Bravo, but I'd go one further.
SNL's cold open, and even the NYT's columnists who relish in snarky-but-funny riffs on Trump reduce him to a lovable bumptious clown who, God-luv-'em, can't help himself. To laugh at Trump, a vicious man really who is so careless with other people's lives, smacks of remembering Hitler as a misunderstood vegan who loved children.
6
Uh-oh. Politics fatigue is a sound rationale, but those like Mr. Spade concerned about losing half their audience sound like GOP congressman giving in to Trump because of his 90% approval rating.
I have dabbled in stand-up and have considered tackling Trump at an open mic here in the reddest county in NJ. I would want everyone to laugh, have them laugh at all politicians, but in the end have shaken their blind allegiance to the Orange One with humor.
If you never hear back from me, you know how it went.
37
This article surprisingly brigs to light the lack of female voices in this seemingly male dominated part of the entertainment industry...
How 'bout we go out with one last knee slapper from a big shot political comedian:
We love America. We helped you look into Biden and we got hundreds of millions. We'll help you look into Trump. How much you got?
Shun republicans
Don’t sell, buy, teach, medically treat, represent or communicate with them.
1
I need my Bill Maher fix weekly in order to get through the week. If done well, a comedian can inform and provide a therapeutic laugh at the same time.
9
There is a Trump obsession in the news~entertainment industry, for sure. To the extent it shines a light on abuse of power, or cuts through blatant propaganda, bring it. But most of the time it seems like it’s offered as template filler— to give the people what they are conditioned to want: feel superior and tribal reinforcement.
Michelle Wolf’s comment at the WHCA dinner said it best, funny enough.
“ You guys are obsessed with Trump. Did you used to date him? Because you pretend like you hate him, but I think you love him. I think what no one in this room wants to admit is that Trump has helped all of you.”
7
Boy, I feel exactly the reverse: bring 'em on!! Comedians who don't tackle this stuff are boring, irrelevant, and cowardly, in my view. Thank goodness for Colbert, Myers, Oliver, Bee, and others, who help me laugh when what I really feel most of the time is despair. They help me feel sane---that I'm not the only one who recognizes that we have a corrupt predator in the president's office.
8
The levity the late night shows create is a releif from all the real news. Humor is the best medicine. If people are offended, don't watch;
4
I'm not surprised that 1 of every 5 Americans is suffering from insomnia in the current hyper-partisan environment.
As for me, the barbs comedians hurl at Trump are so funny and spot-on, I have no trouble sleeping through the night -- ecstatic that the nonstop jabs make the sick, humorless president boil.
5
What did the jovial jester say to the splendiferous king? Sir, you are cleaving our nation, flogging the issues and making the people restive. Toss out any notion of resigning!
Let’s get rid of Trump first, then we can go back to laughing.
3
As news has become entertainment, entertainment has become news. We have an incompetent reality tv star as president but this author chooses to dwell on the comedians who bash him. Please. I thank Colbert for the breath of fresh air in this pigsty.
6
David Spade, I've seen every episode of Seinfeld at least twice, and sir, you are no Jerry Seinfeld.
1
Yes, you should go back to making third-grade-level jokes about the human body (especially the female human body), batty old people (especially batty old women) and family members (especially mothers-in-law). Just be sure to give us a "skip childish, misogynistic rubbish" option.
6
He's beyond a joke.. and maybe thats his cunning plan..
Exhausting, indeed. And then, absurdly, publications like the NYT and Guardian cover late-night monologues and SNL skits as though they were news events, just so they can publish Trump insults. Oy, the boredom of it all.
6
Heck, I was ignoring all things Tump, till recently when I realized he might even really be getting worried about his tenure. Now Scotus hast to decide on the DACA Wording/legality and I making fun of the fact that they might use too big of words or to scientific of terminology for chief Tumpus
1
Everything related to Trump
Is a joke. If you don’t joke about it you’ll kill yourself.
3
The only thing I find comforting enough to laugh is seeing someone make fun of the orange abominations the Republicans have become, because it pains them to see it as well.
1
A rabbi, a priest and Donald Trump walk into a beauty parlor. . . . .
1
When I get completely depressed by all the Trump news, I don't switch to the late-night hosts. I switch to the cooking channels. At least there I can escape from any mention of that orange-haired idiot.
2
Not many conservative comics.
Take my wife. Please.
“Misogynist”. “Sexist.” “Mansplaining.”
They don’t get any respect.
1
So here is another form of 'normalizing' the transformation of democracy into fascism and end of functional, Constitutional democracy or 'equal justice under law': a cry of 'we need a break!'
One more version of 'ignore the existential threats'! Stop the fact or humor-based pointing out the truth!
The climate reality, the mis-leaders who are 'above' the law, those who steal and rig with impunity: why ignore them. Ditto the obscene claims of 'white supremacy', the in plain sight, perpetual lying of the Trumpist and GOP swamp or the neoliberal corporatist billionaires.
No, we have 'immigrant children in cages' (a solution to your problems), and a Trumpian, 24/7 show of 'Liars and Bares'. (You know, the bare-faced lies and betrayals of what Americans sacrificed blood, sweat and lives to achieve for the last two plus centuries.)
Sit back and watch it all disappear - while Trump and his cronies have Putin, MBS, and Xi up their sleeves!
The 'all people created equal' Constitution was the joke!
Any sense that the lessons of history or the weakness in human nature require 'truth' or facts to be protected, or our system of 'redress of grievance', 'balance of powers', 'checks and balances', or legislative self-amendment can be easily surrendered, without comment or whimper!
Comedians expose the absurd claims of tyrants. In so doing, they stop us from being pulled deeper into our human, Orwellian nightmares.
Or, we welcome you... to 'Springtime for Hitler'.
5
In a sense he's right about Trump jokes.
No comedian, host, commentator or script writer could top the Trumpster's brain farts.
Couldn't disagree more. First, Trump needs to be ridiculed constantly, because he is dangerous and terrible and the alternative is normalization.
Secondly, comedians are our captains on this sea of absurdity. The choices are laugh, cry, or pretend it isn't happening. I choose the first. The last is for cowards and nihilists, and they make the problem worse.
4
How about all these guys: Noah, Colbert, Oliver, O'Brien, Kimmel, Fallon, Corden, and Meyers make a pact and do NOTHING concerning DT for, say, a week? It would drive him NUTS. Nothing. Crickets. No acknowledgement that he exists. How great would that be?
1
I think that the true political satire has to continue. As earlier commentators have mentioned, it's a laugh or cry type of thing. BUT, what I really wish would stop are the constant jokes about Trump's appearance. This is the kind of schoolyard put down that he goes in for: "Little Man This" "Loser Man That" women compared to dogs, bleeding out of their "whatevers". Well, the misogyny goes well beyond jokes, but real issues are too important to warrant focus on his awful hair or taste in ties.
Cheers, all.
-MB
Should we not know enough about Keanu Reeves love life, I do fear for the Republic.
2
Perhaps we could have a Trump joke book where each one is numbered. Then all we would need to do is shout the number and we would be hissed, booed or laugh ourselves silly. No need to hear it over and over again.
i know this is part of an old joke, but why not? We are so tired of this joke of a presidency that we could all cry.
Each to their own view and the author makes some valid points.
Personally, I need the comedy monologues and side-splitting comments each day. To hear those well crafted absurdities and the clever, sometimes nonsensical banter of the performers is a real joy. I agree that some remarks can be a little over the top and sometimes cruel and perhaps in poor taste.
But overall I think we need these political comedians to shed a light on current events. Whose your favourite? At the moment I think mine are Lindsey, crazy old Mitch and that hilarious Jim fellow, you know, the one who can never find his jacket. What a clown!
1
While the author may be tired of it all, many discouraged, disheartened, horrified citizens appreciate the clever and knowledgeable comedy. Getting news from TV in a 30 second or one minute ‘story’, or skipping the in-depth analysis of an event in the newspaper because it’s too long to read, means that many people who are interested are not getting much news at all — only headlines. Our wonderful comics expand on the details and get into the nitty gritty of what just happened. They have a multi minute podium and platform to put a laser beam focus on hypocrisy, corruption, nonsense, ignorance or just plain shocking behavior that no CNN or Fox has room for. Comedians: Keep It Up. The resistance wants more, warts and all.
2
If you skip the jokes, don’t bury your head, or you may find Mr. T is “President for Life” as he’s threatened.
I could not disagree more. I am in a constant state of outrage and upset since Trump came on the scene. What helps keep me grounded and sane are the comics and their blistering humor. Both Myers and Colbert especially, are brilliant, in addition to being hilariously funny. They can find the irony and, yes, humor in these dark days. And, they’re current in a way that even newscasters are not.
So much happens on a daily, even hourly basis, and our comedians stay on top of it all. Without them, I’d be seriously depressed about the damage to our country wrought by Trump and his cult followers. I say keep it up. Our President is a criminal and a fool. The comics are braver than the sycophants in Trump’s Cabinet and Congress. They say what’s true!
8
I could give up Alec Baldwin on SNL, but the weekly banner between Gail Collins and Bret Stephens about Trump is a must have.
2
Unfortunately we are missing people like Mort Sahl, Dick Gregory, and Tom Lehrer who could do political commentary without doing obvious jokes as most of those today are doing. Of course, none were required to do a different show every night.
2
Keep the political jokes coming. The ability to perform and broadcast scathing humour and satire about ignorant, mendacious and inept politicians in general, and Trump in particular, is clear evidence that the US is still a free country. Most of us only get to tell politicians how we feel about them on election day. Comedians can do it as often as they like and the rest of us can enjoy listening to them do so. You won't see a lot of similar material in Russia about Putin or in China about Xi, as in those countries comedians have to worry about ending up in jail or worse if they go too far. Those who don't enjoy political humour also have the freedom not to watch or listen to it!
7
Telling Trump jokes is exhausting?
Compare that 'Trump exhaustion' to what Hong Kongers are going through for the past 6 months? They are in the streets fighting for their democracy every day.
I'm sure Dr. Martin Luther King or Gandhi would approve of comedians and late-night talk show hosts offering the occasional joke as non-violent protest against Trump the Tyrant.
But it's your show, and no one wants to see your Nielsen rating suffer should you turn off MAGA viewers with a little satire once in a while.
3
If I remember correctly Bob Hope used to be relentless in his cracks about politicians and all of it hit home as well as being good for a belly laugh. Never boring. Nor do I find SNL boring. Bring on the cracks and keep it up, I love it.
4
Trump's brand of authoritarianism is designed to wear us down, to overwhelm us with daily outrage, and to exhaust our capacity to resist. Decency and democracy die when it gets too tired to fight, too overwhelmed to tell truth from lies, or even care anymore. Orwell knew this, and though I doubt he has read Orwell, Trump instinctively knows this. We're all sick and tired of it. I'm glad there are those still fighting, even if it's only with humor.
6
There will be no more jokes about the President when the President is no longer a joke.
62
It's up to an individual comedian if he doesn't want to do political jokes but to put out a blanket statement of "no more Trump jokes" is absurd.
If there was any time in history where the services of the court jester was really needed, it is now.
4
Trump is not a joke. He's a real threat. I'd prefer to see news anchors and pundits calling that out.
2
Joking about him trivializes his deviance, desensitizes us, and all that air time is exactly what he wants. It could all backfire.
1
"The amount of time being spent on superficial insults could be allocated to more thoughtful comedic commentary that makes us consider pressing matters, like the work of W. Kamau Bell."
Ha! The "work" of W. Kamau Bell? The average college graduate could do a better job talking to people about race and ethnicity than Bell does. I was reviled by Bell when in one of his episodes he continued to laugh hysterically while Richard Spencer spouted white nationalist garbage. Richard Spencer is despicable, not funny. The most appropriate response would have been a straight face and pointed rebuttals. Or how about when Bell did nothing more than listen studiously as a Mexican-American man who looked at least three-quarters white railed against "white people" who didn't understand his culture. I agree with most of Blayr Austin's article, but I take exception to her championing W. Kamau Bell as an intelligent voice in the comedic landscape. He is a nobody who got lucky enough to somehow be given a TV show. "United Shades of America" is ill-informed and emabrrassing. Bell is not qualified to lead discussions about race and ethnicity in the United States. His show is simply further proof of the obsolescence and worthlessness of cable TV.
I intend to laugh aloud at Trump while we are allowed. To do otherwise is to put my head in the ground.
Problem is they are not jokes. Reiterating what you read in the news but moving your arms around and speaking assertively with your slight irony voice is not inventive or creative or perceptive.
1
To paraphrase Mel Brooks—humor is how we rob Trump of his power. Humor is how we cut him down to size and ultimately how we drive him from office. We need every bit of it the humorists can deliver, it needs to be relentless. Don’t stop comedians!
4
I am not sorry to virulently disagree with your point of view. The world is suffering from Trump Fatigue, the Reality Show. Humor and ridiculing him in the nastiest, funniest way is the only relief we have for his assault on human decency and American democracy.
1
How sad. Without the Trump jokes those of us who love our country would be in tears constantly. We need the comedic relief from the tragedies his persona and sycophants inflict on us lest we all perish under.their oppression. I say lighten up and let the humor roll, or scuttle back to your safe room where you can pretend we have a real government.
1
If it weren’t for Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel, and “Saturday Night Live,” I think I’d dig a hole and crawl in it forever. They filter the insanity for me, and give me hope that someday this nightmare will be over.
1
Apathy. Over all, Americans have failed to live up to their responsibly to vote. That explains our currant situation and it's no joke.
1
“Comedians shouldn’t feel pressure to respond to everything the White House does. It’s exhausting.‘
The comedians are energized by this. If you are not, that is you’re problem.
I jut love their comments!
1
Its all quite easy for the American viewers, get rid of the source of the jokes, not the joker.
1
I remember the old days when only "intellectual" comics like Mort Sahl talked about politics. Today, thank you Jesus, the late night hosts generally give news junkies like this writer a chance to experience cartharsis as they use humor to trash the obscene follies of Trump and his minions. Thanks a lot guys and keep up the good work!
1
The author misses the biggest reason not to do Trump jokes: they make the unacceptable acceptable. After all, if you can laugh at something, how bad can it be? There's a reason why comedians, especially Jewish ones, say that when they start hearing jokes about the Holocaust, the next Holocaust cannot be far off.
Humor triggers a strange, quirky, ambivalent response in the human brain (it's unclear if any higher order animals have anything akin to our sense of humor). Cognitive dissonance is often resolved by the shock of understanding, which provides comfort and relief. Comfort and relief are the last things we should be feeling with Trump as president.
1
Steven Colbert and his writers have helped me through these Dark Times. Not only do they make me laugh and ease my burden, they show me that I’m not crazy when I hear the news. I’m stupefied every time I hear a White House official ignore a legal subpoena, and I can’t believe I heard that correctly. Then I watch Colbert and know that I’m not crazy.....Trump and his Republicans are.
4
I completely disagree. Being a thinking person means being furious and stressed right now. Every day I get to hear Steven Colbert is one more day's postponement of my upcoming heart attack.
1
Colbert uses Trump's sons as the butt of cruel "jokes", that are mean and not funny.
2
One of my daily routines: I go to youTube and look up the monologs of Seth Meyers, Jimmy Fallon, and Stephen Colbert, with the sole purpose of hearing them tear into Trump. It's the only thing keeping me sane these days. So Mr. Austin, you just go ahead and write your safe non-offending jokes. But I need to hear the voices of the resistance.
4
I sense that the comedy writer's art form ain't what she used to be many long years ago and the writer is holding onto that old gray mare for dear life.
Who needs comedians to report the doings of the Trump administration? We have Rudy, Kellyanne, Mick, Mike, and Donald, to name but a few of the people who regularly say the funniest things.
49
I rely on my daily dose of Seth, Jimmy, Stephen, Trevor, Jimmy, James and others to get through this dark time. I need to laugh to keep from crying.
269
@JoeK I am afraid that if we don't respond to Trump's daily outrages, we will become more and more numb to them, and deadened to the reality. We cannot and must not become apathetic. And we need humour to balance our continued outrage.
99
@India-Jane Don't forget Sam and John.
5
@JoeK
Exactly. Plus it's a "funnier" way to hear what ridiculousness Trump did in the past 24 hours.
Honestly, our narcissistic Tweeter-in-Chief is incapable of keeping his feet out of his mouth.
8
I was virtually a disciple of Jon Stewart for nearly 20 years thinking he and the brilliant Colbert Report were doing a vital service for the nation but recently I fear that political humor has only served to alienate a gigantic portion of the population and entrench us in the unending culture war for the sake of ratings. Shouldn't artists and comedians find ways we laugh so we come together rather than laugh at the people we perceive as the enemy? A tough task but I recently watched an episode of "All in the Family" and was amazed how funny, timely and ultimately good natured it was.
14
Jon Stewart got me through the 2000 election. While this is a much longer slough of despair we're slogging through, perspective from Stephen Colbert, Trevor Noah, Seth Myers, Jimmy Kimmel can provide welcome relief. There's also Andy Borowitz in the New Yorker. With thanks to them all.
30
Oh, please. The majority of comedians do very little political humor. Check the standup offered on various streaming services. Clearly, those comics are not feeling much pressure to make their shows political.
The minority of comics who do politics, however, are having success. That's because we are in such a perilous time, and the need for relief is acute.
36
Eric Sevareid, the former CBS news fournalist, said, "Next to power without honor, the most dangerous thing in the world is power without humor." By that token, Trump is not dangerous, because he has a pretty good sense of humor, especially compared with the current crop of comedians on late night TV, the women on The View who went vicious on Junior the other day, and the main stream media in general, who seem to lack a sense of perspective -- and a sense of humor. By contrast, four years of humorless Elizabeth Warren would be insufferable.
7
Why suggest comedic sources self-censor when audiences can vote with their interest and attention? If I don't want to hear comedy about politics, I don't watch comedians who are doing it. Pretty simple.
25
I can understand the author's position, but must disagree. Satirists and comedians are the canaries in our current political coal-mine. When they stop making Trump jokes -- or simply disappear -- that's when we'll know to head for the hills. Or the barricades.
37
When I was growing up there were loads of wife and mother in law jokes - or in the case of Phyliss Diller husband jokes. Satire was famously what closed on Saturday night. It seems that much of the non political material today in the sex and relationship niche which has kind of been done to death. While I agree with the author that there are many things to laugh about the politics of living in a neo dystopia calls for humor as a healing balm. People are talking with their clickers as the very political Stephen Colbert has way more viewers than the relatively apolitical Jimmy Fallon. No, satire is not closing this or any Saturday night anytime soon. Though I doubt political humor will ever go away, we will all rejoice when comics will be able to tell many less Trump jokes.
25
I've often wondered if the apolitical humorists -- Seinfeld, Spade and plenty more -- are avoiding politics 'cuz their particular political brand might be unpopular within their industry. I've often wondered if it's as much a financial consideration as anything else.
10
Agreed. Especially dislike juvenile jokes about DT's hair and spelling mistakes.
I continue watching Colbert because we share the same despair.
3
To joke about aftershave or the delivery of Chinese food when the survival of one's nation and the environmental viability of one's world is at stake is its own political choice. If a comic wishes to joke about the trivial so as not to alienate some portion of his audience that is his own commercial decision. Some people market cigarettes or assault rifles. That is their right. But don't think for a second that you are not contributing to the very forces of distraction that have allowed us to sit by an watch the destruction of a Constitution that well over a million Americans died for. That is more important to me then your bank account Mr. Austin.
29
Each to their own. This reader can't imagine how the past three years could have been even barely survivable without the likes of Stephen Colbert and Bill Maher.
58
Everything in the U.S. these days is tribal - including our entertainment. So like-minded viewers on the left flock to late night comedians and those on the right to FoxNews. This predates the Trump era though Trump has certainly been good for the late-night business, as it has for newspapers.
7
Most of the comedians mentioned highlight the news of the day, which viewers might otherwise miss, or not put in context.
There is brilliant writing every night. If we didn't laugh, we'd never stop crying.
38
I strongly disagree with the author’s premise. Political satire has been with us as long as there have been politicians, and necessarily so. Political humor has been a part of America since it’s founding from Ben Franklin to Mark Twain to Will Rogers (to name only a few) right up to today’s humorists and comedians including Seth Meyers, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, and Trevor Noah. It speaks to our discontent that we are inundated by Trump jokes. These jokes are what keep us going, what keep us sane. Trump jokes serve to assure us that we aren’t the only ones who see through the machinations of this sad and sorry man and at the same time keep us from total despair. I for one need these jokes. They allow me to think that there is still hope for our democracy and for our humanity.
53
Colbert and his writing team have shown incredible stamina to keep rolling the current Administration with new angles and fresh insults every night for the last three years. Frankly they've been phenomenally good executing their chosen mission, to maintain the rage and irreverence and remind everyone that this is not normal.
As much as Seth Meyers' 'A Closer Look' is generally excellent, his Netflix special leans on his celebrity. With all respect, he's a superb entertainer, but delivering heartwarming family-based comedy with a couple of brilliant moments to a Pennsylvania audience was a way less courageous outing than David Cross pre-Trump heading to Texas with Making America Great Again. The biggest crowd reactions for Meyers were when he went a bit dark or political.
Comedy is brave, and as a form where practitioners often challenge power it's more vital now than ever that it remain or become challenging. Jim Gaffigan is clearly a committed professional, but his sadly overweight guy routine feels like a sedative in this age of bloody head trauma, which might be why the White House Correspondents' Association asked him to step in. They're probably still recoiling from the peak relevance of Michelle Wolf's fearless speech.
20
I am reminded of David Letterman who stopped doing jokes for a week or more after 9/11 because of the horror and shock of the event. We should not worry about political humor but the lack of it and what it signifies.
18
I’ve never found comedy about personal foibles to be funny. It’s possible to be funny and shed light on institutions that affect us. For comedy that was far ranging, intellectual and a punch in the gut there was Richard Pryor and George Carlin. The closest I can find these days is John Oliver who does some news of the week, including Trump, but mostly delves into topics that we don’t usually think about.
12
I long ago came to the conclusion that all talk about Donald Trump and anything intimately related to him -- including such topics as impeachment -- are a distraction from the most important stories. Maybe the same dynamic applies in the world of comedy. Once you know the President is unfit to hold office on every conceivable ground, you don't need to dwell on the fact.
3
The demographic that reads the Times is incredibly similar to the demographic of those who tune in to Stephen Colbert. In the morning, they read of all Trump's misdeeds and in the evening they laugh at them. And over and over again. As for those who comment here and express their distress, they have a steady diet of Trump all day long.
When this Trump thing is over, many will look back at it as a time when their lives had purpose. And they will buy nostalgic t-shirts, bumper stickers and yard signs. Those close to them will urge them to move on, will give them the names of good therapists and will suggest that they take up knitting or sky diving or anything else that gets them to stop talking about the bad old days.
5
Some of the jokes are very funny, and some fall flat. I do agree that Trump mostly ISN'T funny, he and his kids make me sick. I love Colbert's ability to poke fun with a bit of a twist, I think Meyer's is mostly mean. I only rarely watch Jimmy Kimmel because he's really mean (not that he's wrong).
2
Shortly after the 2016 election, I stopped watching late night comedy. None of this awful time amuses me anymore. I just can’t take it
3
In this excellent essay, you said "It is often argued that it’s the comedian’s job to bring attention to the cracks in our institutions, government and society — to speak truth to power."
Actually, it was the jester who "spoke to power" (i.e. to a monarch) face-to-face. Jesters were protected from the monarch's wrath so they could be brutally frank.
The modern comedian doesn't speak to power face-to-face. Rather, their audiences have some degree (possibly tiny, possibly enormous) of influence over "the way things are" but they have little "power" as such.
Reducing the haughty "high-and-mighty" to the raucously ridiculous nincompoops that they are is the work of PUPPETEERS (who make toys, not drawings or cartoons).
A Punch and Judy show about the White House and the US Congress would, if you'll excuse the pun, bring the House down.
It's Mr tRump who urgently needs a real-life medieval jester.
9
Humor needs to be humerous. There is a difference between a genuinely funny line about Trump that elicits a laugh and one that elicits perfunctory applause. True comedians pursue the former and are rightfully embarassed by the latter.
4
Apolitical satire; what is satire without the real world? The only thing tiring about Trump is his existence. If the way to keep him from infecting one’s id is to laugh, I’m all for it.
14
I also no longer watch late night comedy, some of my favourite comedians including (especially?) Steven Colbert have become unbearable to watch... if I wanted to watch news cycle sensationalism I would watch Fox, CNN or any other main news network... comedians should be creative and make us laugh by pointing the non obvious humour in situations...not watch Trump and repeat everything he says as if it’s a joke... it’s depressing enough that Americans voted for that guy to be in office... don’t give Trump supporters fodder by comedians becoming another news channel...it’s annoying
5
"Instead, the show concentrates on less polarizing topics such as Keanu Reeves’s love life." I knew there was good reason I never watched this half baked comedian.
17
I will definitely NOT be hitting the Skip Politics button.
15
Unfortunately, most of the "real" news shows actively avoid "taking sides," so they pull their punches when reporting about Trump. They are far too hesitant to call a lie a lie, thereby depriving their audiences of the truth. If Trump lies, it should be reported as such. Otherwise you are enabling him.
19
That so many completely miss the crises affecting the entire globe and all its creatures is nothing to laugh about. But most of you will whistle past the grave yard as you ignore the most serious situation to ever threaten civilization.
Comedians point out a lot of things that the traditional news outlets seem to miss or ignore, like the relentless hypocrisy, dishonesty and contradictory statements of many politicians. I think it just doesn't fit into their format or something, so the only people bringing it to the attention of the public are the comedians. Granted, it may not be ideal, but somebody has to do it, and nobody else is. I would love to see an end to all of this madness, but the solution is not to ask comedians to stop addressing current affairs in their shows. We need to fix the root of the problem.
155
@Massi When you look to comedians for the news or commentary, try to remember that thy\ey are not bound by the facts.
I couldn’t agree more with the author’s baseline. There is though a reason for the endless parades of Trump jokes. Comical material is not easy to come by and requires creative efforts. Unfortunately, we have a president who delivers consistently on the comical side, so it’s just low hanging fruit for all comedy writers to latch onto that. In the beginning, it was fun, but now it’s getting just plain boring. For example, Colbert - you are meanwhile asking yourself, is there really anything else the guy can do except Trump jokes ? It’s time to move on.
25
@Tom Mix To write on the first day of impeachment hearings that it is "time to move on" is either the sharpest irony or the most tone deaf thing I have ever read.
3
I have found that people who really understand humor are the most perceptive. They have to be smart to know how to make others laugh. Should we really be trying to silence these voices ... this form of wisdom? We need healthy doses of intelligence injected into our national conversation now more than ever. That is the path to maintaining our sanity ... and the health of our democracy along with it.
So don't tune out. Let the humor flow. It is one of our most potent weapons, casting light into the darkness.
174
There is nothing wrong and its certainly not exhausting of laughing with comedians making fun of Trump. Trump is certainly the perfect person to make fun of. Many people learn of the incompetence of this so called genius through late night comedy. News can be dry and depressing. What's more American, than making fun of our politicians? The ancient Greek playwright and comedian, Aristophanes, would have had a field day if he had electronic media at his disposal. Aristophanes was able to make fun of the Pelloponesian war, a conflict that lasted 30 years and devastated Greece. It also proved that ancient Greeks were able to make fun of their leaders and not lose their heads. America is carrying on that tradition. As much as I loath Trump, I will miss the nightly parade of jokes about him. Note to comedians. Please, don't stop with the Trump jokes. I'm not exhausted as this write claims.
141
I no longer watch late night television or SNL. I can't stand Trump, but I agree about the overkill of the jokes. This is no longer a joke. He's a threat to America. What's funny about that?
70
@Michael Kennedy Better to laugh than cry. The best comedy comes from adversity and absurdity, and we've never had more.
38
@Michael Kennedy Trump is a buffoon who takes himself seriously. He also demands that his fawning supporters and the Banana Republicans take him seriously. If he is not constantly ridiculed, the rest of our country will begin to take him seriously. Now that’s a threat to America.
6
@Michael Kennedy Chaplin's portrayal of a Hitler like figure in "The Great Dictator" bothered Adolph more than all the negative speeches about him in Congress and Parliament. Humor is another political tool, and right now we need all the tools we can get.
11
True comedians are not propagandists. Their comedy can reflect their values but like the best art it should not be driven by politics. Humor needs to be humerous. There is a difference between a genuinely funny line about Trump that elicits a genuine unguarded laugh and one that draws perfunctory applause. True comedians pursue the former and are rightfully embarassed by the latter.
A comedy set is not a Nuremburg rally.
8
@Belasco No Trump is the only place where you see a Nuremberg rally.
Mean-spirited jokes about trump are not the problem. The problem is trump’s mean-spirited policies.
85
There are times when the quote from Zorba the Greek comes to mind: "Zorba, why do you dance all the time?". "If I do not dance, I cry ... so I dance!". Maybe it is the same here -- we need to do something happy simply so we do not have to cry.
55
Humor transcends anxiety, which is why people want to laugh about Trump. You can play to people happy about him if you want but I doubt people that fall for Trump can appreciate it.
18
I agree completely. I've gone back to playing bridge. But I always wind up bidding one no trump.
53
@Robert Koch 2 thru 7 No Trump is OK, too. As long as it's over with...fast.
@Robert Koch :-)
@Robert Koch Ba-dump-bump!