http://www.hulu.com/watch/412902
45 MINUTES OUTSIDE THE LOWEST CIRCLE OF HELL – Saturday Night Live poked some fun at the Vice Presidential debate Saturday, especially when it came to the talk of unemployment in Scranton.
The Electric City is often a crucial talking point for Vice President Joe Biden when he is on the stump. He is especially proud of his Scranton roots.
However, Jason Sudeikis and the SNL crew decided to take another angle on Biden’s view of Scranton, when VP Nominee Paul Ryan (portrayed by Taran Killam) asks if Biden knows what the unemployment rate of Scranton is. It’s based on an exchange that took place during the real debate about Biden’s place of birth.
“Things may be bad where you live, but I guarantee you it’s a paradise next to the burning coal heap that is Scranton, Pennsylvania,” says Sudeikis as Biden. “You know that show, ‘Walking Dead’? It would make a good tourism ad for Scranton Pennsylvania. If you went to the lowest circle of hell, you’d still be 45 minutes outside of Scranton. I grew up there, I love it. It’s the single worst place on earth.”
This publicity isn’t necessarily a bad thing for Scranton, as the city will see its claim to fame, The Office, come to an end after the television series’ final season. At least SNL kept (most of) Scranton’s financial woes out of its skit, where punchlines are aplenty.
2 Responses
“45 MINUTES OUTSIDE THE LOWEST CIRCLE OF HELL”
Well, Miss McLaughlin’s little old hometown of Conyngham, Pennsyltucky is just about 45 minutes south of Scranton, so I dunno how I feel about dis.
The President of the Scranton Chamber first needs a sense of humor. Second, a grounded sense of Scranton’s place in the world.
That being said, Joe Biden, SNL and yes, The Office all serve to keep Scranton’s national profile far ahead of all other 75,000 population communities.
It’s a great icebreaker as we pitch Scranton all around the Country.
There is only one Joe Biden and we proudly claim him as one of ours. Honest. And that’s no malarkey.