Comedy and Politics

[Yung Dum]

In my opinion, comedy and politics don’t mix well. Two of the best examples are Bill Maher and Dennis Miller. Both are brilliant comedians when they’re not being political (which is rare nowadays). George Carlin was possibly the greatest comedian of all. I saw his last HBO special. It was nothing but a venomous diatribe with absolutely no humor. He was just an angry old man.
Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert used to be funny, but they’ve let politics ruin their acts. Jimmy Fallon never had an act to begin with. The great comedians were very rarely political and when they were, it wasn’t partisan. Bob Hope and Johnny Carson come to mind here. An occasional jab at a politician not meant to be hurtful. Leno and Letterman also fell into this category.
Some of my favorite comedians were Joan Rivers, Steven Wright, Mitch Hedberg, Gary Shandling and Red Skelton. All non-political and very funny. Where have all the great ones gone?

[manaboutown]

I observed Joan Rivers at LAX a few years ago as we awaited boarding a plane with a windshield issue headed for Heathrow. Ultimately the plane had to be replaced. She revealed herself a self centered raving maniac and a vicious old bat.

[Yung Dum]

Johnny Carson was also not a very nice person, but both were great comedians.

[Two Bills]

If you want to see a really crazy, unbelievably funny comedy show from Britain, watch our Brexit parliamentary broadcasts! :1rotfl:

[JimJohnson]

Imitating political figures Is my favorite form of comedy. And it is so easy.

[Madelaine Amee]

If you want to see a really crazy, unbelievably funny comedy show from Britain, watch our Brexit parliamentary broadcasts! :1rotfl:

I have a life long friend in London who used to ding me all the time about American politics, now I am enjoying your news!!!!

[Two Bills]

I have a life long friend in London who used to ding me all the time about American politics, now I am enjoying your news!!!!

Do not know how bad it looks to outsiders, but myself, and all the people I talk too, cannot believe the inneptitude of our decision makers.
The lunatics have truly taken over the asylum!

[retiredguy123]

I once attended a training class led by an Army officer. He said that no one was allowed to tell any jokes in class because all jokes make fun of someone. I thought that was an interesting opinion.

[Martian]

I expect a persons feeling about the "humor" level of comedy is directly related to the amount you agree with what the comedian is saying.

[Martian]

I once attended a training class led by an Army officer. He said that no one was allowed to tell any jokes in class because all jokes make fun of someone. I thought that was an interesting opinion.

Very true, and in general jokes are about things that are in fact not funny - slap stick humor is an example.

Jokes about old people for example, "How is an old person like a slinky? Answer, you can't help but laugh when you see one tumble down the stairs."... it contains everything bad about humor - it focuses on something not uncommon about a individual or definable group, it involves danger and potential injury, and something you would not like to have happen to you or someone you know.

Thank is what we call humor.

[tophcfa]

I agree with the OP, I used to really enjoy watching the tonight show with both Carson and Lenno, but I can't stand watching Jimmy Fallon. I do suspect the writers of Saturday Night Live are licking their chops over a possibly Trump/Warren showdown as that would open up lots of good comic opportunities if they can stick to comedy and stay neutral on politics.

[Martian]

I would be interested in anything indicating a persons political leaning and their dislike of political humor.

[BobnBev]

Very true, and in general jokes are about things that are in fact not funny - slap stick humor is an example.

Jokes about old people for example, "How is an old person like a slinky? Answer, you can't help but laugh when you see one tumble down the stairs."... it contains everything bad about humor - it focuses on something not uncommon about a individual or definable group, it involves danger and potential injury, and something you would not like to have happen to you or someone you know.

Thank is what we call humor.

Now THAT is funny, and I am an old person.:clap2:

[Martian]

Uh Oh.. 10.... 9.... 8....

[Martian]

Now THAT is funny, and I am an old person.:clap2:

Yup, that is my point. Humor is typically about things that are not funny.

[DAVES]

I have a life long friend in London who used to ding me all the time about American politics, now I am enjoying your news!!!!

I find the relationship interesting. In many cases they make a mistake first and we follow them down the same mistake. Sometimes we make a mistake and they follow us.

So many examples. Simple stuff. England invented the inch, the foot, the yard. Tools, England, I used to have an English car for tools you needed Whintworth, Metric and SAE standard (American). England went metric and we are still holding the foot.

Aside-BREXIT. England was one of the last to enter the common marke and they never fully went to the euro they stayed on the British pound sterling. Which by the way was replaced by the US dollar for international trade because the dollar was backed by specie-gold or silver.

Perhaps, like any kid we seem to need to make the same mistakes over and over again. I think we've all seen signs WET PAINT and needed to test, touch the wet paint, to see it the sign is correct. Our current fair wages, fair taxes etc, was tested in England long ago with strikes in Manchester.

My point is a bit of reading of history, there is no need to make every mistake like the result is a new mystery novel. Who did it and how painful it was can be simply read and learned from.

[graciegirl]

I would be interested in anything indicating a persons political leaning and their dislike of political humor.

A good indication of how the country thinks can be seen in the Nielsen ratings.

[Martian]

A good indication of how the country thinks can be seen in the Nielsen ratings.

:coolsmiley:

[dewilson58]

What is sad is, network news references the night shows as if they are news providers.

[Arctic Fox]

"Spitting Image" was a UK show using puppets for political humor around the Thatcher era - hilarious - check out some on You Tube

Spitting Image - Thatcher's Cabinet (S01E03) - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=jINZBOxdja8)

of course, it helps if you know something about the characters being portrayed