The Tragedy of FOX News Comedy

I heard a rumor a while back that FOX was trying to roll out a right-wing doppelganger for The Daily Show. Well, all the nail-biting and eager anticipation be quelled – The ½ Hour Comedy News Hour has finally reared its ugly mug (FNC leaked a clip to drudge). And a virtual torrent of accolades have been flooding the internets all morning:

Hal Boedeker, The Orlando Sentinal [1]: Fox News Channel does not know how to do slashing comical commentary … It is a botch. "The 1/2 Hour News Hour" does not comment on what is happening; it simply takes swipes at people … Laughter, of an awfully canned variety, greets all the gags. Nothing happening on screen justifies these outbursts … Fox News Channel will offer a second episode at 10 p.m. March 4. If we're lucky, we'll never hear of this dreadful show again.

Bob Cesca, The Huffington Post [2]: If they're going to leak a segment of the show, they should have avoided what is rumored to be a laugh track. I'm not sure why they didn't run through the show with an actual laughing audience, but I could probably fire off a list of reasons. The first being that, as we all know, there aren't many funny Republicans … Republicans are good at certain things -- making trains run on time for one. And they can certainly appreciate good comedy. They just can't create it.

Will Bunch, Attywood [3]: Good grief … Was there a joke in there? The humor here sort of reminds me of Mad magazine, which I used to devour when I was 11 -- except that Mad was often funny. Right-wing humor must be like a dog whistle -- you have to be a conservative to get it. If you're going to be on the line of mildly (to maybe more than mildly) offensive about the only black man running for president, you'd better make damned sure that it's funny … This just hangs there, like -- well, like so much B.O. The real kind.

Personally, I think the idea of a conservative comedy show is long past due. Comedy is undoubtedly one of the few arenas in which we can more easily connect with one another and I would be thrilled if conservatives would finally jump on the bandwagon and learn how to laugh at the human condition.

The problem is not so much that the show lacks any comedic … well, let’s face it, it’s like listening to a 6-year old regaling you with fart jokes. No, the problem with this is that conservativism is not funny. Not these days. Not by a long shot. The brand name of conservatism a la William F. Buckley, etc. has long since been hijacked. Like it or not, true social/fiscal conservatives have allowed themselves through sheer acquiescence to become defined by some of the darkest elements in society.

Decades ago, a conservative believed in small government and fiscal responsibility, eschewed social engineering and interventionist nation building, and while their methods may have differed, in most ways they shared the same long-term goals as the rest of us. Today, a conservative is a bitter, overweight drug addict who publicly ridicules the sick and disabled [4]. A conservative is a woman bloated with ambition who lies to congress [5] in order to drag our country deeper into conflict. A conservative is a dangerous fascist seeking to create a list of women [6] who have had abortions. A conservative is an armed xenophobic vigilante [7] who has taken it upon himself to guard against illegal immigrants. And a conservative is a dark, soulless coward who publicly condones waterboarding [8] from the most respected office in the country.

Is it fair that these people now define conservativism? Not by a long shot. Is it a double-standard? Maybe. But it’s true. Conservatives sold out their ideals to the most sensationalist elements and these new conservatives (and so-called neoconservatives) have ushered [9] us into an uglier [10] world. No matter how much they try, how badly they may want it, these things will never be funny. They aren’t even in the same ballpark as funny. In fact, they are so far outside that they are starting to wonder if the ballpark ever really existed.

Bottom line: The ½ Hour News Hour stole my funny and I want it back. After watching this clip, I am now operating at a funny deficit. But then again, I suppose creating deficits is something they’re really good at.

See, now that’s funny!

Comments

Manny Ortiz (not verified)Sat, 2007-02-17 22:55

Re: The Tragedy of FOX News Comedy

I wonder what Tony LaGrass or Tony #2 would think about making fun of liberals who love to label people and classify groups of people under generic, sweeping generalizations.

Marco - Go cubbies [12] (not verified)Sat, 2007-02-17 07:15

Re: The Tragedy of FOX News Comedy

I saw it.. and it was really dumb.. VIVA OBAMA!

Tony (not verified)Fri, 2007-02-16 00:37

Re: The Tragedy of FOX News Comedy

"Conservative Comedy" seems to be somewhat oxymoronic in that I can't think of a single conservative I've ever met who I would consider mildly amusing, let alone funny. To be successful in comedy you have to be willing to push the envelope. Not exactly the trademark of conservatives.

And I really don't get this idea that Fox News has anyway. This new "comedy" show is going to be based on actual news stories but rather than reporting on the whole story, they will focus in on one specific facet of the story and manipulate it. Ok, isn't that basically what they do anyway? Except now it's going to have bad jokes, anicdotes and punchlines to go with it. Who's going to be their anchor? Jay Leno's retiring from the Tonight Show and I think he'd be perfect. Because when I think of bad conservative comedy, I think of Jay Leno.

ProudLiberal (not verified)Thu, 2007-02-15 20:17

You have to understand con comedy

First, it's not very sophisticated (to say the least)...in fact, con kneeslappers go along the lines of: "Hitlery has fat thighs!" (ho ho) "Barbra Streisand is crazy and has a big nose!" (hee hee) For the big laffs, you've got to go for death - like one online con comedian's "Reid invites Al Qaeda to attack Las Vegas" (actual headline) about how, since Harry Reid is a weak-kneed surrender monkey and dares to question the wisdom of Dear Leader Bush and his Glorious War of Iraqi Liberation, he's invited AQ to have a go at LV. Much death to ensue. The cons thought it was funnier than hell. No kidding.

Ravin~ Never More (not verified)Fri, 2007-02-16 00:58

Re: The Tragedy of FOX News Comedy

sad indeed~

Taylor (not verified)Thu, 2007-02-15 23:10

Re: The Tragedy of FOX News Comedy

Right, because the rest of the news channels are completely unbiased.

Veronica Drummond (not verified)Thu, 2007-02-15 23:14

Re: The Tragedy of FOX News Comedy

Well duh :-P, im not stupid. All news channels do their own thing for ratings..but... Fox news is the only news channel that parades the theme "fair and balanced" come on...if you were a CEO of a news channel, would you put a comedy show on the roster? Dont you think that discredits the credibility of the whole company just a smidge?

Taylor (not verified)Fri, 2007-02-16 00:42

Re: The Tragedy of FOX News Comedy

Ok, you definitely have me here. I watch Fox news because I want to be informed (granted, I like my news scewed towards my views just like everyone else). I don't like the idea of a comedy show on it, that is not what they are there for. It would kind of be like if MTv decided to sell out to reality tv shows rather than play music videos. Oh right, bad example. haha

Anonymous (not verified)Sun, 2007-02-18 00:34

Re: The Tragedy of FOX News Comedy

"I watch Fox news because I want to be informed"

And that's where you make your mistake. Fox "News" isn't about informing viewers, it's about misinforming them.

Veronica Drummond [13] (not verified)Thu, 2007-02-15 23:09

Re: The Tragedy of FOX News Comedy

I blogged about this the other day, and saw a clip this morning on Fox and Friends what will appear in the show.

Apparently Rush Limbaugh is president, and Ann Coulter is vice president.

And guess who is creator/producer of the show? The executive producer of the show 24, so any liberal Jack Bauer fans, sorry ;-).

This only proves Fox news is no more a news channel than president bush is intelligent.

Taylor (not verified)Thu, 2007-02-15 20:10

Re: The Tragedy of FOX News Comedy

Anybody can take the worst parts of a party and then define the rest of the party by it. Your definition of a conservative is not what most conservatives are.

Kat (not verified)Fri, 2007-02-16 04:49

Re: The Tragedy of FOX News Comedy

And I suppose Conservatives haven't been doing that to Liberals for years now? We're all tree-hugging hippies who want to take away guns who want to corrupt society by promoting same-sex marriage and baby killing. The problem with watching news that is skewed to the left or the right is that you're not being informed - you're being innundated with propaganda that confirms what you already believe. You're not hearing unbiased facts that allow you to formulate your own

Taylor (not verified)Fri, 2007-02-16 04:57

Re: The Tragedy of FOX News Comedy

I don't think we will ever get "unbiased" news. It just won't happen. The people who own these groups have opinions and they are going to put them out there in some way.

Kat (not verified)Fri, 2007-02-16 05:47

Re: The Tragedy of FOX News Comedy

If you recognize that most media is biased one way or the other, why would you depend on one outlet as your sole source of news? Not necessarily you personally, because I don't know whether or not you watch more than Fox news, but the majority of the mindless Fox news followers refuse to watch anything else for fear that they will be tainted by a *gasp* liberal point of view. You need to be able to see both sides of an issue to determine for yourself what is the truth, rather than blindly believing one source as the end all, be all of truth.

And, back to the point of the original post, I think Fox news is very comedic - their ignorant opinions and views have been making me laugh for a long time now.

You're a poopiehead (not verified)Thu, 2007-02-15 19:00

Re: The Tragedy of FOX News Comedy

I disagree with this statement : Fox News Channel does not know how to do slashing comical commentary.
FOX news makes commical commentary everytime they report on the White House. It may not be slashing but the bullshit spins they put on the truth are definitely COMICAL.

Ray The Robot! (not verified)Thu, 2007-02-15 18:53

Re: The Tragedy of FOX News Comedy

What do you mean? They already have a humourous news show- The O'Reilly Factor!

WARZOMBIE. (not verified)Thu, 2007-02-15 19:09

Re: The Tragedy of FOX News Comedy

and when it destroys the daily show in the ratings, you'll still be claiming that its floundering worse than air america

WarriorArtist (not verified)Thu, 2007-02-15 23:47

Re: The Tragedy of FOX News Comedy

I saw this show! Good Lord it was abyssmal. I love it when funny people make fun of liberals, (Colbert, Leno etc.) but this show was not funny. All the hosts did were angry, rediculing unfunny "jokes" with the worst phony laugh track since the early 80's shows. Are there even any funny conservatives? I'm thinking not.

Arch (not verified)Thu, 2007-02-15 23:30

Re: The Tragedy of FOX News Comedy

How do republicans commit suicide?

A: They gather all their hate into a pile and jump off.

Arch (not verified)Thu, 2007-02-15 22:44

Re: The Tragedy of FOX News Comedy

I disagree. There are lots of funny republicans, they just aren't intentionally funny, and they're funny in the way that people who engage in nazi cosplay are funny, but they're mildly amusing nonetheless.

Ironic Distortion (not verified)Thu, 2007-02-15 19:12

Re: The Tragedy of FOX News Comedy

I didn't really understand what the point of the jokes were..I mean its just a subtle way to bash on Obama

J (not verified)Thu, 2007-02-15 16:56

Re: The Tragedy of FOX News Comedy

They really don't get it. Racism is not funny.

Ken (not verified)Fri, 2007-02-16 14:19

Re: The Tragedy of FOX News Comedy

And what exactly was racist? It was a poor skit, but aside from BO being black, there was no racial issue involved.

Modern Primate (not verified)Sun, 2007-02-18 23:08

Re: The Tragedy of FOX News Comedy

I completely agree.  Just because they're making fun of a candidate that happens to be black, doesn't mean they're racist.  That falls in with the idea that anyone who has a criticism of Israel is an antisemite.  It's not like they had him eating fried chicken and watermelon or something.

Blog Corleone as The BlogFather [14] (not verified)Thu, 2007-02-15 16:43

Re: The Tragedy of FOX News Comedy

Man that mess is the worst!!! Fox needs to get a reality check they don't understand or seem to care that by saying certain stuff you offend a whole race! It's a blantant rip off of The Daily Show and the canned laughter is the worst!

Jay DaverthThu, 2007-02-15 22:03

Re: The Tragedy of FOX News Comedy

The last time I checked, Bush's approval ratings among African Americans was around 2%. [15] I think at this point FOX and the GOP have stopped even pretending to care if they look racist! This show might be worth keeping around if, for nothing else, the chance for the GOP to show America their true colors.

Jonathan Moore (not verified)Thu, 2007-02-15 18:16

Re: The Tragedy of FOX News Comedy

I thought the show's clips were hilarious!  A politically incorrect comedy site called ourcountry.com is trying to do the same thing.  You should check them out too. 

Gordy (not verified)Thu, 2007-02-15 17:44

Re: The Tragedy of FOX News Comedy

Haven't seen it yet, but will now because of this rant.

It's too bad that we can have a dozen of channels, including NPR, poking fun at conservatives but one going against the OTHER side is called glorified playground names.

Jay DaverthThu, 2007-02-15 18:10

Re: The Tragedy of FOX News Comedy

As I said at the beginning of the post, I would very much welcome a conservative comedy show.  My "glorified playground names" are directed towards the show not because they are poking "fun" of liberals, but because their comedy is about the people and not the issues.  When was the last time you saw the Daily Show comment on somebody's body odor (especially when there is no evidence they even have a problem with it).

My point is that this show demeans conservatives by relegating their humor to the base of fart jokes and ad hominom attacks without any attempt to place the humor within any intelligent context.