Late Night TV in Full Campaign Mode on Eve of Midterms

Nov 05, 2018 · 21 comments
Linda (Bucks County)
I used to watch late night shows to be entertained. They have forgotten what entertainment means in favor of politics. I am tired of the entertainment industry thinking it is their job to inundate us with politics. You can see it from books, to movies to late night, everyone's political agenda. I don't care what side that you are on, but I don't want to hear about it in entertainment, and I am tuned out of anything smacking of politics. Enough already.
houseofcards (CT)
I give credit to the comedians and their writers who are able to help us laugh at Trump's preposterous lies, fact-less statements, and unrealistic promotion of fear.
Lauren Bonomi (Palo Alto)
“People have asked why there isn’t a conservative form of late night comedy,” Conservatives are just not funny. When they attempt humor, they’re usually only mean. Besides conservatives don’t know how to laugh at themselves, whereas liberals recognize their absurdity all the time.
Claire Elliott (Eugene)
There isn't a form of late night comedy for conservatives because as a group, they have no discernible sense of humor. The 24/7 rage and fear extinguish any laughter, hope, or optimism.
Doctor D (San Juan Capistrano, Ca)
@Claire Elliott I was just about to make the identical comment but you beat me to the punch.
Paul (VA)
exactly!
ERP (Bellows Falls, VT)
It's easy to understand how the late night hosts "have found the president an irresistible target". But "night after night", for two years? It takes a particular kind of mentality, and a particular type of audience, to be enthusiastic for that. At least it's easy. If the target is right, the aim doesn't have to be very good. Suggesting that Trump administers oral sex to Putin takes TV to a new place but it doesn't call for a lot of deep thinking. Can it change beliefs and votes? It is hard to believe that there was anyone in the audience with divergent opinions after the first few weeks. You can't change the views of those who already agree with you. The Trump era will be over eventually, and the shows will want to attract a broader audience again. It will be interesting to see whether it is still there.
P H (Seattle )
@ERP ... "But "night after night", for two years?" Yes! You obviously aren't as devastated by the current administration as many of us are. "night after night, for two years," is how many of us have gotten through this mess, by turning to these comedians who are so talented at helping millions take the edge off the tension for a half hour.
AJ (Midwest. )
@ERP. When George W Bush, whom I disliked intensely was President, he would do something maybe once a month where I’d think “Ugh, I can’t believe he said/ did that”. It wasn’t day after day. With the current President, he lies or uses hateful rhetoric or promotes some policy that tears at the fabric of our nation day after day. So yeah, you can expect that there will be late night entertainers trying to give us some salve night after night.
Jenifer (Issaquah)
The time for fence sitting in America is OVER. You either with side with the president or you side with your country. I'm siding with the good old US of A.
Sharon Harris (NYC)
Terrific topic for this political season, this piece is engaging and reflects the serious problems we face today.
Joe Barnett (Sacramento)
Mr. Trump has been too kind to comedians by saying ignorant things on a daily basis. The world is both laughing at him and scared to death what he might do next.
Mike (Somewhere In Idaho)
I've not watched late night hardly ever. Johnny Carson was pretty boring. Leno was not all that funny. Recently the latest group are just full of insider "jokes?" That are frankly lame. They seem more lame than actually funny. Making fun of people is getting less and less funny. I guess as the country matures we all find more interesting things to do than laugh at people.
Lorem Ipsum (DFW, TX)
The suits at Comcast told Jimmy Fallon to play nice with their Mr. Trump. Always eager to please, he obliged them when it mattered.
aldebaran (new york)
I occasionally watch SNL but can’t watch these comedians. Constantly attacking the president night after night gets to be overkill.
Brewster Millions (Santa Fe, N.M.)
And SNL mocks an American Navy Seal who lost his eye in combat because he is running for Congress as a Republican. Pete Davidson said he looked like a "hit man in a porno movie." That's a nice thing to say about someone who served this country and suffered a traumatic injury while engaged in combat. Yet, SNL and the liberal media adore and admire the porn star stormy daniels, claiming she is the women of the year. My bet is that Mrs. Davidson wouldn't last one hour of Navy Seal training.
G. (Michigan)
@Brewster Millions Pete Davidson's father died as a 9/11 first-responder. I'm sure having a sense of humour doesn't interfere with his respect for the Navy.
Doug Keller (Virginia)
@Brewster Millions What the president of the United States had to say about John McCain was even nicer. And that Gold Star family who lost a son in combat. We all know how much training Cadet Bone Spurs subjected himself to (though he did suffer through his "personal Vietnam") and how offended conservative media was at his comments disparaging the military service and sacrifices made by these people. Not.
jan m (westchester county)
@Brewster Millions I cannot believe that you are complaining about a skit on a comedy show. Where were you when the current inhabitant of the WH was spewing hate on John McCain, or the reporter for the times?
bu (DC)
It's not funny that all these comedians have to be acting so concerned, even alarmed. Sad state of the Union.
Roxanne Pearls (Massachusetts )
@bu Unfortunately they are not acting.