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SURVIVAL THREATENED
“Can political comedy survive without Howard?” asks Age blogger Craig Platt. “Could the Rudd era see the rise of the right-wing comedian?”
Platt later returns to that question: “Perhaps I should have said ‘return’ rather than ‘rise’ of right-wingers. I’d forgotten about some of the shameful high-profile comedians in Australia’s past.”
UPDATE. “The funniest moment in comedy in Australia that I can remember was when The Glass House got canned,” writes Ash. “I’m sure everyone enjoyed the high pitched shrieking of ‘JoHN HoWARd Is fOrciNG hIs AgENDa oN frEE spEeCH!!11!!!one! AnD he StACked teH ABC BoARd!111!’”
Contrail notes this extract from Platt’s post:
Veteran Rod Quantock is also taking a global view by looking at the world of the future - a world without oil. Quantock has abandoned his traditional whiteboard and replaced it with high-tech gear including a video camera, Photoshop and Second Life.
Observes Contrail: “A member of the Church of Climatology, Quantock replaces his white board with equipment powered by sinful electricity. And in brown coal powered Melbourne that it is a huge slap in the face for Mother Gaia.”
UPDATE II. Invited to name these shameful right-wing comics, Platt answers:
Perhaps you’re too young to remember the ‘80s, when racist and sexist humour was still commonplace. I don’t remember the performer, but a popular comedic song when I was growing up made light of, among other things, rape (it may have been called “I Was Embarrassed” - I remember the lyrics clearly).
A little later:
I’m not trying to equate righties with rape endorsers!
#1. Congrats, Mike, you were wiped outpost haste by the free speech types over there. So do us a favor and tell us how you became a pariah.
Posted by Gary from Jersey on 2008 04 08 at 01:03 PM • permalinkWell comment moderation takes time, I know, so it could still be in the pipeline. I don’t want to say it was deleted when it wasn’t. It’s not up at this time, so here’s my question, which may still appear over there.
“So Craig, what makes them “shameful”? That’s a very interesting word choice. Are they shameful because they don’t see the world quite like you do? Because they make fun of left-wing politicians and people instead of right-wing ones? Because they mock what you consider the wrong socio or ethnic group? I know its not because they use dirty words or vulgar terminology, because lets face it lad, where would today’s comedy be without that? So what exactly makes them “shameful” to your eyes?”
Posted by MikeTheLibrarian on 2008 04 08 at 01:09 PM • permalinkLet’s see if my comment gets up, on the page that is, rather than their noses.
“Right wingers are comedians. Left wingers are the jokes.”
Posted by richard mcenroe on 2008 04 08 at 02:25 PM • permalink”...shameful high-profile comedians in Australia’s past.”
Why be ashamed of Margot? She’s high quality as well high profile comedy.
Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2008 04 08 at 03:06 PM • permalinkWe’d just settle for comedians who are funny…
—Nick and Nora
Posted by The Thin Man Returns on 2008 04 08 at 05:05 PM • permalinkWelcome to our world, Aussies. Conservatives have dominated the American comedy scene since the early Clinton years.
Posted by tim maguire on 2008 04 08 at 05:22 PM • permalink#8 I’m with Nick and Nora, I wouldn’t care what poitical stripe a comedian was from as long as their material was funny. You can usually pick the lefty comedians, they’re usually one-joke wonders, and JWH is gone now, and when that’s not their shtick it’s being all preachy about AGW or some other non-cause.
I’m pretty sure that the point of comedy is to make me laugh. I ain’t laughing!
I find this quite funny.
ABC?
Everyone on the left knows that the ABC is biased toward the right.
I mean, it’s obvious, isn’t it.That’s why all the programmes like no Difference of Opinion and so many others only have a token conservative… if any. Of course it’s obvious that the ABC is biased to the right. Any conservative representation shows bias.
Kae, I’m not sure which ones are worse: the ones who say the ABC is Right because Janet and Keith are on the board, or the ones who genuinely believe that it’s completely balanced and look like they’re going to burst into tears if you tell them otherwise.
Despite the number of conservatives who set foot in an ABC studio per week being a number less than 5, the Left seem determined to think that it’s balanced and fair. I’m pretty sure it goes back to their need to be seen as the disadvantaged ones.
Veteran Rod Quantock is also taking a global view by looking at the world of the future - a world without oil. Quantock has abandoned his traditional whiteboard and replaced it with high-tech gear including a video camera, Photoshop and Second Life.
The shallowness of these people’s beliefs always amuse. A member of the Church of Climatology, Quantock replaces his white board with equipment powered by sinful electricity. And in brown coal powered Melbourne that it is a huge slap in the face for Mother Gaia.
#15 Ash. And don’t forget their mantra that they are the more caring. I get this all the time. That only they know and appreciate the pain of the disadvantaged.
The next time a bleeding heart mentions that one to you ask him/her how much they give each year to the needy. Either in time or money.
From my experience he/she usually goes red and gibbers. They think that by supporting Labor Governments and their large unwieldy departments that they are contributing to the needy. Blind selfish fools.
I agree with #6, kcorn.
What was put in front of us or endlessly thumped into us over the past 12 years was decidedly not comedy (i.e., “comedy” in the real meaning of the term).
Real Australian comedy is dry, witty, laconic and noted for its clever use of words.
The small “l” liberal mob that Craig Platt writes about was wet, unfunny and virtually dyslexic.
When they were not applying for jobs at the ABC, they spent the vast majority of their time laughing at each others’ jokes [sic] and/or patting each other on the back and loudly proclaiming how clever they all were.
That is decidedly not comedy.
Could the Rudd era see the rise of the right-wing comedian…
On his Grand Tour, I see Kevni as filling that role quite well, unintentionally.
1. Saluting his close mate GWB, The Beast of Wahsington, across the room.
2. Visiting Fascist China amid controversy, to talk more trade, in Mandarin.
3. Ignoring Democratic Japan -not far right enough for him?#16
Quantock’s always had the look of a homeless wineo - more tragedy than comedy ...Sure, the ABC is balanced. Only a balanced group would harass the coalition government for 11 years and then swoon with admiration for everything the ALP does.
Fran Kelly has just announced that she is going to be absent from her radio spot for a while, since she’s doing a series on the 11 years of the Howard government for ABC TV.
So there. They just cannot let go. Further proof that they are a balanced lot, and I’m sure it will be a series with dashes of sympathy and admiration, mixed with a light, humourous touch.
Not.Can political comedy survive without Howard?
Sure. All it takes it talent, humour, and a willingness to recognise the idiocy on the other side of politics.
But hey, you can always go back to the day job.Posted by SwinishCapitalist on 2008 04 08 at 07:37 PM • permalinkHmmmm.
Veteran Rod Quantock is also taking a global view by looking at the world of the future - a world without oil. Quantock has abandoned his traditional whiteboard and replaced it with high-tech gear including a video camera, Photoshop and Second Life.
Second Life?
What the hell for? It’s the online equivalent of the old Times Square. Filled with weirdos, slackers, hookers, strippers and every other category of “teh suck!”. And it’s all fake.
I guess he’s got to include Second Life because:
1. It’s the intarwebs y’know.
2. This is a way of putting his online perversions on his expense account.
3. He’s a douchebag.
4. Rod Quantock. Is that a pseudo-pornstar name or what?
Posted by memomachine on 2008 04 08 at 08:23 PM • permalinkCraig has responded to my query to name 1 shameful righty comedian with some vague recollections of the 1980’s comedic song “I was embarassed” which poked fun at rape.
How this makes the comedian a righty (let alone shameful, without knowing the CONTEXT eg black humour)) is my response, so we’ll see how his recollection goes!
Further to 28, we’ve now moved on from rapist comedians to a description of the comedians as “bad”. In response to a subsequent post, however, he makes it clear it was only bad because it wasn’t dominated by left leaning arty types.
So there you go. Comedy from left = good. Comedy from right = bad, even if he cannot name or recall the act of any such comedian.
It is The Age after all.
Left wing comedians could be funny? Who knew?
Posted by Abu Chowdah on 2008 04 09 at 04:49 AM • permalinkThe last truly great political comedian was the late, great Bill Hicks and he would have thought climate change was a load of shit from whiny assholes.
Posted by Abu Chowdah on 2008 04 09 at 04:50 AM • permalinkPerhaps you’re too young to remember the ‘80s, when racist and sexist humour was still commonplace. I don’t remember the performer, but a popular comedic song when I was growing up made light of, among other things, rape (it may have been called “I Was Embarrassed” - I remember the lyrics clearly).
I have this song on vinyl. It was called Christened My Dog and the name of the album was The Newcastle Song.
Does that ring a bell or two?
Yes indeed, that song was recorded by ABC presenter Bob Hudson.Posted by SwinishCapitalist on 2008 04 09 at 10:32 AM • permalinkI’ve just posted the above on Craigyboy’s blog. I wonder if it will pass the moderators/
Posted by SwinishCapitalist on 2008 04 09 at 10:37 AM • permalink
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Let’s see if my rather pointed question makes it through their comment moderation.