SNL Mentions the Viva Chuck Todd/Viva Rachel Maddow V.P. Debate Drinking Game,...we think

Watch this clip and you tell us whether or not Tina Fey and the Saturday Night Live writers sent a little Gladys Wood third-grade class shout out to the Viva Chuck Todd family. We like to think so; then again, we like to think a lot of things.

The Vice Presidential Debate:What say you Chuckolytes?

The results are in and apparently the highly astute Chuckolyte saw through the pageant queen razzle-dazzle of Governor Palin and gave the night to Senator Biden.

VICE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE Drinking Gamebrought to you by Viva Chuck Todd and Viva Rachel Maddow

You know John McCain is going to be tipping back more than a few tomorrow night, so why not join him in spirit while enjoying the most-watched Vice Presidential Debate in history. As only the Viva Chuck Todd and Viva Rachel Maddow people could do, we've put together a drinking game complete with recipes of the official drinks for each of the candidates plus the official Rachel Maddow libation and the much-anticipated, Chuck Todd-y - the official drink of Viva Chuck Todd.

Prior to beginning the game, the group must pick an official arbiter who will make all official decisions. Their word is law.



Sarah Palin

Anytime Governor Palin says:

• "Gosh"
• "9-11"
• "Y'know"
• "Well Gwen"
• "Islamic Fundamentalists"
• "Russia" and/or "Pootin"
  
• "Maverick"
• "hockey mom"
• "Joe six-pack"

everyone drinks.

If Trig is being hoisted around in the audience, take a drink.

If Trig gets a another spit-makeover by his sister or father, take 2 drinks and do the same thing to yourself.

Every time you see the "First Dude", take a drink and do a jumping chest bump with someone.

Anytime the television audience nervously giggles at a Governor Palin non-sequitur, everyone yells "Katie, I'd like to use my lifeline!" and drinks. Arbiter will have final say as to what qualifies, though not a hard call to make.

If Governor Palin should break down in tears and leave the stage prematurely - chug every last drop of booze in the room, doff your clothing and run naked through the neighborhood hooting in a schadenfreude-induced celebration.


Joe Biden

Anytime Senator Biden says:

• "Aw c'mon"
• "Malarkey"
• "Scranton"
• "Well Gwen"
• "The policies of George Bush"
• "Dick Cheney"
• “John's a friend of mine” or a variation thereof
• "Joe six-pack"

everyone drinks.

Anytime Senator Biden looks up to the rafters, audibly sighs OR raises his voice beyond an appropriate level out of sheer exasperation, everyone drinks. Arbiter will have final say as to what qualifies, though not a hard call to make.

Anytime Senator Biden makes an inappropriate reference to Governor Palin's gender, everyone drinks. Arbiter will have final say as to what qualifies, though not a hard call to make because you probably will hear Biden's handlers slapping their foreheads and blurting "D'oh!".

Anytime Senator Biden makes the sign of the cross and asks for God to grant him patience, everyone drink from their partner's drink as if being given communion.

When Senator Biden looks at Governor Palin and says "Get the hell off this stage, you're an insult to the process!" or any variation thereof - chug every last drop of booze in the room, doff your clothing and run naked through the neighborhood just for the hell of it.





The Chilla from Wasilla - The official drink for Governor Palin

Scale ingredients to servings - Serve in a Mason Jar

3 oz amaretto almond liqueur
1 pint beer (preferably Midnight Sun Kodiak Brown)
2 oz Coca-Cola®

Pour the amaretto into the jar over crushed ice. Follow it up by pouring a chilled beer (Alaskan if possible). Then top it off with the Coke.

The Moji-Joe - The official drink for Senator Biden

1 1/2oz. Light Rum
1 oz. Lime Juice
1/2 Cup Delaware Punch or Hawaiian Punch
3-4 Mint leaves Club Soda

Combine lime juice, mint and punch in a Collins or highball glass.
Stir gently to bruise the mint.
Fill glass 3/4 with ice.
Add the rum.
Top with soda. Stir well.

The Perfect with a lemon twist - The official Viva Rachel Maddow drink

1.5oz sweet vermouth

1.5oz dry vermouth
lemon twist
over ice in a rocks glass

Watch Rachel personally whip this juicy bit of heaven up by clicking here


This drink is smooth and easy, as smooth and easy as “the Chuck” himself. Nothing harsh, or cloying or bitter. Just cool, baby. Smooth and cool, just like “the Chuck.”

the CHUCK TODD-Y

Fill glass with ice and add

1 oz Malibu Rum
1 oz Parrot Bay Rum
½ oz Grenadine or Crème de Almond
Top off glass with equal parts orange juice and pineapple juice.
Shake and pour into glass.

This drink was designed by Patrick - Official Viva Chuck Todd Mixologist,
who can be found in the summer months manning the spirits
at the Dragonfly Deck Bar in Kill Devil Hills, NC

right click - save link as
{file size 2MB }

Viva Chuck Todd Lexicon Watch:Dan Quayle-ized and Spiro Agnewed

Thanks to the drubbing Governor Palin's been getting by the press regardless of their stripe, The Chuck ingeniously gives us two new words to describe the metastatic creep that is beseiging the brand called"Sarah Palin". And with that, we give you today's Viva Chuck Todd Lexicon Watch word(s): Dan Quayle-ized / Spiro Agnewed


Dan Quayle-ized / Spiro Agnewed
Function: Adverb
Usage: colloquial
Etymology: Modern English - First coined by Charles (Chuck) Todd in St. Louis, MO circa early-21st century

1 a: a pejorative appellation given to someone who is out of their depth while seeking the second highest office in the land. Dan Quayle-ized refers to Dan Quyle, the 44th Vice President and Spiro Agnew, the 39th. Both were much-maligned by the public and the press. 1 b: A complete a-hole, moron or both

The New York Times on Meet The Press post-election and the influence of Brokaw

"...but it is leaning toward an ensemble of hosts that would be led by Chuck Todd, NBC’s political director, and include David Gregory, a correspondent and MSNBC anchor, according to a person who had been briefed on the proposal but was not authorized to comment, partly because the plans were not set. Like the turnover of anchors at all three network newscasts, the process of choosing a successor for Mr. Russert has been closely watched in media and political circles."

CHUCK POLL RESULTS:who won the debate?

Well, you voted and the results speak volumes. As well as mirror the growing consensus: Obama won - Grumpy ol' man loses.

The Chuck's early take on the Debate

"Still, count me impressed by both candidates. I know it may sound a bit pollyannish, but I thought one would not bring their "A" game or that one would get complacent and that didn't happen. There are some who believe a "draw" is better for the candidate perceived to be ahead. If that's the case, then the polls will continue their Obama drift. But I wouldn't be surprised if the polls don't move much in either direction because neither candidate gave a reason why voters ought to stop listening and make their decision now."

Read The Chuck's full take here

A morning to remember:This morning on Morning Joe something special happened

The crew here at the Viva Chuck Todd editorial offices bring themselves up to speed daily by scanning the latest DVR recording of the day's events that The Chuck might have been a part of. In most cases, the time viewing is spent fast-forwarding through all things not Chuck and stopping occasionally to watch something that looks like it got big laughs.

This morning's Morning Joe was a different show entirely. Just The Chuck and Scarborough alone co-hosting was a site to behold. What made it all so much better was the panoply of guests who added to the examination of the hell we all seem to be going through via the brittle economic situation. Noonan, Snowe, Herbert, Rubin, Murphy, Gibbs, Wallace, Stengel, Burnett, Haines and Zuckerman were all part of a coherent dialog that captivated for three hours. We honest to God wanted to fast-forward through something, yet the content of the show was compelling, topical and downright fascinating (Okay, Tommy Hilfiger was the off-key plunk at the end of the show). Scarborough shined as the passionate counterpoint and The Chuck served as the academic font that all who chatted went to for empirical data. The Chuck displayed a relaxed inquisitive nature not seen prior. He questioned everyone, especially James Rubin, former Clinton Administration Deputy Secretary of State cogently and respectfully. On the inverse, he was also often asked questions of by guests who really wanted to know the score.

From this office's perspective it was compelling TV; for those of you that saw it, what did you think?

NEW VIVA CHUCK TODD e-CARDS:giving comedy props to the Surface

We realized that we haven't posted any new e-cards lately despite the damn things being a unmitigated hit. So, taking into account everyone's fascination with the new Microsoft Surface toy The Chuck gets to play with and the sexual overtones of The Chuck fondling something nightly, we thought these cards were the perfect marriage of the two...enjoy.

Not Cool:Matthews disses The Chuck

One might have noticed The Chuck becoming extra passionate the last few days as a result of the tumultuous polling landscape and the circumstances wreaking havoc on them.

Today's NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll was the last shoe to drop in the pronouncement that the McCain campaign is listing and needs to right itself. The "Hail Mary" of today's campaign cessation announcement and debate reschedule was certainly chum for the news sharks and polling companies.

With that said, this kind of action means only one thing to The Chuck: constant NBC/MSNBC exposure. Every hour, The Chuck was there. He was on Morning Joe. He was on Hardball. He was on The Nightly News with Brian Williams. The man was a machine raising salient points and bringing the "gold standard" of polls (NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll) to the public.

But something happened today that could only be summarized as "not cool". On Hardball with Chris Matthews, The Chuck brought his game and was exceptionally forceful and expressive in his presentation of the facts. Obviously off his game, Matthews not only did his usual verbal toe-stepping on The Chuck, but cut to a phone-in McCain spokesperson without so much as a thank you to The Chuck. It was abrupt, inappropriate and rude. The Chuck is now in a position to bring some serious gravitas to the party and to cast him off without so much as a "thank you" is done at one's peril.

Set design inspired by the 70's

This morning The Chuck suffered the greatest of indignities as he stood in front of the fugliest set known to broadcast news.

It was a slap-dash pile of taffeta and lighting girders that barely covered the back walls of the studio. The stark contrast to the state-of-the-art technology of the Microsoft Surface was not lost on Scarborough and Mike Murphy who ridiculed The Chuck accordingly.

Who could blame them actually? It was hideous and nowhere near the quality of old Laugh-In sets. But despite the huge liability, The Chuck persevered as the picture of professionalism and made it through as if he never looked over his shoulder.

Nice Job on Countdown Shuster

Hats off to you on filling in for Uncle Keith.

There's something about this guy we like (aside from the fact that he's a Chuckolyte button-carrying member).

CHUCK COUTURE: Jonathan Capehart dons the bow tie and the crowd goes Wilde

In a bold and courageous move this morning, Jonathan Capehart of The Washington Post chose to out-George Will George Will by donning a rather, how shall we say, flamboyant polka-dotted bow tie that lacked the necessary rigidity to fend off the comments of those who would never dream of going where Mr. Capehart went in his tie choice.

It was by all accounts a calm morning despite the scurrilous election, still-to-be-determined averted financial collapse and the metaphorical end credits of Pax Americana. So none of us were prepared for what Capehart was wearing. We have all become somewhat innured to the double, triple, quadruple Windsors the young wordsmith has laid on us; but even the most seasoned Capehart fan did not see this coming - a bow tie!

It was a gloriously floppy dark slate blue number that provided a field for white dots to prance upon like jewels on blue velvet. It was tied in a knot that was structured yet fashionably laissez-faire at the ends. Capehart batted away comments with the confidence of someone who revels in being a trendsetter, despite that trend being somewhat obscured by decades. Although the dichotomy of Scarborough letting loose with a snide acknowledgment while wearing a skinny Sears tie that could only be riffed via a "Ryan Seacrest" reference, was rich indeed.

Hats off to you young Capehart. Our senses are now heightened to what comes next. Know this; we look forward to your Ascot next week.

filed by Viva Chuck Todd fashion editor, Devon O'Toole

FREE VIVA CHUCK TODD RINGTONEDecision 08 Theme Music

Okay, we've really outdone ourselves on this one (right click - save link as).

We feel especially proud that we beat MSNBC to the punch, because we know all Chuckolytes and Maddites are going to install this pronto.

Q&A Cafe w/ Carol Joynt: THE CHUCK

All political geeks who do not have the good fortune of living in or near Washington D.C are deprived the phenomenal political/entertainment watering hole known as Nathan's. Every week Nathan's puts on "'The Q&A Cafe with Carol Joynt' - a talk show taped live before an audience at Nathans Restaurant in Georgetown, Washington, DC. It's open to anyone who wants to attend". To see just how much of a Georgetown institution this place is, check this out.

This past week they hosted The Chuck. Emoting his usual affable and casual demeanor, dozens of lucky Chuckolytes got to enjoy The Chuck's nuggets of wisdom up close and personal. The interview in it's entirety is fun, intimate and in-depth. We especially liked the first five or so minutes of the interview where Carol talks about Viva Chuck Todd and Chuckolyte.com and gets The Chuck to comment. It was bittersweet in the fact that we like to get mentioned, but man, do we hate to see The Chuck squirm over us.

So with any further interruption, Q&A Cafe w/ Carol Joynt: Chuck Todd

Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V

And most importantly, A big Viva Chuck Todd gracias to Carol Joynt for the shout out to us Chuckolytes - your membership card is on it's way ;)

Q&A Cafe w/ Carol Joynt: THE CHUCKa Chuckolyte's perspective

In between manning Microsoft Surface, First Read and the slate of appearances on NBC/MSNBC the Chuck found time to head over to Georgetown for a little salmon and grilling by Carol Joynt in her local Q&A. The man hasn’t slept since February but he still found time for this and it is why we adore him!

Chuckolytes will be thrilled to know that The Chuck is beloved and respected here at home as he is out on the Internets.

For the Viva Chuck Todd crew, I believe you have officially outdone the likes of The Drudge Report and Page Six of the NY Post in importance. Carol Joynt kicked off her interview not with the latest Gallup Polls, the Sarah Palin factor or how the Economic crisis was shifting the election – no, no with her priorities straight Ms. Joynt led the afternoon’s Q&A with VCT and the Chuckolytes (I swear we should have tour t-shirts). The Chuck’s response – “I keep my head down – they’ve been very kind…I just don’t want them to go negative”.

The interview covered a multitude of topics in all too brief an hour. Highlights included, The Chuck’s time at Hotline and his 15 years of work to wanting to kill Scarborough over the lame nickname “Chucky T”. Here is a sampling of The Chuck’s brilliance:

On Hotline: “It was way ahead of it’s time… a lighthouse for politics… I figured out how to read it on my Kindle.”

On the gossip about NBC/MSNBC in fighting: “There are a lot more untruths out there then truths."

On Russert: “I lost my father when I was sixteen. I feel the same way about Tim everyday when I have this list of 75,000 conversations I wish I could have with him.”

On Russert’s power at the network: “When someone passes on, there's always a mythology of the power someone had. Maybe what made Tim powerful within the news network is that he had more power than he ever used.”

On becoming the host of Meet the Press: “There’s no right answer to that question… To tell you the truth I don’t know if I want the job. Who wants to be the idiot who follows in Tim's shoes. Not only that, but you have to follow in Tim's shoes and now Tom [Brokaw]'s shoes.”

On the Internet: “The Internet is begging to be organized.”

On Bill Gates: “Steve Jobs is always going to be cooler than you, get over it”

On the rise of Cable News: “And then came the gift to cable news – Monica Lewinsky.” [as what catapulted cable news to prominence].

On those Polls: “Polls are going to be wrong this cycle...[because] it is going to be the percentage of the electorates [that determines the outcome].

By far The Chuck’s take on what makes the 2008 election historic is what sets him apart from the rest of the pack. “This is a marker election, not because of the first black nominee of a major party, or because of the first woman on a Republican national ticket, but because both of them are post baby boomers. 2008 shuts a door on baby boomers. The baby boom generation is going to have to do some soul searching about what happened. It should be Tom Brokaw’s next book. How this whole generation that ran the sports world, ran Wall Street, ran the business world… Baby boomers failed us as leaders.”

With modesty, humility, intellect and a dash of sarcasm The Chuck deftly sustained the sometimes intrusive questioning of the interviewer (who at times I just wanted to smack for interrupting him mid sentence). Although Joynt does deserve some props for coining a new turn of phrase – in referring to a fellow journalist’s changing his facial hair Joynt stated, “When I saw him the other day it was completely redone as a Chuck Todd”. That’s right folks; we have the beard, the goatee and now, The Chuck Todd – tell your neighbors.

The interview came to an end to which Chuck simply said, “This was almost fun.” And with that he paused briefly for photos and quickly dashed off in a cab back to Nebraska Ave.

filed by Viva Chuck Todd Senior Field Corespondent, Dalissa

Kitties, Eunuchs and bromance:Something was in the air this morning onMorning Joe

At a press conference held earlier this morning by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, it was announced that a large-scale gas leak of nitrous oxide (aka "laughing gas") throughout the NBC studios at Rockefeller Plaza was responsible for today's silly and at times ridiculous behavior of the Morning Joe cast.


Minutes after Morning Joe ended it's broadcast, several HAZMAT teams were deployed throughout the building to locate and determine the severity of the leak. It was discovered that not one, but several tanks of nitrous oxide were being discharged throughout the building's ventilation system. Authorities are still trying to determine how such large amounts of the euphoric gas found it's way into 30 Rock, but in a Viva Chuck Todd exclusive, several NBC employees who on the condition of anonymity, claimed that several tanks of the gas were being used by Countdown with Keith Olbermann crew members to help them tolerate and laugh at Olbermann's jokes; providing the familiar off-camera chortles frequently heard on his show. It was also claimed by these sources that the gas was also being used by Rachel Maddow to help her get through the Kent Jones Just Enough segment at the end of her new show. Although the investigation is still in it's infancy, fingers already point to Al Roker as the key suspect for bringing the gas to 30 Rock. It appears that Roker has been using the gas for years on The Today Show cast and crew in getting them to think he was the least bit funny - a technique he adapted from his predecessor, Willard Scott.

The behavior that tipped the scales and led many viewers to flood the New York City 911 system with calls was the moment Harold Ford Jr. began to smile. Concern amongst viewers reached it's zenith when Ford actually tried to crack a joke. The uncharacteristically ebullient mood was not isolated to Ford. Ol' Man Barnacle and Our Man Willie sat uncomfortably close to each other throughout the entire show. The proximity of their chairs and the effect of the noxious gas was apparently too much for the men, culminating in a Bush/Merkel-esque shoulder rub and a celebratory on-air embrace. Earlier, Barnacle had admitted to being a "cat man" and someone who keeps his cat in his car's glove compartment while he shuffles around Home Depot in his off-hours. Another "canary in the coal mine" was Mika Brzezinski, who herself displayed effects of the gas. In her case though, she was serious, introspective and constantly trying to bring order to the group. Brzezinski is currently undergoing tests at New York-Presbyterian Hospital as doctors are tying to determine why laughing gas would have the opposite effect on her. Amazingly, Scarborough himself appeared to be unaffected, displaying the bi-polar tendencies usually seen by viewers.

In a related story, authorities were also dispatched to the CNBC studios at the New York Stock Exchange where International Superstar, Erin Burnett herself appeared to be a tad loopy and uttered the unfortunate term "eunuch" on-air raising suspicions that she too, was affected by the gas.

It is important to note that The Chuck was unharmed and the Washington D.C. bureau was declared safe by local authorities.