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| Making the US right funny again |
| 2007-02-18 |
| For some it is a sign that the conservatives are preparing to move into opposition. For others, it represents the right's attempt to reclaim satire from the cosy clasp of the liberal elite. This weekend Rupert Murdoch's Fox News Channel, home of all that is "fair and balanced", launches the Half Hour News Hour. As the title suggests, the programme is not entirely serious. Nor is it fair and balanced. Indeed, it is intended to wrench the iron fist of satire away from the liberals on Jon Stewart's the Daily Show and give the right all the best lines. Regardless of the merits of the gags in the Half Hour News Hour, its appearance may represent something of a cultural shift. With a waning presidency, a drawn out war and an over-familiar group of political targets, viewers may be tiring of jokes about the Bush administration. The programme is the brainchild of Joel Surnow, the man behind the hit Fox series 24. A self-confessed "right-wing nut job", Surnow recently told the New Yorker magazine that "Conservatives are the new oppressed class". Surnow says he wants to counter what he sees as the dominance of left-leaning comedy. "You can turn on any show and see Bush being bashed," Surnow told Variety. "There is nothing for those who want satire that tilts right." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #6 I'm looking forward to this show (in about 10 minutes). The Right has it all over the lefties when it comes to subtle humor. Modern Lib humor is centered around "4-letter words", anarchist-chic jabs at patriotism and religiosity ,fart jokes and "hilarious" ways to murder George Bush. Their attempts at creative, spontaneous humor fall flat due to their repressed guilt and self-loathing. That's only ONE reason they're getting ZERO traction. They're absurd and anyone with half a brain isn't buying their bs. |
| Posted by: Asymmetrical T 2007-02-18 21:42 |
| #5 I have to admit - I think the Left will always be better at comedy, which isn't such a tragedy, because the Right will always dominate when it comes to serious debate. |
| Posted by: Sic_Semper_Tyrannus 2007-02-18 17:33 |
| #4 There's a catchphrase at one of my other favorite blogs: "All humor is conservative." |
| Posted by: Mike 2007-02-18 17:09 |
| #3 so the acronym will be FNC-HHNH |
| Posted by: mhw 2007-02-18 11:38 |
| #2 Has no one heard of PJ O'Roarke? His work has been worth 1000 Al Frankens over the last decade. |
| Posted by: whitecollar redneck 2007-02-18 10:05 |
| #1 right's attempt to reclaim satire :> Ima weeper and cough. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2007-02-18 01:33 |