“SNL” Takes on IRS Scandal in Season Finale

Season finale pokes fun at this week's governmental missteps

With the IRS scandal dominating the news this week, "Saturday Night Live" closed out their 38th season with a political bang.

The show began with a PoliticsNation segment where host Al Sharpton (Kenan Thompson) discussed the IRS scandal. Regardless of what the political analyst or Tea Party activist guests said, Sharpton wondered what the GOP was so angry about. Sharpton even mistook Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell for actor Matthew McConaughey. Sharpton then shared stories of his own dealings with the IRS and displayed bar graphs that made the IRS scandal a race issue rather than a governmental one. According to Sharpton, African-Americans were subject to more IRS scrutiny than whites.

But regardless of his tendency to mish-mash words and not give his guests the time of day, Sharpton seemed to be a fan of "Sen. Matthew McConnell."

"Sen. McConnell seems like a real laid-back fella," Sharpton said. "Why are the rest of these Republicans so outraged?"

On Weekend Update, Seth Meyers wasted no time in addressing President Barack Obama's denying of any prior knowledge of the IRS scandal which allege the governmental department targeted conservative and tea party-affiliated political groups for extra scrutiny.

"It's alright America," Meyers said. "There's just a bunch of stuff the president doesn't know about."

Meyers was later joined by former SNL cast member and "Parks and Recreation" star Amy Poehler in a "Really?" segment.

"Really Obama? You said you heard about the (IRS) scandal when you saw it on TV," Meyers said. "I don't want to live in a world where you have the same sources as my aunt. You're the president. I didn't think you had to watch TV for anything. I assumed you already knew how 'Breaking Bad' ends."

Poehler said the government only keeps the IRS around to "make the DMV look good. In the 'Entourage' of government agencies, you're the Turtle."

But she wasn't much easier on the Tea Party either.

"Really Tea Party? You're surprised that you were targeted by the IRS?" Poehler said. "You named yourselves after a group of people who proudly, who historically violated the tax laws."

Another politically charged skit involved Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's film "Bengo F#ck Yourself," which was supposed to be a look at the creation of Ben Affleck's "Argo." Instead it was an Iranian propaganda film that mocked American culture.

In Affleck's opening monologue, Afleck's wife and actress Jennifer Garner appeared and "discussed" their marriage in relation to Affleck's Oscar speech where he said their marriage was "work." The musical guest was Kanye West.

The final sketch of the night featured a musical goodbye by outgoing cast members Bill Hader, Jason Sudeikis and Fred Armisen, who led the group in character as punk rocker "Ian Rubbish."

Armisen's "Portlandia" co-star Carrie Brownstein, the Sex Pistols' Steve Jones and Aimee Mann were among those who also performed "It's a Lovely Day."

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