The president walks into a bar: How humor
has changed in the Trump era
McClatchy Newspapers,
by
Andrew Malcolm
Original Article
Posted By: SurferLad,
6/5/2019 2:10:56 PM
So, Bill Clinton walks into a bar with a parrot on his shoulder. Bartender says, “Does he talk?” Parrot says, “Not for less than 500 grand.” That’s an old-fashioned political joke — old-fashioned as in the 1990s. It takes a recognizable slice of truth, gives it an unexpected twist and out comes a laugh that leaves no mark. Today’s American political humor is drastically different, reflecting a drastically different country than the one late-night legend Johnny Carson bid farewell to 27 years ago this month. [Snip] Such shows have always made fun of Republicans, but
Reply 1 - Posted by:
Mass Minority 6/5/2019 2:48:06 PM (No. 91327)
I too have noted the outright viciousness of supposed comedians since Trump came down the staircase almost 4 years ago. Its horrendous. It is not hunmor, its thinly disguised hatred.
I can remember an earlier time, when Chevy Chase parodied Ford, or Dan Akroyd playing Nixon. Both were hilarious and Ford actually found Chevy Chases impression hilarious. They were hilarious, and poked fun at presidential foibles nut they were not mean, not designed to hurt the victim of their anger. Todays comedians have traded funny for virtue signalling and it hurts us all deeply.
As an aside, I saw Jeff Dunham last fall. He talked about his very real problem. How to be funny without either crossing that line or alienating half the audience. This is the guy who introduced Akhmed the dead terrorist 6 months after 9/11. He knows this subject well. (The saudis love Akhmed). So Jeff Dunham then introduced a new character, Bob, Trumps personal advisor. Bob is a chain smoking emotional basket case afraid of loud noises, exactly what I imagine a Trump personal assistant might be living inside such a constantly changing and raucous environment as the Trump White house. And he was hilarious, not insulting, not mean spirited, not viscous, just hilarious. I am willing to bet Trump would love this guy. The point is true humor does not need to inflict pain on its subject, true humor is just a caricature of very real human traits, traits we all have.
Most comedians today seem to have forgotten this. And they are not funny.
6 people like this.
Reply 2 - Posted by:
MickTurn 6/5/2019 5:56:36 PM (No. 91459)
So, Bill Clinton walks into a bar with a parrot on his shoulder. Bartender says, “Does he talk?” Parrot says, “Not for less than 500 grand.”
"Does he tell Lies?" Parrot says "Yes, for nothing! If you want REAL whoppers ask his wife Hitlery!"
4 people like this.
Reply 3 - Posted by:
bad-hair 6/5/2019 7:16:23 PM (No. 91526)
Slick #2, pun intended.
Personally I gave up on stand up comedy with the 15th black "comic" using the word that this site won't let ME use 15 times in 1 so-called joke. My last resorts include Dennis Miller and Dana Carvey.
2 people like this.
Reply 4 - Posted by:
HHFi2 6/5/2019 8:12:41 PM (No. 91556)
I am a professional comedy writer (radio, not TV, thank God), and I used to watch all the late night shows, if for no other reason than to make sure we didn't repeat one of their jokes. I no longer watch any of them, other than Conan occasionally (his Trump monologue jokes can get nasty, but in general, he seems to prefer the playful and surreal to political vitriol.) They haven't invented some "new" kind of political humor, they just write nasty, sneering partisan applause lines for leftist audiences. This is why the audience reaction is called "clapter" instead of laughter. I no longer have to worry about repeating one of their jokes because we only write jokes that are funny.
2 people like this.
Below, you will find ...
Most Recent Articles posted by "SurferLad"
and
Most Active Articles (last 48 hours)