Dem
47
GOP
53
Famed actor-director Rob Reiner is gone before his time, the victim of what is currently alleged to be murder by his son.
Because of this, Reiner did not get to choose the terms of his retirement, or to make a decision about what is final project would be. Still, as it turns out, his final performance is pretty much the perfect send-off, given who he was, and what he believed in. Reiner was friends with Larry David, of Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm fame. And David has a new sketch show, called Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Unhappiness that features send-ups of various moments in U.S. history. For example, in the first trailer released for the show, David's character is present at the moment when the famous sailor-kissing-nurse picture at Times Square was taken. He decides to do the same with a different nurse, and ends up surrounded by a mob that accuses him of both being a sexual predator and hating servicemen.
Anyhow, Reiner (and Jimmy Kimmel) agreed to make cameo appearances, and so filmed a sketch in which Reiner plays George Washington and David and Kimmel both play inquiring citizens. HBO hasn't posted the bit to YouTube, and the only version we can find was recorded by someone pointing their iPhone at their TV, so it's not very good. However, here is the key dialogue:
Reiner (Washington): I believe that no man should serve more than two terms as president. And I hope that future presidents will follow my lead."
David (colonist): What if some future president doesn't follow your lead and runs for a third term?... What if there's some a**hole in office, some narcissistic p**ck, who doesn't follow the Constitution? He could use the presidency to enrich himself and his family. He could send troops into American cities to terrorize and even kill American citizens, all to distract from the fact that he's friends with a pedophile. He can attack universities, even the rest silencing anyone who dares to criticize him...
Reiner (Washington): Ah, come on, that could never happen.
David (colonist): That's what you think.
Kimmel (colonist): Are you suggesting that the president would taketh the time to challenge anyone who dare make fun of him as if he were a big baby?
You get the bit.
Although Donald Trump is not mentioned by name, the sketch is unsubtle enough that even, well, Donald Trump could figure out who is being referenced. Again, Reiner didn't know this would be his last project, but he would surely be happy to know that his last words, as a performer, were him getting the last word with Trump, who took many a cheap shot at Reiner's expense. And if that's not enough, the executive producer on the series is... Barack Obama.
Have a good weekend, all! (Z)