SNL's Heroin Parody: Praise It, Don't Condemn It

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Fri Apr 22, 2016 at 08:49:00 AM EST
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Seriously? People are criticizing Saturday Night Live and calling for a boycott over this parody skit? It doesn't glorify heroin use -- just the opposite. Did these people miss the ghoulish dragons laughing like hyenas at the end? The skit not only makes using heroin unappealing, it turns it into something totally uncool, by portraying it as something your uncool parents do. What could be more of a turn-off to teens?

Mocking heroin use is likely to be far more of a deterrent than scaring kids or the usual "just say no" message. [More...]

It was also funny. Even a ten year old would know this isn't a pro-heroin skit. Heroin AM "combines Heroin with 5 mg of caffeine and a small pile of cocaine, now available in Gummy Bears, which you can melt down and inject." (As it portrays a gummy bear getting totally melted down on a spoon.)

As to side effects, "It's heroin." As in, everybody knows heroin's addictive and has miserable side effects. (Even ten year olds know that -- ask one.)

I wonder if these people also object to this scene from Annie Hall, where Woody Allen wonders where his elementary school classmates are today.

"I used to be a heroin addict. Now I'm a methadone addict."

Law enforcement and anti-drug groups are so clueless in their approach to drug abuse.

We need more skits like these, not a boycott or hyperbolic over-reactions.

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SNL's Heroin Parody: Praise It, Don't Condemn It | 23 comments (23 topical)

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Exactly the same with religion (5.00 / 1) (#2)
by ExPatObserver on Fri Apr 22, 2016 at 04:52:07 AM EST

Religious leaders get most upset by ridicule and sarcasm, not straight-up criticism.

Sure in respect to civilized society (none / 0) (#6)
by Militarytracy on Fri Apr 22, 2016 at 10:15:14 AM EST

But Bill Maher is right. We shouldn't send Chris Rock in to battle ISIS, because we like him. We want to see more of him. And who wants to live trying to outrun a Fatwa? If we really want to make serious fun of ISIS, do a whole show on them and really let them have it outta the firehose, we can only hire the unknown comic.


I think an actual "day in the life of" (none / 0) (#9)
by ExPatObserver on Fri Apr 22, 2016 at 11:10:48 AM EST

Isis spot would be quite an eye-opener, and I bet it would have moments of hilarity, too.


Remember Charlie Hebdo? (none / 0) (#20)
by Militarytracy on Sun Apr 24, 2016 at 01:06:18 PM EST

: Of course. If you're saying that (none / 0) (#21)
by ExPatObserver on Sun Apr 24, 2016 at 03:57:02 PM EST

poking fun at ISIS is dangerous, I agree.
But I do wonder what life with ISIS is actually like. I wonder if they are consumed with arguments about ideological purity, or if they just talk about ways to blow stuff up, and how to cut off heads. Also, how many people regret joining ISIS? We know some do. Are others happy to have made the change? A while back I saw an article about ISIS women complaining about lack of hairdressers.

Yeah, it could be funny (none / 0) (#13)
by jimakaPPJ on Fri Apr 22, 2016 at 05:07:48 PM EST

but it wouldn't do a thing towards getting rid of ISIS or stopping recruits.

In fact it could do harm by causing people to take them less serious.


Why do think we need to take ISIS seriously? (none / 0) (#14)
by Militarytracy on Fri Apr 22, 2016 at 06:05:43 PM EST

Exactly (none / 0) (#16)
by Steve13209 on Sat Apr 23, 2016 at 08:56:06 AM EST

At least not as a national security threat to the USA. I see them as a ME and European (refugee) problem.


: Sadly true in my book too (none / 0) (#17)
by Militarytracy on Sat Apr 23, 2016 at 09:19:23 AM EST

I don't get out of bed afraid of ISIS. I do get out of bed thinking about the crisis of the refugees

Spot on... (5.00 / 3) (#3)
by kdog on Fri Apr 22, 2016 at 08:10:46 AM EST

Parody, humor, & satire are much better tools to battle drug addiction than punishment, cruelty, & fear.

The best anti-drug message on earth is a stone cold junky...one good look and you'll want no part of it. It's what taught me to stay away from the hard stuff...not eggs in frying pans, not jail, not DARE, not Nancy Reagan...just seeing the neighborhood junkies doing junky things was all it took to keep me outta that kind of trouble.

Governor Terry McAuliffe (D.VA), (5.00 / 2) (#11)
by KeysDan on Fri Apr 22, 2016 at 12:55:20 PM EST

by executive order, has restored voting rights to over 200,000 felons who have been convicted of felonies and have completed their sentences. Restoration of voting rights is immediate for those convicted of drug crimes and, in other cases, has reduced the waiting period from 5 to 3 years.

As an executive order, there is the concern for an overturn in policy with a new governor, as was the case in Kentucky with the incoming Republican governor. McAuliffe has guarded against that possibility by pardoning the ex-felons who have completed parole.

McAuliffe was a former DNC Chair who was greeted with reservation by some in that he was a banker and prolific fund-raiser for the Democratic party. He was also Mrs. Clilnton's campaign manager in 2008 and remains a close friend. Since his election as governor, McAuliffe has set voting rights, anti-discrimination bans and civil liberties as a priority. McAuliffe defeated the virulently right wing Republican, Ken Cuccinelli.

: Very interesting (none / 0) (#15)
by Anc260 on Fri Apr 22, 2016 at 10:44:37 PM EST

: I've been wondering (none / 0) (#23)
by Nemi on Mon Apr 25, 2016 at 06:31:25 AM EST

why I've never seen him mentioned as a possible VP? He was the first that came to my mind as a perfect pick ... and a perfect match.

honestly (5.00 / 1) (#12)
by nyjets on Fri Apr 22, 2016 at 04:48:56 PM EST

Honestly, it was not particular clever or funny and in my opinion, it was in poor taste.
That being said, I am not advocating censorship. If a person does not like it, best to just ignore it and not watch SNL.

This isn't the first time ... (none / 0) (#1)
by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Apr 22, 2016 at 04:18:04 AM EST

... SNL has waded into the realm of drug use parody. 40 years ago in Nov. 1975, in what was only the long-running series' 6th show ever, Lorne Michaels and the writers caught no small amount of grief for a faux commercial touting the benefits of "Speed," featuring an overachieving "Ellen Sherman, Cleveland housewife and mother" who had an obsession with folding paper bags just the right way, while a voice-over announcer encouraged potential customers to doctor-shop.

The original Not Ready for Prime Time Players also appeared in a 1977 mock ad for "The American Dope Growers Union," which urged potheads to buy American weed rather than Colombian, complete with a commercial jingle that those of us who are old enough to remember the kitschy International Ladies Garment Workers Union commercials from that same period will easily recognize.

Even housepets weren't exempt from overmedicating during those early SNL years, with an ad for Puppy Uppers.

I agree, the criticisms of such parodies are grievously misplaced and over the top. All I can do is just roll my eyes when I hear them. There's nothing glorifying drug use in any of these phony ads.

Aloha.

things like this (none / 0) (#4)
by CST on Fri Apr 22, 2016 at 09:40:27 AM EST

Just beg the question - what were they doing watching SNL in the first place if they're going to be offended by a parody?

For something much less funny on the heroin front, we have real life. Where the governor of Maine decided that keeping heroin addicts alive just teaches them that it's OK to use heroin. Or something.

we are a very sensitive country now (none / 0) (#5)
by pitachips on Fri Apr 22, 2016 at 10:12:37 AM EST

Everything is sacred.

It's nice when SNL is funny (none / 0) (#7)
by Steve13209 on Fri Apr 22, 2016 at 10:29:17 AM EST

It usually involves bringing back previous cast members.

I thought it was an excellent sketch (none / 0) (#8)
by McBain on Fri Apr 22, 2016 at 11:07:03 AM EST

and it wasn't just making fun of heroin use, it was about over the counter medication use as well, or at least how ridiculous those commercials usually are.

The "outrage" reminds me of SNLs Isis sketch from a while ago.
It's a late night comedy show. It's suppose to be edgy and controversial. People need to chill out.

"People need to chill out" (none / 0) (#10)
by kdog on Fri Apr 22, 2016 at 11:34:14 AM EST

If only there was an nationwide OTC for that...right now only available with a prescription or black market connection in very select states;)


There is, kdog. (5.00 / 1) (#18)
by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Apr 23, 2016 at 11:17:47 AM EST

kdog: "'People need to chill out[.]' If only there was an nationwide OTC for that."

It's called TEQUILA. ;-D


: Tequila! (none / 0) (#19)
by Mr Natural on Sat Apr 23, 2016 at 08:23:16 PM EST

- The Champs

The idiots (none / 0) (#22)
by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Sun Apr 24, 2016 at 05:15:43 PM EST

The idiots can't handle the anti-racist Huck Finn either. Go figure.