Tina as Sarah: A first, Palin is on the left.Tina as Sarah: A first, Palin is on the left.    If comic Tina plays sidekick Sarah on late-night TV, does the GOP vice presidential wannabe feel the real-world heat around your kitchen table?

One study conducted Wednesday suggests there is a link between parody and politics.

A new national study among 314 self-reported Democrats, Republicans and Independents revealed that after viewing a Tina Fey impersonation of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live, Palin’s favorability ratings dropped slightly among all parties.

The study was conducted by HCD Research and the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion to obtain Americans’ perceptions of Palin after viewing a skit in which Fey does a spot-on impersonation of the woman who would be vice president under a John McCain administration.

Favorability ratings are listed here for Palin before the Fey impersonation (first number) and after the Fey impersonation (second number):

  • All responders – 47 percent, 43 percent
  • Democrats – 24 percent, 17 percent
  • Republicans -- 80 percent, 79 percent
  • Independents – 37 percent, 33 percent 

While viewing the video, participants indicated their levels of believability by moving their mouse from left on a continuum. Responses were recorded in quarter-second intervals and reported in the form of curves. The participants’ emotions also were measured.

View the believability curves here.

Media Curves provides a venue to view perceptions of popular and controversial media events and advertisements.