To quote our colleague Karen Tumulty, parody is the sincerest form of flattery.
That’s what she wrote when news broke that John McLaughlin, Washington icon and founding host of “The McLaughlin Group,” died Tuesday at age 89. And judging by the links shared on Twitter, comic tributes to McLaughlin will be an indelible part of his legacy.
McLaughlin became famous as a curmudgeon on his weekly political talk show, a precursor to the sharply combative live television we now take for granted. His expressions — the resounding charge of “WRONG!” directed at panelists and his demand they rate predictions on a scale of 1 to 10 — became signatures that transitioned seamlessly into the world of comedy.
Dana Carvey is McLaughlin’s best-known impersonator, portraying him in at least four “Saturday Night Live” skits in the early 1990s (see below).
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But first, for those not already familiar with the show, here’s an introduction to its tone (and volume) from one YouTuber:
As that video starts to show, much about McLaughlin’s style is unintentionally funny. Here’s a cut of him introducing the week’s discussion topics with characteristically grouchy inflection, via HBO’s “Last Week Tonight”:
No one could parody McLaughlin like Carvey. SNL has four excellent spoofs available on its website, and they are all worth watching:
—McLaughlin Group, 1990 (Phil Hartman, Kevin Nealon, John Goodman, Jan Hooks)
—Halloween Cold Open, 1991 (Phil Hartman, Kevin Nealon, Mike Myers)
—The McLaughlin Group Cold Open, 1991 (Phil Hartman, Kevin Nealon, Jan Hooks, Chris Farley)
—Pat Buchanan Returns, 1992 (Phil Hartman, Kevin Nealon, Mike Myers, Chris Farley)
In a sign of McLaughlin’s influence, tributes poured in Tuesday on social media from the worlds of television and politics. Here are some of the best:
Theatrical, pyrotechnical, a firecracker of a man... John McLaughlin, you were damned good company. #McLaughlinGroup
— Chris Matthews (@HardballChris) August 17, 2016John McLaughlin was a TV institution for generations of Americans. We will miss his contagious spirit & tireless dedication.
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) August 16, 2016Saddened by the death of John McLaughlin, a TV staple for 34 years and a man of great wit. #RIP
— Larry King (@kingsthings) August 17, 2016RIP John McLaughlin. My parents made us watch him every week which made the SNL sketches all the sweeter.
— Seth Meyers (@sethmeyers) August 16, 2016John McLaughlin's legacy and influence can be seen on at least five cable channels daily. He changed political TV. Right? or WRONG!!?? RIP
— Chuck Todd (@chucktodd) August 16, 2016True story: Once gave presentation to my entire 7th grade class impersonating McLaughlin. Went over about as you could expect in 7th grade.
— Rory Cooper (@rorycooper) August 16, 2016RIP #JohnMcLaughlin. While we had differences, I always admired the way he created & kept The McLaughlin Group on air so long. @CNN
— David Gergen (@David_Gergen) August 17, 2016And finally, a few images posted on Twitter that recap his career:
Read The Washington Post’s obituary of McLaughlin here.
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