Conan O’Brien Believes Trump’s Outlandish Behavior Has Undermined Political Comedy
Comedian and former late-night host Conan O’Brien, in a recent appearance on Kara Swisher’s New York Magazine podcast, humorously criticized Donald Trump for hurting the realm of political comedy. He facetiously claimed that Trump’s greatest crime was damaging the essence of political humor by being excessively outlandish himself, even going as far as to say that the impact on comedy overshadows the events of January 6.
| Facts of the News |
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| Conan O’Brien humorously criticizes Trump for hurting political comedy |
| O’Brien believes Trump’s outlandish behavior made it difficult to parody him |
| The comedian compared making jokes about Trump to parodying The National Enquirer |
Despite the jest, O’Brien expressed a genuine concern, noting that Trump’s behavior forced many to resort to straightforward criticism rather than crafting jokes. He emphasized that the essence of humor was lost as people began to express plain disdain and hatred towards Trump, which, according to O’Brien, are not jokes.
He further illustrated his point by comparing the attempt to make jokes about Trump to trying to parody The National Enquirer, a publication known for its exaggerated and sometimes fabricated stories. O’Brien highlighted the impossibility of parodying something that inherently possesses a “crazy, irregular shape.”
O’Brien reminisced about a time when presidents could laugh at themselves, citing instances where former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama enjoyed jokes at their expense during White House Correspondents’ Dinners. He lamented that Trump lacked this self-deprecating sense of humor, a quality that facilitated camaraderie between past presidents and comedians.
| White House Correspondents’ Dinner Defined |
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| The White House Correspondents’ Dinner is an annual event attended by journalists, celebrities, and the President of the United States. It is organized by the White House Correspondents’ Association and traditionally features a comedic roast of the president and other political figures. Learn more about the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Wikipedia. |
What is Conan O’Brien’s main criticism of Donald Trump in the context of political comedy?
Conan O’Brien criticizes Donald Trump for being so outlandish that it has hurt the realm of political comedy. He believes Trump’s behavior and actions were so exaggerated that it became difficult to craft jokes or parodies about him, as they couldn’t surpass the reality of Trump’s own antics.
How does O’Brien illustrate the difficulty of parodying Trump?
O’Brien illustrates the difficulty of parodying Trump by comparing it to trying to parody The National Enquirer, a publication known for its exaggerated and sometimes fabricated stories. He points out that parodying something that already has a “crazy, irregular shape” is nearly impossible.
What does O’Brien recall about past presidents and their ability to enjoy humor at their expense?
O’Brien recalls that past presidents like Bill Clinton and Barack Obama were able to laugh at themselves, even during events like the White House Correspondents’ Dinners where they were the subjects of comedic roasts. He feels that this self-deprecating sense of humor, which Trump lacks, allowed for a healthier interaction between presidents and comedians.
Source: Variety
