Hillary Appearance on Saturday Night Live Judged 'Boffo'

Hillary Clinton has been doing a lot of complaining about the glowing coverage Senator Barack Obama has been getting from the media compared to the criticism directed her way by most media outlets. As an example in the debate last Tuesday, she used as an example a skit on Saturday Night Live that parodied the press fawning over Obama.

Turning the tables on her tormentors in the press, Hillary Clinton made a surprise appearance on SNL last night and by all accounts, came off more human and approachable than most thought her capable:

Poehler giddily thanked Clinton for appearing. "I love your outfit," the identically dressed Poehler told Clinton. "Well, I love your outfit," Clinton responded, putting her hand on Poehler's shoulder, "but I do want the earrings back."

The quip sparked a hyperbolic cackle from Poehler. Clinton asked, "Do I really laugh like that?" The two jokingly agreed she did.

Clinton appeared on the show ahead of several do-or-die primaries that will determine the fate of her During the segment, Poehler -- who also does impersonations of talk show host Kelly Ripa, "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul and pop star Michael Jackson -- asked Clinton, who trails Obama in the Democratic race, how her campaign was going. "The campaign is going very well. Very, very well," the former first lady responded before earning some laughs with a deadpan: "Why? What have you heard?"

Clinton said she appeared on the show to "just relax, have fun" without politics, but she didn't miss her chance to address voters in delivering the opening line. Saying she was appealing to all Americans -- whether they're from Ohio, Texas, Rhode Island, Vermont, Pennsylvania "or any of the other states"

Clinton opened the show with "Live from New York, it is Saturday night!"

It might be a legitimate to question why Hillary Clinton was on a nationally televised show (she will also appear on John Stewart's The Daily Show on Monday) 3 days before the most important primaries of the campaign instead of spending the time in Ohio or Texas trying to drum up support.

But most analysts agree that it is vital that Clinton appear more approachable and more like "regular folks" if she is to succeed in Ohio and Texas. For that reason alone, her turn on the late night show could be termed a success.