February 19, 2010
Andrea Fay Friedman Disses Palin
And Defends the Honor of "Family Guy"
A darned fine comedienne.
I am so freaking happy today. "Family Guy" got Sarah Palin so good, better than anyone else yet. It was funny enough that Palin held a press conference to lambast the show's most recent episode, which featured a joke carefully designed not to refer directly to Palin's own child with Down's. I'm starting to think that was just a cleverly baited trap.
As it turns out, Andrea Fay Friedman, the actress voicing the role of Ellen (the character with Down's Syndrome) actually has Down's Syndrome. In today's New York Times interview, Friedman defended the show and her role, saying she's proud to be an example of what people with Down's Syndrome can achieve. She also accused Sarah Palin of not having a sense of humor, then got in her own jab, saying "My mother did not carry me around under her arm like a loaf of French bread the way former Governor Palin carries her son Trig around looking for sympathy and votes." (This wasn't included in the NYT post, but it was in her full letter).
Checkmate, Palin camp. You've been dissed by someone you can't possibly attack.
I can't help but think there was something deliberate in this. It was a brilliant political strategy: quietly hire an actress with Down's and don't make a big deal about it -- after all, that's the high road anyway. Then make a Sarah Palin joke, knowing she'll take the bait, and also knowing she'll shoot herself in the foot by not doing any research before lashing out.Then let Andrea Fay Friedman speak for herself, thus highlighting the fact that yes, people with Down's Syndrome are real people who are allowed to make jokes.
Seriously, the Democrats should hire the "FG" staff posthaste.
OK, enough levity. Back to watching Blades of Glory come to life in Vancouver.
