Snl's Iconic Take On "Schoolhouse Rock!

On November 22, 2014, Saturday Night Live (SNL) aired a sketch titled How a Bill Does Not Become a Law, parodying the Schoolhouse Rock! segment I'm Just a Bill. The sketch, which came after President Obama's Immigration Accountability Executive Order announcement, featured Kenan Thompson as a bill, Jay Pharoah as President Obama, and Bobby Moynihan as an executive order. In the sketch, the bill sings about the process of becoming a law, only to be pushed down the Capitol Hill steps by President Obama, who explains that it is easier to use an executive order. The executive order then sings about what it can do, such as creating a national park or holiday, and granting legal status to undocumented immigrants. While the sketch is entertaining, it also spreads misinformation about the President's executive order, as it was not intended to replace any act of Congress.

'I'm Just a Bill' sketch

"I'm Just a Bill" is a 1976 Schoolhouse Rock! segment that features a song of the same title written by Dave Frishberg. The segment was part of "America Rock", the third season of the Schoolhouse Rock! series. The song, sung by Jack Sheldon, details how a bill becomes a law in the United States, and it is accompanied by dialogue from Sheldon's son John, who plays the role of a boy learning about the process.

The specific bill in question is for a law that would require school buses to stop at railroad crossings, likely referencing the Gilchrest Road, New York crossing accident. In the song, the bill becomes a law, but in reality, such a bill has never been approved by the United States Congress and would likely be of questionable constitutionality.

The "I'm Just a Bill" sketch has been widely referenced and parodied in popular culture, including in The Simpsons, Family Guy, Johnny Bravo, and Saturday Night Live (SNL). The SNL sketch, titled "How a Bill Does Not Become a Law", aired on November 22, 2014, and featured Kenan Thompson as the Bill, Jay Pharoah as President Barack Obama, and Bobby Moynihan as the Executive Order.

In the SNL sketch, the Bill is pushed down the Capitol Hill steps by President Obama, who explains to a young boy (played by Kyle Mooney) that it is easier to utilise an executive order to get things done. The Executive Order introduces itself by singing, "I'm an executive order, and I pretty much just happen." The sketch critiques President Obama's frequent usage of executive orders during his term.

Kenan Thompson as Bill

Kenan Thompson played the role of Bill in the Saturday Night Live (SNL) sketch titled "How a Bill Does Not Become a Law". The sketch aired on November 22, 2014, and was a parody of the Schoolhouse Rock! segment "I'm Just a Bill", which explains the process of how a bill becomes a law.

In the sketch, Kenan's Bill is an immigration bill that is thrown down the Capitol Hill steps by President Barack Obama, played by Jay Pharoah. The president favours an executive order, played by Bobby Moynihan, over the bill, demonstrating the ease of utilising an executive order compared to the traditional legislative process.

Bill is introduced by Kyle, played by Kyle Mooney, who discovers him sitting on the steps of the Capitol building. Bill then breaks into song, singing about his desire to become a law. He explains the process of how a bill becomes a law, including the need for a majority vote in the House and the Senate. However, each time Bill appears on the steps, he is pushed down by President Obama, who touts the ease and convenience of using an executive order to get things done.

Despite Bill's insistence that he will take the president to court, he is repeatedly thwarted by the executive order, who points out the limitations of the traditional legislative process. The sketch ends with Bill expressing his frustration at the many steps required for a bill to become a law, a play on the many steps of the Capitol building.

Kenan Thompson's portrayal of Bill in the SNL sketch added a comedic twist to the serious topic of lawmaking, highlighting the complexities and challenges of the legislative process.

Jay Pharoah as President Obama

In the Saturday Night Live sketch, "How a Bill Does Not Become a Law", Jay Pharoah plays President Barack Obama. The sketch is a parody of the Schoolhouse Rock! segment "I'm Just a Bill", which explains how a bill becomes a law in the United States. In the SNL version, an immigration bill, played by Kenan Thompson, sings about how he hopes to become a law one day. However, President Obama keeps pushing him down the Capitol Hill steps, explaining to a young boy, played by Kyle Mooney, that it is much easier to use an executive order, played by Bobby Moynihan.

The sketch is a critique of President Obama's frequent use of executive orders during his term. In the sketch, President Obama declares that the Executive Order will grant "legal status" to millions of "illegal immigrants." This is a misnomer, as the Executive Order did not offer legal status to undocumented immigrants but rather a temporary contract that protected applicants from deportation if they accepted and maintained it.

Jay Pharoah's President Obama also points out that executive orders have been used throughout history, including by President Lincoln with the Emancipation Proclamation. He sings about how executive orders can be used to create national parks or holidays. Despite the lighthearted tone of the sketch, it sparked some debate about the accuracy of its portrayal of immigration reform and the use of executive orders.

Overall, Jay Pharoah's portrayal of President Obama in the SNL sketch "How a Bill Does Not Become a Law" is a comedic take on the complexities of the legislative process and the use of executive orders. It reflects the show's tradition of satirizing current events and political figures.

Bobby Moynihan as Executive Order

In the Saturday Night Live sketch "How a Bill Does Not Become a Law", Bobby Moynihan plays the Executive Order, who interrupts the Bill (played by Kenan Thompson) and the boy (Kyle Mooney) to explain that there's an easier way to get things done in Washington, DC.

Moynihan's Executive Order introduces himself by singing:

> I'm an executive order, and I pretty much just happen.

He then goes on to explain that he doesn't need to go through Congress to become a law, which surprises the boy. The Executive Order also points out that presidents issue executive orders all the time, and lists some of the things he could do, such as creating a national park or a new holiday.

When President Obama (Jay Pharoah) announces that this particular executive order will grant legal status to millions of undocumented immigrants, the Executive Order is shocked and exclaims:

> Oh, my god! But I didn’t have time to read myself. Wow! Okay. Go big or go home, huh?

The sketch is a critique on former President Barack Obama's frequent usage of executive orders during his term. It first aired on November 22, 2014, following Obama's announcement of an Immigration Accountability Executive Order.

Parody of Schoolhouse Rock

Scene: A cartoon picture of the Capitol building. Kyle walks in.

Kyle: Wow! You really have to climb a lot of steps to get to this Capitol building in Washington, D.C. I wonder what that piece of paper is doing here?

Bill walks in, singing:

I'm just a bill, yes, I'm only a bill,

And I'm sitting here on Capitol Hill.

Oh, I'm hoping one day that I will be a law,

But today I am still just a bill.

Kyle: Cool! So, what kind of bill are you?

Bill: I'm an immigration bill. And one day, the Republicans might create me, so I could become a law.

Kyle: And how does a bill become a law?

Bill, singing:

Well, first, I go to the House, and they vote on me,

But then I need the Senate's majority.

Guess I have to pass the legislative test,

And then I'll be ready for the President's desk!

Bill walks to President Obama, who pushes him down the stairs.

Bill: Oh! Oh my!

Cut to Kyle and Barack Obama watching Bill fall.

Bill: Oh! My legs! They were made of paper!

Kyle: President Obama, what's the big idea? That bill was trying to become a law.

Barack Obama: I realize that, but there's an even easier way to get things done around here. It's called an Executive Order.

Executive Order walks in, smoking a cigar, singing:

I'm an Executive Order, and I pretty much just happen.

Kyle: Wait a second. Don't you have to go through Congress at some point?

Executive Order: Oh, that's adorable. You still think that's how the government works.

Bill walks back, singing:

Don't listen to him, son. Look at the midterm election,

People clearly don't want—

Barack Obama pushes Bill down the stairs again.

Cut to Bill falling down the steps of the Capitol building.

Bill: Oh! Why did I come back?

Cut to Kyle, Barack Obama, and Executive Order watching Bill fall.

Bill: Ah! I think I landed on my keys.

Kyle: Mr. President, is this constitutional?

Barack Obama: Of course. Presidents issue executive orders all the time.

Executive Order, singing:

I'll create a national park, or a new holiday,

Barack Obama, singing:

Or grant legal status to millions of undocumented immigrants.

Executive Order: Wait, what?

Barack Obama: Yes, that's what you're gonna do.

Executive Order: Oh my! But I didn't have time to read myself. Wow, okay. Go big or go home, huh?

Bill comes back again, singing:

This isn't over. We'll take you to court,

We'll shut you down—

Barack Obama pushes Bill down the stairs again.

Cut to Bill falling down the steps of the Capitol building.

Bill: So many steps! So many steps!

Barack Obama: Well, son, what do you think about the government now?

Kyle: I think I wanna go into the private sector.

Barack Obama: Me too, son. Me too.

Curtain falls.

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