Political Comedy An Unfortunate Crutch

As Saturday Night Live aired yet another set of political sketches, the question that some may wonder is this. Is this kind of humor used too much as a crutch? You might as well say it is now for the last year or so. Seems like anything you hear from comedians is liberal bullshit. There's no equal bashing. I get the world and Hollywood is still bitter over Trump becoming president a year later, but nobody is that bitter, are they?

The fact that in the last few months, several SNL alumni are getting sick of  the political stuff and worry about oversaturation says a lot. Especially when you have someone like Dana Carvey, who was funny as George HW Bush, expressing worry. You watch the show for funny characters. That has always been the glue of these guys. From the Olympia Cafe bits to Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer, you want to see them try. They didn't go overboard with both Bush presidents, Bill Clinton and even Obama. I'll blame it partially on these Collegehumor writers taking over as head writers last year, but things could change with last months Weekend Update anchors becoming head guys. Whether all these writers realize the potential fatigue is all another question. 

Even then, you would be able to find something funny in an SNL skit than you would these late night comedians who keep bitching and moaning about Trump, politics, etc... in a never ending cycle. Sadly, these things are what get ratings. You can blame some of it on the unfunny Stephen Colbert, who took over the late show in 2015. It's basically his Comedy Central show, only without the young college guys who do bong shots as his main audience. Jimmy Kimmel can get very vocal about political things. A reason why he struggles at times with Republican viewers ever since the Las Vegas Shooting back in October. Seth Meyers doesn't even surprise me with his late night show. Seems like anything he talks about is Trump before getting his guests and talk to them about life. You don't see anyone like Jimmy Fallon anymore where he just wants everyone to laugh, even if some of the jokes aren't that funny.

Of course, anyone who has seen my blog will know my disdain for the Jon Stewart type comedians. (https://sullivanentertainment.blogspot.com/2017/05/political-comedy-is-unfunny-today.html from a blog I made back in May) Colbert is a prime example. There's still the TBS late night show with the horribly unfunny Samantha Bee. She doesn't even try. She is just another arm chair politician molded like Stewart. At least with some Stewart jokes, you could get a chuckle despite trying to play armchair politician himself. As far as other types go, there is still John Oliver and Bill Maher. Unfortunately, these people get ratings from people whose high priority in life is scoring drugs and figuring out what college to go to if they are smart enough to get accepted. If this is your main source of news, you're better off without it.

With all the stuff going on in Hollywood with the sexual accusations, political sayings, and everything in between, entertainment is a shell of its former self the last few years. Something will change. It's like anything that may be considered overstaying their welcome. Eventually, it could get stale. If things don't change, it will be a collision course of turmoil where even both sides get tired. Making fun of Trump should be put in these shows. Overusing this idea will make things way worse than they should.