Posted on 01/16/2009 10:10:41 AM PST by Lucky9teen
Writers for late-night television shows, including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, have lamented recently that they would love to bust President-elect Barack Obama's chops more. But fear of a politically correct backlash and a lack of major stumbles to date on Obama's part make him a tough topic.
Stand-up comedians, though, say Obama is fair game.
''Those TV writers have to worry about ratings. They don't like boos or groans from the audience. We thrive off of it,'' said Lisa Lampanelli, a comic famous for her no-topic-is-off-limits policy, and her obsession with black men.
''I'm not scared to make fun of anything,'' said Lampanelli, who is scheduled to perform at the South Beach Comedy Festival in two weeks. "And I don't think any comic should be. The fact is Barack Obama is never going to invite me to the Kennedy Center Honors, so what do I have to lose? In the future, he's going to make a big mistake. And when he does, the fodder on him will be easier.
"But let's be bluntly honest: We'll never have the material to go after him as hard as we did Bush, because people get made fun of over how they talk as much as how they look. . . . It's been much easier to pick on his speech. It's not political -- not for us comics, anyway.''
In her first one-hour HBO special, Long Live the Queen, which premiers Jan. 31, Lampanelli calls Obama just white enough to do a good job and show up (to work) on time.
''It's a joke,'' Lampanelli said. "It's what we do. We make fun of people, and we exploit stereotypes. I've been brutal toward Sarah Palin and all the hype about her good looks. I said in the regular world she's not hot. She's a two when you put her next to even Pam Anderson.
"In the world of politics? She's a 10. But look, she's up against the likes of Eleanor Roosevelt. If we don't give Obama the treatment, too, then . . . well, we have to. It's called equality!''
Miramar-based comedian, author and actor Finesse Mitchell agrees with Lampanelli about Obama.
''Politics is hot right now,'' said Mitchell, a former cast member on Saturday Night Live. "So, it's open season on everyone in politics. He's no exception. The thing is, you don't need to worry about political correctness. You just need to do your jokes from the right angle. I've noticed more experienced comedians are doing Obama jokes on what might happen with him in office. The good comedians are being clever about it.''
Comedy Central Director of Talent JoAnn Grigioni says she sympathizes with comics who haven't yet found Obama's soft spots, but believes it's only a matter of time before the comedy world figures him out.
''I think people who may be having a hard time skewering Obama are experiencing that because right now his flaws, those that would be comedy fodder, are not so obvious,'' Grigioni said. 'I'm not sure it's a PC thing as much as it's not so organic to different comics' styles to work with the types of things they might have on him right now.''
Grigioni says that Obama aside, comics at the South Beach Comedy Festival have plenty more to choose from, including the recession and the entire election season.
''The question came up: What's on the minds of the comics?'' she said. "A lot of comics these days tend to do stuff about their own lives. I'm noticing they're asking what's on the minds of the audience. They're still talking about themselves and their own lives, but more and more they're working topical stuff like the economy and war into their routines.''
Big transition coming: a president who's hard risky to make fun of
The People's Domestic Defense Corps -- though not yet formed officially -- is everywhere. Beware the barackracy.
Oh yeah, I know her shtick. However, she seemed to be an equal opportunity offender in her comedy routines that I’ve seen. Funny how just about every entertainer is eager to sell their soul just to get in The One’s good graces.
It’s hard to make a joke about a joke.
Yep, that is a great way to put it. Imagine if GWB had that kind of media protection instead of the media’s long knives. Or ears as big as ... whoops, better stop there!
You say they don't have the material. You got to be kidding me look at the ears, the arrogance, and a 30 second car ride to go to a restaurant. And all the corrupt people he's been around, not to mention his cabinet. Putting someone in charge of the IRS who forgets to pay taxes. Get real, the comedy writers should have a field day with this idiot. Oh I forgot The new office of The President Elect, how stupid and childish is that?
Shes a fat scag, but she is a funny fat scag.
I dont have any problems making fun of the omessiah
How about you Know you might be a Kenyan jokes.
He’s easy to make fun of...difference is it’s in 0bama’s thoughts, actions and policies.
We need to ridicule until the cows come home.
"His ears are too big and he looks like an ape," said Warner Bros. executive Darryl F. Zanuck.
What! Zanuck who died in 1979 was a barefaced racist talking about teenage Obama? (Calm down, people of mediasmatters, dailycuss, Huff 'n Puff Post, and the rest of you barackracts. Read on please.)
No, Zanuck was talking about Clark Gable after viewing a screen test.
I remember this joke
Two guys walking along a city street.
One exclaims, "Look there goes a taxi down the sidewalk with the rear doors open!"
"That's not a taxi. That's Clark Gable," said his friend.
If you can’t make fun of someone and keep the criticism light then the eventual displeasure can become simmering rages. A president that cannot be criticized openly is dangerous.
Halfrican...
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