Why Conservatives Aren't Funny
Over at the Huffington Post, blogger Alf Lamont sets out to explain why the Left has a corner on the comedy market with funny men like the foul-mouthed misogynist Bill Maher, belligerent feminist Janeane Garofalo, and the clownish, but sometimes genuinely funny Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart. Lamont concludes that the Left has a monopoly on comedy because—with maaaaybe the exception of Dennis Miller– conservatives aren't funny. To support his conclusion, he lays out five points which, more than anything else, reveal his utter lack of self-awareness.
1. Comedy is inherently subversive...Those who hold the power know very well just how damaging and subversive well-placed satire can be, so those in power see little good coming from mocking themselves and the institutions they preserve.
Because fact is, Republicans hold the White House and both chambers of Congress.
2. Comedy is often a coping mechanism for adverse situations...You don't have to look too far or too deep to realize that comedy speaks to unfairness and injustice. If you haven't experienced them, if there's no struggle, there's less need to find a redeeming quality to your situation by injecting humor into your life.
Everyone knows that conservatives live such charmed lives that they never struggle with adversity. Being coerced to buy products they don't want and subsidize behaviors that violate their consciences, being told whom they may or may not rent to and how much they can charge, being subjected to a government imposed drought because an irrigation system might kill some tiny fish commonly used for bait—if you think things like these are unjust or unfair, you clearly don't know the meaning of justice or fairness.
3. It is easier to sell to the 99% than the 1%...Comedy is part of entertainment, and entertainment is a business. As a numbers game, its flat out more profitable to mock the establishment when the rest of us will be buying tickets to your shows.
So conservatives continue to outnumber liberals two to one, but conservatives are the 1%. Astounding mathematical insight right there.
4. Tradition...Let's face it, the tradition of Card-Carrying, Left-leaning, Pinko comics is a great one. A kid aspiring to comedic greatness can look to Charlie Chaplin, Lenny Bruce, George Carlin, Bill Hicks, Janeane Garofalo, Bill Maher, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, and Marc Maron, if they care to lean left. However, the pickin's are slim on the other side of the aisle. Like it or not, the success of lefty comics makes the leftist tradition of comedy a self-fulfilling prophesy.
Ok, so he was grasping to make it an even five points. This is like saying "there are no conservative comedians because there are no conservative comedians." Clever.
5. The truth...it is undeniable that the Right seems to be in a high speed dive towards absurdity so transparently errant, that it makes for simple fodder to those looking to mock. As Rory Albanese of The Daily Show pointed out during our panel," Santorum is Anti-College! How can you not make fun of that?" For my part, I've found that the most brazen lies about human sexuality, reproductive rights, health care, the environment, energy, foreign relations, and our president's background, all seem to be emanating from a political party who is having to do cartwheels of logic in order to keep from stumbling on its own silly reasoning.
The funny thing with this last point is that I don't think he even meant it to be funny.
But there you have it. Conservatives aren't funny because they aren't funny. Best not even try (I'm looking at you, Rob Long).
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Comments:
May '10
Re: Why Conservatives Aren't Funny
As far as I know no conservatives have needed to get tatted up like Ms. Garofalo, maybe that's the missing comic ingredient.
Aug '11
Re: Why Conservatives Aren't Funny
The hallmark of true comedy is getting people to laugh at themselves. That is why the modern liberal/progressive is not a true comedian but conservatives have the potential. A modern liberal is incapable of laughing at themselves will conservatives can.
If you are looking for a comedic conservative, think Ronald Reagan.
May '11
Re: Why Conservatives Aren't Funny
I don't know if God was(is) a conservative but He(She) was (is) a hellufa comedian.
Edited on March 29, 2012 at 3:53amApr '11
Re: Why Conservatives Aren't Funny
If comedy is inherently subversive, how could any liberal be funny?
Feb '12
Re: Why Conservatives Aren't Funny
Dennis Miller--funny.
Jeanine Garofalo--not.
One requires thought, the other doesn't.
Jun '10
Re: Why Conservatives Aren't Funny
I can refute the claim that the Left has a corner on the comedy market in two words: Red Eye.
Nov '11
Re: Why Conservatives Aren't Funny
Let's begin with a truth no one denies:
If you have to explain why something is funny, then it's not.
From which truth, we can divine:
1. If you have to explain why something is not funny, then it is.
2. If you have to explain why you are funny, then you're not.
3. If you have to explain why other people are not funny, then they are.
(Conservatives are also better logicians.)
(And better looking.)
(And emit a more pleasant odor.)
Edited on March 29, 2012 at 3:53amMar '11
Re: Why Conservatives Aren't Funny
A quick list of libertarian/conservative comedians I can think of : Drew Carey, Joe Rogan, Doug Stanhope, the Blue Collar Comedy guys, Larry Miller, Dennis Miller, Adam Carolla. Add to that the fact that Carolla is strongly anti-left, performs with Dennis Prager, and has the most popular comedy podcast in the world(seriously, he has the Guiness World Record).
May '11
Re: Why Conservatives Aren't Funny
Astonishing: Let's begin with a truth no one denies:
If you have to explain why something is funny, then it's not.
From which truth, we can divine:
1. If you have to explain why something isnotfunny, then it is.
2. If you have to explain why you are funny, then you're not.
3. If you have to explain why other people are not funny, then they are.
(Conservatives are also better logicians.)
(And better looking.)
(And emit a more pleasant odor.) · 2 minutes ago
Edited 2 minutes ago
If everyone goes to those links, I think we might reach the point in this conversation where it could be said that sometimes a comment is so strong that it pretty much ends the conversation because there is nothing else to add.
May '10
Re: Why Conservatives Aren't Funny
Bob Hope.
Sep '10
Re: Why Conservatives Aren't Funny
Overtly political lefty comedians are not funny. Period. (They just deliver anger, not comedy)
That funny comedians happen to liberal is fine with me. Just leave your politics out of it.
Mar '11
Re: Why Conservatives Aren't Funny
I find the arguments in Alf Lamont (whoever that is - Sanford and Sons? What?) not in the least bit persuasive.
But it sounds like some people on this thread are challenging the notion that almost all mainstream comedians in America are liberals/left-leaning.
Can someone name some conservative comedians who regularly appear on highly visible, mainstream outlets? I can't, but I also don't watch much TV, so maybe I'm missing someone big.
Apr '11
Re: Why Conservatives Aren't Funny
I certainly know I'm terribly unfunny.
Ergo, by the law of composition, anyone with the same political bent as I is terribly unfunny.
Sep '10
Re: Why Conservatives Aren't Funny
Neither has Bill Maher. For one thing he laughs at his own jokes. Not funny. Back when he had his original HBO show Politically Incorrect, it came on late, so I would tape it and then fast-forward past his monologue because I never ever found funny. He's not smart, either. I saw him on celebrity Jeopardy. Soft-ball questions on American history for charity. He came in third, way third; the guy who played Jim Dial on Murphy Brown won, followed by Swoosie Kurtz (who is very funny and talented). I bet Maher did get a copy of that tape.
Mar '11
Re: Why Conservatives Aren't Funny
Wrong tactic Ricocheeeits, Ricocheteeis, Ricocheisetes, Ricocheeitses you.. actually did we ever settle that? Never mind, the Ricochet citizenry are contesting the point when we should be contesting the premise.
If you equate comedy with being vulgar, crass and juvenile then Mr. Lamont is correct, liberals have a lock on that. It is not that there is comedic talent on the Left lacking in conservative circles it is merely that such comedy is the humor of 12 years olds. That such should be considered humor at all is the true absurdity.
Oct '11
Re: Why Conservatives Aren't Funny
The funniest comedy on the web is Iowahawk.
May '11
Re: Why Conservatives Aren't Funny
Roberto:
If you equate comedy with being vulgar, crass and juvenile then Mr. Lamont is correct, liberals have a lock on that. It is not that there is comedic talent on the Left lacking in conservative circles it is merely that such comedy is the humor of 12 years olds. That such should be considered humor at all is the true absurdity. · 1 minute ago
I am going to side with astonishing on this, fart jokes are funny no matter what the political persuasion of the posterior is.
May '10
Re: Why Conservatives Aren't Funny
Alf Lamont. It was the title of one of NBC's worst cross-over episodes in the 1980s.
Of course, that's not funny because I'm a conservative.
Jul '10
Re: Why Conservatives Aren't Funny
No, I suppose you don't Alf.
Do me a favor and keep an eye to the ground for the voice of comedy, will ya?
Jun '10
Re: Why Conservatives Aren't Funny
I think William F. Buckley was funny. GK Chesterton was funny. Mark Steyn is funny. From the left, I think Ellen DeGeneres is funny. Smart is funny. Vulgar is not. Angry is not.