Impeachment: American Crime Story is the latest installment of Ryan Murphy’s FX anthology series, this time dramatizing the Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky affair. Here’s a look at how some key players have been depicted elsewhere.
Bill Clinton
In ACS
Clive Owen
The British actor isn’t exactly the spitting image of Clinton, but he does project the right sort of slippery charm.
On SNL
Darrell Hammond
With his vocal-fry drawl and lusty demeanor, Hammond nailed something essentially Clintonian.
Also Portrayed By
John Travolta in Primary Colors
Joe Klein used the name “Jack Stanton” in this roman à clef turned movie, but there was no doubt who the model was.
Rap Reference
“Bitch Im Bill Clinton,” Lil B
The Bay Area emcee declares, “I’m Bill Clinton,” sleeping with “all these women” (though he puts it more colorfully).
Hillary Clinton
In ACS
Edie Falco
After playing the wife of a charismatic philanderer for six seasons on The Sopranos, she seems well prepped for this role.
On SNL
Kate McKinnon
There have been plenty of SNL impressions (including by Amy Poehler) but McKinnon singing “Hallelujah” right after Clinton’s loss to Trump sticks with us.
Also Portrayed By
Shuga Cain on RuPaul’s Drag Race
In a musical number inspired by Grease and Trump-era politics, the drag performer donned a leather jacket to play a hog-riding Hillary.
Rap Reference
“Lollipop,” Lil Wayne
Weezy uses “Hillary Rodham” to make a dirty pun.
Monica Lewinsky
In ACS
Beanie Feldstein
An actress known for roles in the films Lady Bird and Booksmart plays the White House’s most famous intern.
On SNL
Molly Shannon
Shannon’s cackly impression was kind of mean—something she later said she had misgivings about.
Also Portrayed By
Lewinsky in Mr. Personality
Lewinsky hosted this short-lived 2003 dating show, offering a winking reality-TV version of herself.
Rap Reference
“Partition,” Beyoncé
“Monica Lewinsky’d” is used as a sex-related synonym. Lewinsky later said that Beyoncé should have said “Bill
Linda Tripp
In ACS
Sarah Paulson
Paulson won an Emmy for her work in the first season of American Crime Story, playing O.J. Simpson prosecutor Marcia Clark.
On SNL
John Goodman
His drag impersonation was funny but also blatantly cruel.
Also Portrayed By
Judy Gold in Clinton the Musical
The Washington Post called her Tripp take in this off-Broadway satirical show “devilishly enjoyable.”
Rap Reference
“Linda Tripp,” Company Flow
This diss track is so named because it incorporates a secret recording of a call, à la Tripp’s tape of Lewinsky.
Photographs from ACS by Kurt Iswarienko/FX.
This article appears in the October 2021 issue of Washingtonian.
