Did SNL Drop the F-Bomb on Purpose?!

Mon., Sep. 28, 2009 6:06 PM PDT by Joal Ryan

When Jenny Slate accidentally dropped the F-bomb in a sketch on last weekend's Saturday Night Live premiere, we were reminded of an old saying:

There are no friggin' accidents!

OK, maybe it's plausible for Cher and Bono, to name two Federal Communications Commission favorites, to slip up on the occasional awards show. But they're musicians—plus, Cher's Cher and Bono's Irish.

The Slate case is different and, dare we say, freakin' suspicious!

Here's what we think happened—after Sarah Palin stopped happening:

• Palin loses her bid for the vice presidency, resigns the governorship of Alaska and otherwise gives Tina Fey no good reason to stop by SNL studios this fall.

• NBC News insiders assure SNL boss Lorne Michaels that Palin will announce a presidential bid, perhaps as soon as late 2010.

• A quick check of Michaels' calendar reveals that late 2010 falls next season, leaving SNL's current season without the Fey-Palin watercooler moments that made the show relevant again.

• Michaels instructs his writing staff to come up with funny, provocative sketches. And, oh yes, lots of naked stuff for premiere-week host Megan Fox.

• Michaels reads the material, keeps the naked Megan Fox stuff, throws the rest in the air and says, "Aw, f--k it!" A lightbulb moment.

• Michaels gathers members of his cast—ones that nobody really knows yet, like newbie Slate—and requests they draw straws. Guess who gets the short one?

• Slate is instructed to make like Cher during a "frickin'" biker sketch with Kristen Wiig. Wiig is not told of the plan lest she accidentally make like Bono herself, forcing Michaels to fire his Emmy nominee, along with her cannon-fodder costar, should public outcry demand it.

• Slate drops the F-bomb on Saturday's show at approximately 12:43 a.m. (ET), a time that's outside FCC jurisdiction. (An inspired touch!) Michaels waits for the fallout. Eagerly.

• The uncensored clip goes viral. The overnight ratings ain't bad (although they ain't Fey-Palin). The Parents Television Council makes a federal case. The show's relevant—still!

• Covering his tracks, Michaels tells the Washington Post he "feel[s] awful," and "doesn't want that show to be remembered for one word."

In two words, bleepin' brilliant!

Then again…

Michaels is an old-school broadcaster who takes FCC guidelines seriously, and believes every "Dick in a Box" has its place—namely, R-rated language is for the Web, not free TV.

Slate is a up-and-comer who would never start her SNL career the way Charles Rocket ended his if she, or her mouth, could help it.

It is extremely hard to say "frickin'" over and over and over again without lapsing into "f--kin'" (er, oops).

But most of all, the F-word is more than a little played out.

After all, it's not like pole-dancing at the Teen Choice Awards.