelRey]

“Let me at him, Dad!” 😂 I actually liked Mitt. Jason does an amazing impression of him😂🤷🏻‍♀️

[@allanjasonmburu2186]

3 more things and 1 more additional thing 😂

[@seronimo__7735]

4:48 It would have been so much funnier if he had said "Except Big Bird."

[@letecatina]

I LOVE YOU BOBBY!

[@coraelizabethbrna439]

“You can sit on it AND spin.” That killed me 😂

[@JdDiehl]

“400k dollars? Pff. That’s what I pay my cats” 🤣🤣🤣

[@Mia7189]

Fred Amisen and Tarran Killam keeping a straight face during Tom Hanks' question. That's how it's done, Pete Davidson.

[@spornge]

Am i the only one who wants to see Obama on wired reacting to impressions of him

[@corgifloofi4840]

I am from Long Island. I enjoyed this.

[@evansimmons6894]

“Haha, $400,000. That’s what I pay my CATS.”

[@hojichaisfarsuperiortochai9309]

In 2022, I find it quite discouraging that not much as changed since this originally aired. 😮‍💨 I still miss Obama though.

[@3dgar7eandro]

6:46 the best thing about my plan is that you can sit on it and spin 🤣🤣🤣🤣👏👏

[@EvetsZerimar23]

Candi is he bothering you? Lmao

[@thomasthuene3173]

Compared to the real shit-show happening two days ago, this actually looks civilized.

[@EbenWatson]

that was Aidy's first live form new york ever!

[@radacious29]

I was just listening to the video and could tell it was Bobby Moynihan when the fumbling of the papers began

[@warmlettuce9317]

I can’t believe Aidy Bryant’s been on snl for a decade now

[@STLCODPS3123]

"Nothing" "I would also do nothing"

[@mariabowles5415]

Jay Pharoah is awesome.