Comedic Cause

This January PBS had a series about comedy. The final installment made several points about comedy’s relationship to societal issues. As we saw during the recent U.S. presidential election, Saturday Night Live, The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, late night talk shows and many others capitalized on the thin line between politics and comedy.

Politics and activism can be extremely serious and easily make people frustrated and burnt out. When comedians target issues or people that cause us the most stress it give the activist a moment to breath and laugh. Both are essential to life!

Political leaders are the most targeted by talk show and variety host. SNL became the phoenix rising from low rating when Tina Fey perfectly portrayed Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin, whom she has a similar appearance. For the past 8 years, our president gave us many funny moments to help break the tension created by his administration. One example is the top 10 list of Bush moments on the David Letterman show. This featured moments where the former president looked like a deer in headlights and spit as he walked across the White House lawn.

Some people may take offense to these jokes, but it is all a part of being in the public eye. Also, there is a difference between someone in the U.S. making fun of an American president than someone who lives outside our borders. People across the world have a right, even a responsibility to let us know how our government is affecting them. However, making fun of our government officials seems a bit off. It is comparable to the idea that you can say stupid things about your family, but if anyone else does then those are fighting words!

Political comedy has been around for centuries and we are lucky to have the opportunity to partake in it. As long as serious issues are resolved and people continue to educate themselves in concentrate ways through several media outlets, then I say bring on the belly ache of laughter not tears!