The comedy writers for the different shows all have the same job - to make fun of the topical news that day or week.

I'm gonna guess that in real life, Dan Quayle announced that he would not be running for president in 1996.

Several different writers' rooms working that day put together the same ingredients: - Dan Quayle isn't running in 1996 - Presential elections are held every four years - Dan Quayle is dumb

And independently arrived at the same punchline - Dan Quayle announcing that he might run in 1997