December 22, 2019

Yes, Eddie Murphy came back to "Saturday Night Live" and reprised his old characters — Mr. Robinson, Buckwheat, Gumby, Velvet Jones — but...

... here's what I think is the most important segment from last night's episode, this part of "Weekend Update," where I think you can see that the show knows that Trump himself is doing better comedy than they are and chooses to edit in clips of Trump's hilarious routine:



Yes, they've surrounded his material with their material, but their material isn't as funny. It mainly functions as packaging to protect Trump-haters from their own reflexive aversion to the toxic President. Now, they can enjoy his comedy. They have access to the bad orange man.

Speaking of color, that Eddie Murphy material was full of racist stereotypes — Mr. Robinson, the criminal; Buckwheat, whose one joke is that he cannot articulate words; Gumby, the angry one; Velvet Jones, the pimp — and yet because these were reprisals of supposedly beloved characters by the show's biggest star from the distant past, they were apparently considered okay to present today. This too is packaging. Take something funny that you can't do, do it anyway, but swathe it inside of something that seems to say that this isn't really what it is.

The cold open was the Democratic Debate, and there was no room for Eddie Murphy in that. Well, they could have had him as Deval Patrick barging into the debate, because they had Fred Armisen as Michael Bloomberg barging into the debate, but what would the joke be? With Bloomberg, they could billionaire-bash. He bought his way in. Obviously, that's not too funny either. So what did they do? They had Trump (Alec Baldwin) crash the debate. The SNL audience wants Trump... wants Trump because they want to hate him some more? Or is this love, packaged as hate? Let me start you 7 1/2 minutes in as Trump swaggers onto the debate stage and trash talks: "You think I'm nervous? What are they going to do, impeach me? Hey, losers! Impeach me outside. Okay? How about that?"



By the way, the Velvet Jones material was full of sexist material. To Jones, all women are whores. One of his many books is about pole dancing. Incredibly, that segment ran right before the music guest, Lizzo, performed a song with dancers who were pole dancing.



I think Lizzo is trying to present a character who's a very independent woman, but Velvet Jones had just been sleazily advising women to find independence through prostitution. Doesn't Lizzo have people to protect her from that sort of extremely disadvantageous framing? Talk about packaging. She got mispackaged by Murphy.

185 comments:

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

SNL is one giant ad campaign for the corruptocrat party.

Wilbur said...

What profession suffered the most job losses from the rise of the internet?

Pimps.

Bob Boyd said...

Having Eddie Murphy back really calls attention to the contrast between the show then and now.

Big Mike said...

I wonder. If Trump ran in the Democrat primaries, Could he actually win both nominations?

MartyH said...

Unlike in the open, Trump doesn't fear Pelosi's gifts of impeachment. He welcomes them. The skit would have been funnier and more realistic if the two of them ended up fighting over the gifts-Trump trying to get them; Nancy refusing.

Francisco D said...

Are we laughing yet?

Iman said...

Hot tub!

Jupiter said...

" She got mispackaged by Murphy."

You sure about that?

Bay Area Guy said...

The Comedy spectrum of my generation runs roughly from Mad Magazine to National Lampoon to Saturday Night Live.

The problem is SNL just ain't funny any more. It is a profoundly disturbing fact that Trump is funnier than SNL. The Lisa Page - Peter Stroke careless whisper routine still is laugh riot. Then, Lisa Page goes on tv to complain that Trump is faking orgasms, which just makes it more funny.

Trump 3, SNL 1

Tank said...

Yesterday Scott Adams was talking about the many things Trump does well, his many “roles.” Presidential for foreign leaders, the circus for rallys , trolling with the best (is this a sentence, no) - grammar trolled myself. He’s one of a kind. After him it will be business as usual, the destruction of the US.

David Begley said...

Lizzio is no Aretha Franklin.

MD Greene said...

If you're going to deny Eddie Murphy his signature roles, aren't you sort of stifling him? Are African Americans allowed to be funny in their own unique ways, or are they required to sign up for the righteous resistance and keep their irreverent thoughts to themselves? People with strong personalities resent this sort of thing, and who can blame them?

I think about this sometimes when I look at the New Yorker, whose cartoons I used to enjoy. (My favorite: How about never -- is never good for you?) It still is poking fun at caricatures of white people who are the equivalent of the little white-haired guy in the Monopoly game. I thought once that I'd write a letter to David Resnick and tell him he should ask Jordan Peele (of Key and...) for some names of African American cartoonists. Maybe Awkwafina could recommend some Chinese ones. Didn't do it; might get me labeled a heretic.

Temujin said...

I was thinking about this the other day. We need to appreciate Trump while he's there. There will not be another like him. And after him, what'll the Republicans have to offer? The next generation of Bush's? 5 more years and then it is back to business as usual. Enjoy this while you can.

As for SNL...I tried to make it through "Weekend Update". It's so lame. The readers are stiffs. There is nothing there, no sense of how humor works, no irony, no satire, just Dem talking points. (Seriously- the same week everyone was apologizing to Devin Nunes because he was right all along, they still paint him as the clown?). I made it through 2:30 and had to stop. The show has sucked for 35 years and continues to do so in this era of 'that's not funny'.

Eddie Murphy was and is great. But he's a one-night bandaid over a festering mess.

Heartless Aztec said...

Well at least the show was funny with Murphy at the helm. I haven't laughed at SNL in a long time o'tay?

mockturtle said...

Of course, our hostess knows more about racism than does Eddie Murphy.

Automatic_Wing said...

Eddie Murphy's comedy has always been based on the premise that stereotypes are pretty much true.

iowan2 said...

President Trump has stupefied 2 classes of professionals. Comics and reporters.
The comic material provided by the President is endless in quantity, and rich in content. But they comics would have to use President Trump as the protagonist, skewering his foes, both domestic and foriegn. Alas, comics are too scared to tell that truth to power. Forget about comics pushing society norms, today they crave acceptence more than success.

Reporters. The scandals laying about in plain sight are astounding in scope and sheer quantity. Corruption out in the open, Pulitzer prize awaiting for even one reporter to just report what is already public knowledge. But no, that would only prove President Trump has been right all along. Acceptence to the proper cocktail party is the only motivating factor.

wild chicken said...

Pimps


A pimp at least would know who the john was if anything happens to her. Otherwise she's completely on her own.

Lurker21 said...

Greg Gutfeld gets more laughs than SNL by just showing actual Trump clips.

The opening skit wasn't bad, though. Biden, Warren and Sanders were very good -- the front-runners in the skit as they were for much of the real-life campaign. They could have done more with Buttigieg, Bloomberg and Klobuchar. Harris, Gabbard, Trump and Pelosi weren't good and were distractions. When Gabbard and then Pelosi came out, I thought they were doing Marianne Williamson. Yang was weak too, but how much could they really do with him? And how did Tulsi Gabbard get to be the Wicked Witch of the West? Was that bias or just ineptitude?

Qwinn said...

There is something about communist philosophy that destroys humor. Think about it - in all their history, did Soviet Russia or the Red Chinese or Castro ever produce even one funny line, about anything? Plenty of dark humor *about* the communists, but even one funny zinger *by* them? Not one I can think of.

And that's how you know who's controlling things today.

Narayanan said...

SNL could do with 100% past cast with creative control and put on master class for the new wannabe crew.

Or maybe show called : Laughing with Comedians

AllenS said...

I only watched 1 minute of the first video, and then quit. Not funny, and certainly not entertaining. Standard SNL shit.

Narayanan said...

Big Mike said...
I wonder. If Trump ran in the Democrat primaries, Could he actually win both nominations?
____&&&&&-----++++++

Trump could put this to his rally crowd for test case!

Spike Hillary, Michelle ??!!

Mess up Iowa caucuses for starters.

David Begley?

William said...

I would caution any comedian who wishes to have an enduring career against ever using sex or race in his material. Some future generation is going to view that material as offensive and that comedian will be cancelled. Bill Cosby has shown how to offer material that past, present, and future generations can enjoy.

Freder Frederson said...

I really don't get it. Can someone explain to me why you all (especially Ann) think Trump is funny? He reminds of Andrew Dice Clay, once you get over the inappropriate jokes and his over the top delivery, you are just left with the feeling that "this guy isn't funny, he is just an asshole trying to stoke the snowflakes."

bagoh20 said...

I think the good writers of the past were the kind of wits that greatly irritated the establishment like their teachers and professors in school. I doubt this current crop bothered them at all. They seem like the type that would suck up to their leftist authority figures instead. They have no real edge.

Murphy was fun to bring back, but other than that, boring and predictable is not a good way to go for a comedy show. It's a sad state of affairs for comedy that SNL is some kind of vanguard for the genera in America. It just sucks from bad writing constrained by ideology.

Michael K said...

Freder needs hate to get through the day,

Char Char Binks, Esq. said...

Lizzo got accidentally right-packaged.

William said...

I don't listen to rap music. It sounds like noise to me, but apparently it's now the dominant musical style. Maybe comedy is like music. Different generations like to mark their territory with different styles. For all I know the younger generation thinks SNL is hip and funny. They put tattoos on their asses. Why wouldn't they find SNL funny? We should try to be more tolerant of these jerks.

Char Char Binks, Esq. said...

Mike, you're on to something. Trump should throw his hat in the ring as a Dem! He should still run as the Republican incumbent, but what would he have to lose by running for the Dem nomination?

Qwinn said...

Freder: You know how that first clip takes what Trump was saying deliberately completely out of context so that you have no idea what he was actually talking about?

I am quite confident that you have never used any media source that would permit enough context for you to get the jokes. That's why you "really don't get it".

bagoh20 said...

"Can someone explain to me why you all (especially Ann) think Trump is funny?"

It's the nature of funny to say what people think is beyond the pale, especially when it is inappropriate for someone in their capacity or in a venue that imagines itself above it all. But that's not enough. It has to be done in a way that is not openly hostile or angry, and that shows a playful nature with the infraction. That's what Trump does. It's really very basic.

Howard said...

Another libtard walking point in the War on political correctness. The Gumby character is Jewish, btw. A cranky racist Brooklyn senior.

mccullough said...

So Gumby is Bernie Sanders

mockturtle said...

Fredo: One doesn't explain why something is funny. If you don't get the humor you won't get the explanation, either.

YoungHegelian said...

I think Lizzo's message was that it's empowering to be a 'ho, as long as you're a weight-postive 'ho.

Seriously, as a straight male, some of those dancers in her first set made decide that now was a good time get up & wash the popcorn bowl. I mean, ouch on the objectifying male gaze eyeballs, you know what I be sayin'...

Amadeus 48 said...

Can someone explain to me why anyone thinks SNL is funny?

Those are some sad puppies. The tell was when they flashed up a group of people making fools of the themselves, and included Nunes. If there is one guy who has not made a fool of himself over the past three years, it is Devin Nunes.

Francisco D said...

So Gumby is Bernie Sanders

Yes. Dammit!

Qwinn said...

In fact, that seems to be the only joke that lefties can "get": chopping up quotes from right wingers mid sentence so you can't tell what they were talking about. Lefties LOVE that one. It's so funny to them that nothing else counts as humor. And any media that actually permits a conservative to get a complete thought out is denounced as "propaganda".

This is how leftists are made and preserved regardless of how events unfold.

chickelit said...

Looks like SNL had a relapse. Too bad.

BUMBLE BEE said...

Freder... Big Clue... see quinn@ 9:52, look around you. All alone? Good!
Do:see quinn@9:52,
until: end

Char Char Binks, Esq. said...

The cold open was kind of funny as a Springer parody, until Pelosi showed up.

Stephen said...

Assume: 1) there are some SNL writers who find the Democratic debates, the impeachment, the Greta worship, the Biden creepiness, the RBG vigil, the Obama reassessment, the Pelosi and Hillary senior moments, etc. etc. filled with comedy gold; 2) they can't use any of the material because of the iron curtain that's fallen over late-night comedy; 3) they can sneak a little of it out through Alec Baldwin's Trump, who has been 100% established as a ridiculous idiot. He had some good lines on Saturday night. Let's see if Baldwin-Trump continues to get out some good zingers that no one else would be allowed to say on television.

BTW, Eddie Murphy's "Dolemite" Netflix movie about the blaxpoitatioin era is funny, warmhearted and light-years from the wokescold environment in which we find ourselves today. Every other word is "mf" or "n---", but the white people in the flick rarely use that language, and after a few minutes we're desensitized. The movie resurrects a society that was much more racist than today. No one's mad about the situation, and everyone tries to get ahead within that reality. White people are being denounced for their past; by bringing up the racial stereotypes of his past and laughing about it Eddie Murphy is showing a way out of this mess.

Michael K said...


Blogger mockturtle said...
Fredo: One doesn't explain why something is funny. If you don't get the humor you won't get the explanation, either.


Well said. Stalin had a slight sense of humor. Most lefties don't.

YoungHegelian said...

@Automatic_wing

Eddie Murphy's comedy has always been based on the premise that stereotypes are pretty much true.

Everybody's comedy has always been based on the premise that stereotypes are pretty much true.

There, FIFY.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

One difference between Trump and the typical professional comedian is that Trump divides the audience against itself. This is a bad long term strategy for a professional comedian since it limits their audience. They try, with varying degrees of success, to appeal to as broad an audience as possible. For a politician it works if his side of the polarized audience is bigger than the other side.

Tom T. said...

Once again, the previously-filmed segment was much funnier than the live sketches. The holiday baking show segment at least let loose with some craziness

Seeing Red said...

I didn’t know Trump was a professional comedian.

Did he get his start that way?

YoungHegelian said...

Speaking of stereotypes, I had forgotten that Gumby was basically a grumpy old Jewish guy, no doubt modeled on some of the old Jewish comics that Murphy had met along the way who were anything put laugh-riots in their private lives.

Seeing Red said...

Trump didn’t do the dividing.

He win an election, Mr. Deplorable.

Look in the mirror for a clue as to who the real divider is.

cronus titan said...

Shorter Althouse: THAT'S NOT FUNNY!!

Seeing Red said...

Won an election.

Ficta said...

Just chiming in to second the recommendation of "Dolomite Is My Name". It's really good.

Netflix is doing the Lord's work, financing movies that can't be stuffed into Hollywood's current "must be able to make big money in China" straightjacket.

Seeing Red said...

Via Insty:

This is obvious to anyone who isn’t an idiot.

...Angela Merkel, who has been chancellor for 14 years, is no different from Germany’s political class, which seeks to stay in Putin’s good graces at seemingly any cost. Berlin’s preachy pontifications about democracy, decency, and human rights are customarily aimed at NATO allies, seldom at Moscow. . . .

This bombshell from the spooks exploded the pleasant myth, popular in certain circles, that Merkel is the “leader of the free world” now that the United States has abdicated that role with Donald Trump in the White House. The unpalatable truth is that current U.S. policies towards the Kremlin – to be distinguished from Trump’s tweets and rants – are tougher than they were under Obama, and much harsher than they have ever been in Berlin under Merkel.

NorthOfTheOneOhOne said...

By the way, the Velvet Jones material was full of sexist material.

And the Black Jeopardy skit one one of the most racist things ever shown on TV.

Qwinn said...

The Powers-That-Reeeeeee will let you know when it's okay to laugh. They reserve the right to change their minds at any time for any reason, though, and such rule changes will be applied retroactively.

Kinda hard to feel safe laughing in that environment, unless you're laughing at a conservative's words being taken out of context. That one is always safe, thus why it's the only "true" "humor" they have left to enjoy.

n.n said...

Diversity is funny.

rcocean said...

Larry David KILLS as Bernie. And the girl who does Warren COULD be funny if they gave her some good jokes. Its too bad the rest of the talent is so lame. and who's dong Biden? he doesn't sound or act anything like "Slow Joe".

rcocean said...

BTW, its extremely hard to satirize people who are funny. Or to put it another way, its hard to laugh at people who make us laugh. Nobody does "Trump" better than Trump. OTOH, someone like Bernie can be comic gold, because someone like Larry David can show him to be hilariously goofy.

rcocean said...

Its interesting that the SNL writers 'nicknames' for the candidates, are less funny than the ones Trump has come up with.

The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...

"this guy isn't funny, he is just an asshole trying to stoke the snowflakes."

Trying?

A comic with a legion of humorless, bumbling, straight men.

rcocean said...

BTW, the SNL audience is never divided against itself. Its 100 percent liberal/left.

rcocean said...

THe only thing funny about the Pelosi sketch character was having a 35 something play a 80 y/o crone - without any old person makeup.

Rob said...

I was confused when Lardo performed. I thought it was the Dance of the Elephants sequence from “Fantasia.”

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

now we've re-crossed the Rubicon where Sarah Palin DID say she could see Russia from her house and Alec Baldwins caricature of Trump is actually Trump.

Drago said...

ARM: "One difference between Trump and the typical professional comedian is that Trump divides the audience against itself."

Outstanding. 180 degrees away from correct and pure projection on top of it all.

ARM never fails to fail.

Its a gift really.

I guess no one told the increasing number of minorities that Trump was the great divider.

It must be a real pain to the dems when not everyone gets the journolist memos.

Better luck next time ARM.

The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...

“This is a bad long term strategy for a professional comedian since it limits their audience.”

Wow. This was posted without irony. Talk about bumbling and clueless.

Drago said...

Cracker Emcee: "Wow. This was posted without irony. Talk about bumbling and clueless."

The dems are an army of Jeremy Corbyns.

Beasts of England said...

Larry David does Bernie better than Bernie.

Seeing Red said...

By the way, the Velvet Jones material was full of sexist material.

And the Black Jeopardy skit one one of the most racist things ever shown on TV.

And the Chevy and Richard Pryor word association skit was hilarious.8

narciso said...


https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2019/12/congressional_follies_trump_is_still_your_president.html

Howard said...

Professional stand-up comics write for themselves then work on the rhythm, pace and length in front of live audience. Their best material often splits the fans. Trump is unlike the professionals because his schtick comes out of the deplorable bitch list and reflects it back to they.

Drago said...

Freder needs the Commissar for the Directorate Of Humor to explain what is actually funny and why and what is simply bourgeois frivolous and unapproved non-humor.

gspencer said...

They will never understand us. Never.

wendybar said...

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...
One difference between Trump and the typical professional comedian is that Trump divides the audience against itself. This is a bad long term strategy for a professional comedian since it limits their audience. They try, with varying degrees of success, to appeal to as broad an audience as possible. For a politician it works if his side of the polarized audience is bigger than the other side.

12/22/19, 10:35 AM

Now do SNL and all the Late Night Talk shows!!

narciso said...

snl could never do anything as clever as the Reagan 'mastermind' sketch, with phil hartmann, nowadays,

Howard said...

I wish Larry David would do his Steinbrenner voice for Bernie. Then he will nail it.

Drago said...

gspencer: "They will never understand us. Never."

The Soviets never understood the dissidents either, so they labeled them as insane and drove their ideas underground......where it grew....

Sound familiar?

The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...

“The dems are an army of Jeremy Corbyns”

I was thinking about that this morning. Thus far, making a big deal of publicly announcing your pronouns seems to be a leading indicator of political oblivion. We’ll see how that holds up. I’m guessing, with America’s large Black and Hispanic populations, that it will be even more toxic here than in Britain.

narciso said...

the 1980-81 season was probably the nadir, until current day of unfunny, even though they did have an interesting mort sahl appearance,

mockturtle said...

BleachBit observes: now we've re-crossed the Rubicon where Sarah Palin DID say she could see Russia from her house and Alec Baldwins caricature of Trump is actually Trump.

But..but..I thought Trump was actually Hitler. Does this mean Alec Baldwin is actually Hitler?

Howard said...

Blogger gspencer said...
They will never understand us. Never.


Hilarious. Exactly what you expect from a Drama Queen Diva or a housewife on Prozac.

Drago said...

narciso: "snl could never do anything as clever as the Reagan 'mastermind' sketch, with phil hartmann, nowadays,"

Because any skit like that would hint at the possibility of political opponents competence and capabilities and todays dems cannot allow even the possibility of af that.

Hence, it had to be the russians who gave Trump the win. It had to be obama who gave us all Trunps economic accomplishments, etc etc.

The Hartman skit was very clever and funny (listen to the crowds laughter) and challenged liberal assumptions.

Challenging liberal assumptions is no longer allowed in any venue for any reason at any time.

Wince said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Wince said...

Notice Lizzo's lyric:

Baby how you feelin'?
Feeling good as hell


-John Dingell


And Murphy use the word "shit" on air (accidentally?) right after midnight.

narciso said...

you need to have decent writers, and that barrel is plum dry,

https://20committee.com/2019/12/17/top-german-spies-unload-on-merkels-kowtowing-to-putin/

Drago said...

Howard: "Hilarious. Exactly what you expect from a Drama Queen Diva or a housewife on Prozac."

Next up for Howard in denying the obvious: 2 + 2 does not equal 4.

See how Howard flees from obvious truths instead. The dems have been doing that for a very long time.

Interestingly in Britain most of the Labour Party rank and file have engaged in productive and reality based reasoning in assessing their loss.

What a difference between them and our lefties.

narciso said...

look at the rise of skywalker, they forgot the whole redemptive arc of Anakin, the way they shoe horned this subplot, which was a critical error,

Drago said...

Narciso:"https://20committee.com/2019/12/17/top-german-spies-unload-on-merkels-kowtowing-to-putin/"

You can take the girl out of East Germany but you cant take the East Germany out of the girl.

narciso said...

pretty much the whole of the artistic establishment, in the uk was averse to thatcher, spitting image, was perhaps the less agregious manifestation, salman rushdies 'Maggie magpie' rant was typical, and there was an irony there, as uberlefty john lecarre threw him under the bus five years later,

Bay Area Guy said...

The Larry David show is funny.

The Office was funny in a sweet kinda way.

SNL? Just not funny

Sebastian said...

"what would the joke be?"

That progs are racist?

"independent woman"

Yeah, cuz nothing signals independence as much as ass-shaking and pole-dancing. Take that, men!

Yancey Ward said...

I watched all the Eddie Murphy bits- nostalgia was powerful for me, but they all mostly fell flat except for the Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood which was the only that seemed to me to be 100% Murphy's creation.

And, even with weak material, Murphy ran rings around the regular cast. He has a talent that can't be taught, and the regular cast lacks it all around. It isn't any accident that the best performers on the show are guests like Alec Baldwin and Larry David.

AllenS said...

Sounds like Eddie Murphy is just as confident in himself as Donald Trump.

narciso said...

the irony is that analysis comes from 'crazy john schindler' one louise mensch away from Malcolm nance,

snl is worse than some of the offerings of Fridays' which was abc's attempt to compete with Michael Richards and William sadler,

chuck said...

@Qwinn The Powers-That-Reeeeeee

Good one.

Sebastian said...

"Of course, our hostess knows more about racism than does Eddie Murphy."

And about humor, especially "women doing humor."

Iman said...

Lurker @9:46am is spot on... Gutfeld is funnier than SNL has been for two decades. He also smokes what passes for late night comedy.

rightguy said...

The flabby pole dancing show by Lizzo was brutal.

Ralph L said...

I've watched so much FailArmy, I kept waiting for one of the wobbly poles to fall over or a dancer to drop.

Mary Beth said...

but their material isn't as funny.

And wrong. They didn't burn witches at Salem, they hanged them.

walter said...

"Well, they could have had him as Deval Patrick barging into the debate"
--
What? When drama queen/airport running/disenfranchised Booker is so ripe for the picking?

Note: Bernie promises never to wear shorts.

narciso said...



Meme fail:

https://mobile.twitter.com/JimHansonDC/status/1208767288574390273

walter said...

Wardrobe should have a costume suitable for Spartacus

gadfly said...

It mainly functions as packaging to protect Trump-haters from their own reflexive aversion to the toxic President.

Althouse just refuses to understand that Never-Trumpers are not haters. We are educated, rational, mostly conservative voters who cannot understand how modern politics have reverted to emotional tirades surrounding a stupid immoral president in much the same way Germans practiced Fuhrer liebe during the Dirty Thirties and the war to end all wars.

It takes crooks to get crooks elevated to the highest elected office - using every criminal act imaginable. Donald Trump lived his entire life outside the boundary of the rule of law and his lawbreaking is so frequent that his supporters never look back. Seemingly, every new day brings about yet another new blameless Donald Trump. Strangely, Trump's mental handicap and aversion to the truth have become humorous to his otherwise serious lemmings.

narciso said...

Thats stephen wright type droll humor

narciso said...

You would think after the groveling performance against chinese dissident you couldnt top yourself.

Freder Frederson said...

Since none of you seem to know why I don't find Trump the least bit funny (although you all claim to know how, what and why lefties believe what they do), I had to think about it a while. But I realize what it is. All truly good comedians and comedy are self deprecating and introspective. In Trump's mind he is perfect, and most other people (even the people he claims he loves) are stupid.

narciso said...

One of those taranto questions no one was asking.

Seeing Red said...

I just don’t care why you don’t find him funny.

You don’t have to find him funny either.

You don’t have to be perplexed why some of us find him funny. It’s not going to change your life. It just is.

Go in Peace and enjoy you day off.

pacwest said...

One of the funniest things I've seen lately is a photoshopped picture of Trump crossing the NK DMZ. Kim is gesturing a welcome for Trump to cross the line. Someone potoshopped in a large mousetrap with a cheeseburger as bait. I laughed for a week over that one. I don't see anything like that from the left towards anyone. Get a grip.

Seeing Red said...

Althouse just refuses to understand that Never-Trumpers are not haters. We are educated, rational, mostly conservative voters who cannot understand how modern politics have reverted to emotional tirades ....

It’s easy if you’ve been paying attention.



mockturtle said...

In Trump's mind he is perfect, and most other people (even the people he claims he loves) are stupid.

Actually, Fredo, he doesn't really think this and his self-aggrandizing oratory is part of his humor. I'd rather hear him than the phony politician who is every bit as egotistical [or he wouldn't be running for office] but who puts on an act of dignified humility which fools no one.

Qwinn said...

I'd actually say I nailed it, Freder. The only way you could believe that Trump's humor isn't self deprecating is because you limit your sources to those that deliberately remove any such context.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Mock-T @ 1:05
That.

Rory said...

"I would caution any comedian who wishes to have an enduring career against ever using sex or race in his material."

YouTube has an interesting video of young Seinfeld "roasting" Tommy Chong in Las Vegas. I'd guess mid-80s, he was known but not famous, and obviously didn't know or barely knew Chong. He makes no concessions to the roast - no foul talk, nothing sexual. He just did his act, throwing in a phrase here and there to pretend that what he was saying was somehow related to Chong.

FullMoon said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
walter said...

Gee Gadfly,
Perhaps she wasn't talking about you/nevertrumpers.

Drago said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Drago said...

Field Marshall and Self-proclaimed Global Security Expert Freder: "In Trump's mind he is perfect, and most other people (even the people he claims he loves) are stupid."

In Freders mind he believes he can read minds and he believes most other people are stupid enough to give his mind-reading claims credence.

Quite frankly, with such keen insight into Trumps thoughts, I am surprised Freder wasnt called as a witness for the dems Sham-wow Fake Impeachment.

Drago said...

Freder Frederson: "Since none of you seem to know why I don't find Trump the least bit funny...."

He beat your God-Queen.

Period.

Roughcoat said...

Althouse just refuses to understand that Never-Trumpers are not haters.

Well, sometimes I'm a hater.

I gots to admit.

FullMoon said...

Big Mike said...

I wonder. If Trump ran in the Democrat primaries, Could he actually win both nominations?
12/22/19, 9:16 AM


Let's spread the rumor, for fun.
After all, they fell for this one
Marianne Williamson believes news story claiming Trump pardoned Charles Manson

walter said...

But then you assuming she was supports the notion of irrational hater.
Well done!
Keep those hands clean!

Rory said...

"It takes crooks to get crooks elevated to the highest elected office - using every criminal act imaginable. Donald Trump lived his entire life outside the boundary of the rule of law and his lawbreaking is so frequent that his supporters never look back."

You're describing yourself. We don't know you personally, but every single person in the public eye who talks like you has been exposed as a fraud, without respect for democracy, the rule of law, or due process. Since you quack exactly like those ducks, we have to assume that you're one of those ducks.

chickelit said...

@Frito Fritoson: How do you miss Trump's self-deprecating humor? This is because you tune him out completely.

walter said...

I love how the sketch tries to make out Pelosi's move, or lack thereof, as some sort of sick burn.

FullMoon said...

Freder Frederson: "Since none of you seem to know why I don't find Trump the least bit funny...."

Because you are afraid of peer pressure. Same reason you use when you see record employment, you immediately think, "but, those are not good jobs".

(I use "you" generically)

Jim at said...

Thing is, I wouldn't even know this show was on except for Althouse's posts.

Seeing Red said...

In Trump's mind he is perfect, and most other people (even the people he claims he loves) are stupid.

As opposed to: • “I think that I’m a better speechwriter than my speechwriters. I know more about policies on any particular issue than my policy directors. And I’ll tell you right now that I’m gonna think I’m a better political director than my political director.”


Howard said...

Trump is funny because he's deprecating you deplorables.

Seeing Red said...

Trump is funny because he’s egalitarian and skewers everybody.

Jim at said...

he is just an asshole trying to stoke the snowflakes.

And it appears it's working.

Lurker21 said...

Freder Frederson said...
Since none of you seem to know why I don't find Trump the least bit funny (although you all claim to know how, what and why lefties believe what they do), I had to think about it a while. But I realize what it is. All truly good comedians and comedy are self deprecating and introspective. In Trump's mind he is perfect, and most other people (even the people he claims he loves) are stupid.


I link to this again for your benefit:

Trump Pokes Fun at Himself. Why Do Only Some People See It?

Trump does do self-deprecating. If you don't see it, it may be because much of it is in the form of a character, an exaggerated "Donald Trump" caricature of himself. If you take everything he says literally, you may miss how much of a performance there is in all of it.

And I'd turn your other judgement around: Trump actually seems to like people and things he claims to hate. He doesn't let things go, but he's not Nixon brooding on revenge. Rather he toys with his opponents and critics. He certainly does throw out insults, but he seems to have a sense that it's all part of the game. I don't think all that is wholly a good thing, but it doesn't correspond to the dark Nixonesque fantasies some people have about him.

The other reason people don't see it is because they disagree with him politically. It's common for people's first impression of politicians they disagree with to be that they are smug or arrogant or slippery or narcissistic or pompous or boorish, and there's usually an element of truth in those characterizations, but if you stop at the surface impression there are things that you can miss.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Trump jokes that energy-efficient light bulbs make him look orange

That was hilarious. Very self deprecating.

Pompous a-holes like Money Whore Hillary and her-> ultra wealthy bubble dwelling non-deplorable Hollywood corruption-excusing supporters wouldn't understand.

walter said...

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY): I admit that I'm not sure of what leverage there is in refraining from sending us something we do not want.
--
SNL could have had Pelosi chasing Mitch with the particles of peach mints and doing the ole "Psych!" routine.

Narayanan said...

I may have figured out the reason why Freder is mystified : cargo cult comedy - the laugh track means permission to laugh.

Trump don't use no laugh track.

Ergo : no stimulus no response from Freder.

Earnest Prole said...

Too hot in the hot tub!
Burn myself!
Make it cooler!
Good God!

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Lizzo is a big grrrl.

I invite all the left-progs who mock Sarah Huckabee Sanders for her weight and size - to mock and ridicule.



Iman said...

I watched a recording of last night's SNL with my wife... we both thought Murphy was mostly funny, the Lizzo act was depressingly terrible... the current cast and writers lack talent. Alec Baldwin has shown that he's a talented actor in the past, but his exaggerated Trump is not very funny and the young woman that did Pelosi was a snooze.

Lorne Michaels is running on empty.

Francisco D said...

Trump is funny because he's deprecating you deplorables.

I understand that we have you for comedic relief Howard, but you need to up your game. Add a little cleverness so we can laugh at ourselves (like Trump) instead of groaning at you.

Iman said...

and that's a lot of packing material for Lizzo

Ron Winkleheimer said...

Since we are talking about Eddie Murphy and SNL, I thought I would bring this up:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaDToc8CsOE

reader said...

Is SNL as funny as it used to be? Are there skits that viewers will reference twenty or thirty years from now? Our family will throw out catch phrases from SNL that are OLD.

Someone unexpectedly knocks on our door (that rarely happens) and one of us will yell out, “Land shark!”. At a restaurant when we order a cola by the wrong name even my mother will chime in, “No coke, Pepsi”.

This happens with - never mind, bass-o-matic, I’m Gumby dammit. There are more but typing on my phone is a pain.

I just don’t see that happening with SNL anymore.

Ron Winkleheimer said...

I'd say this is self-deprecating:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00bGPhETXXM

mockturtle said...

Reader, yes, the classics were just that. Good for all time.

mockturtle said...

Like many Monty Python skits.

Laslo Spatula said...

"Talk about packaging. She got mispackaged by Murphy."

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Murphy's previous problem with women's packaging.

From Wiki:

Saoaumaga Atisone Kenneth Seiuli (July 6, 1976 – April 22, 1998) known professionally as Shalimar, Atisone Seiuli, or Shalimar Seiuli was an American-Samoan transgender dancer and public figure who gained infamy when she was seen getting into the SUV of the actor Eddie Murphy.

On May 2, 1997, Seiuli, a known prostitute, was being watched by police getting into the SUV, unaware that Murphy was the driver. Murphy was pulled over, questioned for 30 minutes, then released, while Seiuli was arrested for an outstanding warrant on prostitution charges. Murphy claimed he was just being a "good Samaritan" by giving Seiuli a ride.[1][2]

I am Laslo.

Rory said...

And then there's his House of Wings commercial:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/jimheath.tv/2019/07/watch-the-hard-to-find-snl-skit-donald-trump-celebrates-national-chicken-wings-day/amp/

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

gadfly said...
Althouse just refuses to understand that Never-Trumpers are not haters.


It is not about understanding. Althouse was herself a never-Trumper. She just hates liberals more. They once did something nasty in the woodshed.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Titania McGrath
@TitaniaMcGrath
In order to revitalise the Labour Party, we’re going to have to win over the hearts and minds of all those fascist racist misogynist working-class gammons who were too stupid to vote the correct way last time.

ha. Universal.

Exchange Labour Party to Democrat Party (or American Socialist-Commie Party) and it's the same, man.

Michael McNeil said...

It takes crooks to get crooks elevated to the highest elected office — using every criminal act imaginable. Donald Trump lived his entire life outside the boundary of the rule of law and his lawbreaking is so frequent that his supporters never look back.

Gadfly steps on a rake and smashes himself in the face by his gibbering idiocy. Obviously, if what he alleges were even remotely true, the Mueller investigation would have hung Trump up to dry. Yet, they didn't and couldn't get a thing on him — even after they subverted and turned Trump's personal attorney of a decade, Michael Cohen!

George Mason University law professor David Bernstein (far from a Trump supporter, more a “NeverTrumper” in fact, though he's no leftist) posted this on Facebook earlier this year — following Trump ex-attorney Michael Cohen's testimony, but before release of the Mueller Report: [quoting…]

Donald Trump is a man of low character. But he’s apparently quite careful in avoiding doing things that are obviously illegal. Or, at least, that’s what I surmise from the fact that his personal lawyer of 10 years really can’t come up with anything he did that was obviously illegal.

[/unQuote]

I think this fact is almost jaw-droppingly noteworthy. For how many millionaire/billionaire businessmen and -women — working for over half century in (say) building construction (with all the political compromises which must be made in that line of work) — as seen, furthermore, from the vantage point of a decade-long relationship with his [turned!] personal attorney — could this be said? Darned few, I suggest.

It's extremely doubtful, therefore, that Trump could really be the flagrant, corrupt to the core, criminal that Gadfly and so many others on the left have managed to utterly convince themselves of — despite the even more striking lack of evidence (not to speak of the truly malicious prosecution and persecution that's been directed against him — by e.g. the FBI — since before his election and all the time since, as the recent Justice Dept. Inspector General's report details).

Subsequent publication of the Mueller Report — together with the aforementioned DoJ Inspector General Horowitz's recent report: damning the FBI's investigation of Trump — merely adds several exclamation points to this conclusion.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Trump was my last choice but he has been pretty great. The fact he has plunged deep-state power-clinching deniers and Hillary-lost-Butt-hurts into mad depths of insanity, is a bonus.

Qwinn said...

I preferred Cruz during the primaries and am still a big fan of his (and will root for him in 2024, he's one of only 2 or 3 people I can see carry the swamp draining forward), but a lot of that has to do with thinking Trump was a stalking horse for Hillary. And maybe he even meant to be at one point... but then Hillary/Obama pissed him off, and the rest is history.

Cheryl said...

I really like the Lizzo song, and I absolutely hate the production around it. It's like the opposite of what she's saying. Seems like someone would have pointed that out to her--I agree with you.

FullMoon said...

Disgusting but funny.via instapundit

Video Montage: 12 Most Mortifying Media Moments of 2019

effinayright said...


This happens with - never mind, bass-o-matic, I’m Gumby dammit. There are more but typing on my phone is a pain.
*********************

In his short-lived but funny series "The P.J.'s" years ago, Murphy managed to contrive a Gumby reference for his character by having a show hinge on a neighborhood cooking contest.

Murphy's character said he would win it, because, as he insisted, his gumbo was the best for miles around.

"I'm gumbo, dammit"!

(really happened, not made up. I still miss Mrs. Avery, with her shotgun.)

effinayright said...

Gadfly:
Althouse just refuses to understand that Never-Trumpers are not haters. We are educated, rational, mostly conservative voters who cannot understand how modern politics have reverted to emotional tirades surrounding a stupid immoral president in much the same way Germans practiced Fuhrer liebe during the Dirty Thirties and the war to end all wars.
*******************

Yes. Trump and his followers yearn for the day when American greatness is defined by worship of an all-powerful state led by a Fuhrer who can do no wrong.

In MUCH the same way!!!

SNORT

walter said...

That's some groundbreaking choreography.

chickelit said...

FullMoon said...Disgusting but funny.via instapundit

Thanks for that. It's depressing that each and every one of those so-called media leaders (some major, some minor) still have their jobs. What kind of shit do they shovel and can they not see now why we despise them?

chickelit said...

Let's just hope that Robert "Wilkes Booth" De Niro doesn't get any crazy ideas. He's dumb enough.

Earnest Prole said...

Nobody skewered the queers in the 80s like Eddie Murphy.

By “skewered,” I assume you mean “When Eddie Murphy Was Stopped by Police With a Transsexual Prostitute in His Car” (google it if you don’t remember).

Drago said...

The Poor Man's LLR-lefty C**** gadfly decides now would be a good time to demonstrate his/her/xer's "rationality" by going Full Godwin right off the bat.

Discuss.

Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...

SNL's primary objective is to push an agenda

...any comedy now is incidental.

vaudeville version of the "2 Minute Hate"

Drago said...

Gadfly is "mostly conservative" in the sense of happily caving on every policy issue to the left/dems and attacking any conservatives that have the unmitigated gall to actually stand up to the left.

This is also known as being "not conservative at all or in any way".

narciso said...

didn't hugh grant, have a similar situation, about a year before,

John henry said...

"Now, they can enjoy his comedy. They have access to the bad orange man."

I thought he was peach now, no longer orange. Isn't he going around saying "I'm Peach now!"?

(Apologies to Scott Adams)

John Henry

Iman said...

"That's some groundbreaking choreography."

Now that was just plain mean...

Ralph L said...

didn't hugh grant, have a similar situation, about a year before,

His ho was an actual woman.

Sammy Finkelman said...

12/22/19, 9:19 AM

The problem is SNL just ain't funny any more.

It hasn't really been funny since 1975. You keep on expecting t to get funny.

There are occasional skits that are funny.

Seeing Red said...

Those were big women pole dancing, althouse.
Big Beautiful black women, being empowered for their beauty...
You got a problem with that, white girl, head back to th 1950s with your second husband, and your gay/hillbilly white male commenters.



You don't diss Lizzo in 2019, dear.
Not publicly, and with no pushback.
Get with the times, lil white girl?


Was it Chris Rock who said it was his job to make sure his daughters don’t end up as pole dancers?

walter said...

Iman,
It was with all due respect.

Earnest Prole said...

No, I mean skewered the stereotype of lispy California queer.

So you're saying he skewered with love not hate.

Ken B said...

Howard at 1:27 shows he really does get Trump’s humor. It’s a very Trumpish joke that Howard made.

Sammy Finkelman said...

rcocean said...

THe only thing funny about the Pelosi sketch character was having a 35 something play a 80 y/o crone - without any old person makeup.

Against that, Nancy Pelosi herself wears young person make-up or something. She doesn't look 79.

Lurker 21:

And how did Tulsi Gabbard get to be the Wicked Witch of the West? Was that bias or just ineptitude?

Because she was that in the November debate sketch. Same thing with Michael Bloomberg crashing the debate - he did that in the November debate sketch.

The SNL writers think one aspect of humor is the running gag.

The interesting thing is that the SNL writers chose to make the cold open about he debate - not impeachment. I guess they felt it was a safe subject.

walter said...

SNL could have had fun with Pelosi's raised eyebrows.
Maybe run a pair like a marionette.

Focko Smitherman said...

It should be noted that Walter's 4:36 pm comment is hilarious.

M Jordan said...

Trump’s funny but Libs don’t — or won’t — get it. Remember Trump leaning towards the camera saying,”Hey, Russia, if you can get Hillary’s emails please do”? Laugh out loud funny, at least in my household. Guess what happened next: The Mueller Investigation. That’s right, it was the joke that launched a thousand Schiffs.

Michael K said...

I preferred Cruz during the primaries and am still a big fan of his (and will root for him in 2024, he's one of only 2 or 3 people I can see carry the swamp draining forward)

I expect Trump to appoint him to the Supreme Court when Breyer retires/crumps.

He would be better there,.

Molly said...

(eaglebeak)

Gadfly, the "war to end all wars" was World War I, not World War II, so the Hitler connection isn't there.

Second, who the hell called them the "Dirty Thirties"? Considering what a frightful mess they were, calling them "dirty" would have been a grotesque understatement.

Quick, give me a rational comparison between now and the '30s, and the U.S. and Germany--how are Hitler and Trump alike? In any way? In what they say, do, think, carry out, look like...?

I don't care whether you like Trump or hate him, but to think he's just like Hitler is the dumbest thing ever.

ken in tx said...

If what I read is true, Putin has a sense of humor. Supposedly, he was asked by a reporter if Russia was going to interfere in the US election. He said, "Of course we will, but don't tell anybody."

Churchy LaFemme: said...

The 20 Best Jokes Of Stalin:

7. About the most important of the arts

In 1939 Stalin watched a movie "The Train goes East". The movie was tedious: train rides, stops...
— What station is that? – asked Stalin.
— Dem'ianivka.
— This is where I get off, – said Stalin and left the room.

9. About impudence

One Colonel-General, reported to Stalin about the situation. Supreme commander looked very pleased and nodded twice. Upon completing the report, the chieftain
hesitated. Stalin asked: "Do You want anything else to say?"
"Yes, I have a personal question. In Germany, I have selected some things interesting for me, but they were detained at the checkpoint. If possible, I would ask you to return that staff to me."
- We can do that. Write me a report, I will impose a resolution."
Colonel-General pulled out his pre-prepared report. Stalin imposed a resolution. Petitioner began warmly thanking.
— Don't mention it, - said Stalin.
Then the officer reads the resolution on the report: "Give back the stuff to the Colonel. Joseph Stalin". The General appealed to the Supreme:
— Here is a typo, comrade Stalin. I'm not a Colonel, but a Colonel-General.
— No, it's all right, comrade Colonel, - replied Stalin.

11. On corruption

After the war, Stalin learned that Professor K. has built a very expensive house near Moscow. Stalin called for him and asked:
— Is It true that you built a house for so many thousand?!
— The truth, comrade Stalin, - replied the Professor.
— Thank you from the orphanage, to whom you gave your home, — said Stalin and sent him to teach in Novosibirsk.

15. About the opera

The Bolshoi Theater was preparing a new performance of Glinka's opera Ivan Susanin. The members of the commission, headed by Chairman Bolshakov, listened and decided that it was necessary to withdraw the finale of "Glory to the Russian people!": Ecclesiasticality, patriarchalism ...
Reported to Stalin.
- We'll do slightly different: we'll leave the finale, but we'll remove Bolshakov.

19. About weather forecasts

Stalin asked meteorologists what percentage of the accuracy of forecasts they had.
- Forty percent, Comrade Stalin.
- Say the opposite, and then you will have sixty percent.

Earnest Prole said...

The best Stalin joke:

Q: You're locked in a jail cell with Stalin, Hitler, and a lawyer. You have a pistol loaded with two bullets. What do you do?

A: Shoot the lawyer. Twice.

Qwinn said...

I do still find it amazing that progs will simultaneously claim that Trump's obvious and open joke about Hillary's emails represented underhanded collusion, while Obama being caught on a hot mic passing messages to Putjn about having more flexibility after the election (which can only mean flexibility to do things for Russia that US voters wouldn't like) meant nothing nefarious at all.

Utterly shameless, treasonous pigs.

Unknown said...

Man, I could talk about social justice viewpoints and methods ALL DAY