I still haven't decided if I want to go forward with this, i.e. spend any real amount fo time blogging. It might be nice as a bulletin board alternative to e-mail chains. More pondering and navel staring will be forthcoming.
In the meantime, let me congratulate my Uncle Stephen for taking a big ole stick to the beehive of American politcal consciousness and giving it a good whack. So few people speak truth to power anymore, particularly right to its face. The main criticisms have been that he wasn't that funny and that he was rude.
As to the former, I would agree that he was not at his funniest. I think the Colbert Report is at its best when it combines scathing political satire with outright silliness. Follow a scathing remark on Iraq Death Tolls with a harangue against Hamas-backed bears.I think that one-two punch is the core of his show. Letting that real Stephen smile creep in under his less appealing character. He decided to not go silly in front of President and I think you have to respect that. On a side note, I do think his video "audition" was weak. Points for getting Helen Thomas to become a stalker, but otherwise not his best stuff (even after the edited it down for his show).
As to rudeness, there is some truth to that as well. Hard hitting satire is generally very rude. It is never polite to make someone feel uncomfortable or embarassed. Satire that does not do that is pretty bland, Jay Leno-y stuff. Minor personality quirks are ok to mock (he can't pronounce nuclear) but major policy decisions that effect the entire world are not. Not my idea of great political humor. Of course another thing to keep in mind is that he is playing a character that is mocking the multitude of screaming pundits, and one thing that tends to be universal in that bunch is that they are rude.
As to positives, here are a couple of things peopole have written me:
your uncle is my fucking hero, no shit.
hope all is great
jay
and
First, tell JIMBILLY4 that I'm getting a full body tattoo dedicated to his uncle for standing there and ripping the Pres. and the press! What a moment in history!
Thom
There you have it.
1 comment:
I laughed but my ass remained attached at all times. I think part of the problem, however, might not have been Stephen but the vibe in the room, which got ugly.Hard to laugh when everyone else is not.
I do contend there is a big difference between the milk-out-your-nose laugh and the deep chortle of a brutal shot well placed. The show gives you both, the Dinner just the latter (with some exceptions, of course).
I maintain the video was not up to full Report standards, particularly pre-Helen stalking.
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