Katie Britt: Scarlett Johansson makes fun of the PR disaster

“Saturday Night Live”
Katie Britt: That’s how harshly Scarlett Johansson is making fun of the Republicans’ PR disaster

It was supposed to be a big hit for Katie Britt – now she’s becoming a joke. In the cult comedy series “Saturday Night Live,” none other than Scarlett Johansson took on the role of the Republican hopeful. And dragged her speech through the cocoa in a nasty way.

When Scarlett Johansson appears in a kitchen wearing a green blouse, the audience is already cheering. Shortly after the Republicans’ official response to Joe Biden’s State of the Union address appeared on Thursday, there were first jokes about whether it was a sketch from “Saturday Night Live.” Now the cult comedy series has the speech of the MPs Katie Britt buttoned up. And exceeded all expectations.

“Actually, I represent Alabama, but today I’m running as a scary mom,” grins the actress in the so-called cold open, which begins the show without any opening credits. “And today I will give an exclusive monologue. The title: This country is hell.”

Perfect imitation of Katie Britts

“I invite you into this strange, empty kitchen,” mocks the fake Britt against the senator’s bizarre decision to give the most important speech of her career at the kitchen table. She provides the explanation immediately afterwards: “The Republicans want me to appeal to female voters. And women love kitchens.”

Johansson perfectly captures the strangely strange tone and sometimes bizarre facial expressions of the real politician. The voice trembles again and again, tipping over into exaggerated drama. “Most politicians aren’t real. They act. But I don’t act. Not really,” she emphasizes, making ever more theatrical gestures. At some point she even sings. “And now I’m going to be very seductive for no apparent reason,” she announces, based on the real speech. “The American Dream has become a nightmare,” she sighs into the microphone.

Harsh criticism

Of course, even the most blatant lie in the speech has to be parodied. “Like any mom, I’ll drift out of nowhere into a shockingly brutal story – about human trafficking,” explains Johansson with an overly artificial smile. “Be sure: every detail is true! Except the year it took place and who was president.” In fact, the real Britt had tried to link President Biden to a human trafficking and migrant rape story – even though it had taken place 20 years ago in Mexico (find out more here).

In general, the constant stirring up of conservative fears is the most important theme of the speech – and also of the parody. “We see you, we hear you, we smell you,” she panders to Republican voters. “We’re in your kitchen, searching the fridge. And what do we find? Immigrants!” she imitates the scaremongering of the American right. “I think that allegory went pretty well.”

In the end, the fake Britt is aimed directly at Joe Biden. “Mr. President, this is not the last you will hear from me,” she threatens with a hard look. “Maybe not in politics. But if you close your eyes – I will be there.”

Source: Saturday Night Live