The presidential candidates are showing their faces all over entertainment television shows like Saturday Night Live, or those on BET and CBS.

Sarah Palin, the Republican vice-presidential candidate, appeared on SNL after Tina Fey’s notorious impression of the GOP running mate the week before. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama was interviewed by BET on Oct. 20.

Republican presidential candidate John McCain missed an early David Letterman show, and later appeared on the show, admitting he “screwed up.”

The candidate appearances on such shows and networks appeal to younger voters, said associate communication professor Ferald Bryan.

“When candidates appear on entertainment shows, SNL or BET, the goal is often to appeal to younger voters, ages 18 to 25,” Bryan said. “Another advantage that candidates have in appearing on these entertainment shows is that they avoid the ‘hard’ questions from news reporters.”

Some students feel the appearances on entertainment television should not matter to voters.

“It doesn’t really affect my vote; it doesn’t matter to me either way,” said Mark Senal, junior business administration major.

Other students feel it does affect who they are voting for.

“It probably would, because I heard about Palin’s thing on SNL and it makes her more human,” said sophomore geography major Amber Singer. “And more like us, since she’s willing to make fun of herself.”

Bryan also said if voters did not see the show, the clips can be seen online or on the news, and give the candidate more publicity overall.

“Older voters who view the news clips from these entertainment shows will likely be impressed that the candidate has a good sense of humor,” Bryan said. “Besides, the news clips mean more exposure to the electorate at large anyway.”