talkpolitics | Entries tagged with comedy

Today marks 80 years since the communist coup in my country, whish ushered my society into an era that lasted for nearly half a century and left deep traces on it that could be felt even today.

It also marks 80 years since the disappearance of my great-grandfather, kidnapped and murdered by the criminal communist regime for just having his own "bourgeois" business at the time. The only memory of him is his name being listed among the thousands of names on the Memorial of the Victims of Communism in Sofia, displayed below. May he rest in peace.

This reminds me of Marxism, which I'm now often hearing some people referring to with nostalgia as if it was something nice and beautiful.

People do have a rather short memory indeed.

( But to my point )

airiefairie

Comedies about politics find the humor in real-life situations, regardless of party affiliations. The list below is hardly exhaustive, and I would welcome any additions, preferably with some detail about the plot and message of the respective films. In general, what we are talking about here is cutting satire inspired by politics and politicians from all over the world. Obviously, political comedy is primarily intended to be funny, but underneath the comedy surface, there is a deeper message.

So what are your fave political satire pieces?

( A short list )

mahnmut.livejournal.com

He's the ultimate defender! Or goal-keeper. His face can stop any attack. Meet Scott Sterling, the guy with the most precious nose in the world!

( Some stirring examples )

nairiporter.livejournal.com

For those among the public who have been following Jon Stewart's stellar career at the Daily Show, his sudden decision to walk away must have come like a cold shower, especially after Stephen Colbert had already announced his departure as well. The new guy at the Daily Show is a little-known South African comedian named Trevor Noah who has raised a lot of eyebrows lately, his type of humour clearly not resonating too well with what has become the traditional Daily Show audience. Here is a piece on the matter that I found interesting, which tries to examine the reasons why - and also offers some parallels between Noah and Stewart. Including this video of the early Stewart, which the modern-time Stewart might cringe watching.

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( Some excerpts )

luvdovz.livejournal.com

Rémi Gaillard is a famous French humorist who has gone viral on Youtube throughout the years with his many hit'n'run pranks that he has played in various public places. He became prominent after he documented himself in the role of a party-crasher during the celebrations of his fave team Lorient when they won the soccer Cup of France in 2002 (he was even greeted by president Chirac during the trophy ceremony).

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( Read more )

paft.livejournal.com

One of my favorite scenes from a British dark comedy. David, a murderous nerd manchild obsessed with serial killers, visits Madame Tussaud's chamber of horrors after-hours with his mother/co-conspirator to plot another murder. Jack the Ripper, John George Haigh, Albert DeSalvo and John Reginald Christie (as filtered through David Attenborough's performance in 10 Rillington Place) serenade David with help from Ed Gein, Ted Bundy (in the electric chair,) Ruth Ellis and, (I think) Constance Kent.

underlankers.livejournal.com

( The inevitable in-joke )

( I love this video )

( Captain literal here to save the day )

What are your favorite comedies?

Mood: amused

luvdovz.livejournal.com

A SEA MONSTER ATE MY ICECREAM!!!!!

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"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Making up a condition and giving it an acronym to make it sound legitimate is pretty foolish, yep".

Watch it on: http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-september-26-2012/sudden-wealth-syndrome
After walking a mile in a rich person's $4,000 Ferragamos, Jason Jones learns the paralyzing anxiety of sudden wealth.

( Behold the latest made-up deadly condition: Sudden Wealth Syndrome! )

So have you seen someone clashing (or, hell, have YOU clashed) with this enormous problem? What are the reactions of those affected by it? The Wiki page doesn't seem to be too informative on the details, so please enlighten me!

( And while we're at it, here's some First World problems to worry about! )

telemann.livejournal.com

Stephen Colbert has won another Peabody Prize. The winners of the George Foster Peabody Awards were announced Wednesday morning. As explained on the Peabody site, each winner must receive a unanimous vote from the entire board. And as you can see from the list below, entertainment programs are just one of the categories that the Peabody board considers. I think the fact that more than a dozen people with disparate tastes and interests found all these programs worthy of commendation speaks to the extraordinary quality of all 38 winners.

Peabody writeup: Launching his own SuperPAC as a satirical protest against megabucks politics, Colbert mixed cerebral comedy with inspired sight gags, interviews and preposterously funny monologues. Mo comments: "The Colbert Report" wins a Peabody Award for several 2011 episodes that focus on the creation of his Colbert SuperPAC, a vehicle he has used to wittily and yet thoroughly expose the darker and scarier corners of campaign finance. If nothing else, winning a second Peabody will allow Colbert to once again celebrate the "Turducken of awards." Source.

This is fantastic. Steven Colbert's writing is some of the best political satire on television (or anywhere else for that matter). The SuperPac coverage on his television program has been a great educational process (with great comedy) in learning the intricacies and loopholes in election finance law-- usually a byzantine and coma inducing topic. This year Steven Colbert produced several television spot ads that ran during the Republican South Carolina primaries, and had former presidential candidate Herman Cain appear at a "campaign" stop in Charleston. The Colbert Report's writing is consistently good (IMHO) and considering they have to produce nearly four hours of content a week, it makes Saturday Night Live seem tepid by comparison.

telemann.livejournal.com

On Friday Night's episode of Real Time with Bill Maher, he turned the tables a bit of his running gag of Republicans that live "inside the bubble" (i.e. completely oblivious to any facts that run contrary to their opinions about various subjects such as global warming/climate change ¹, the auto bailout, etc) and suggested that Democrats and moderates who think it's inevitable Obama will be re-elected, giving in the process a short history lesson on the candidate who mis-spoke the most often, did in fact win. He calls the 2000 election as a race of "I.Q. [Gore] versus B.B.Q. [Bush]." Bill Maher doesn't mention this, but President Carter's re-election team thought that a race against Ronald Reagan would be much easier to win than against a moderate like Gerald Ford (had he chosen to run again). Some polls show Obama behind in some key swing states, so Maher's warning is a real one.

Video will not embed.

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1. Speaking of living inside the bubble and not allowing any facts in it, Neil deGrasse Tyson was on the panel and was debating with the conservative vice president of General Motors Bill Lutz, who stated global warming was a complete "crock of shit." video clip of that segment is viewable here.

luzribeiro.livejournal.com

Pelosi takes on Colbert

"The Alice in Wonderland state of American politics has just reached a new level.

Nancy Pelosi, the stately, serious former House speaker released a video satire Thursday going after comedian Stephen Colbert for his super PAC.....

At the end of the video, Pelosi gets to her serious point. She is promoting the so-called DISCLOSE Act, which House Democrats are reintroducing Thursday. The DISCLOSE act would among other things require more transparency by super PACs in terms of who their donors are."

HAHA! Great idea, Nancy "We Have To Pass This Bill So We Can See What's In It" Pelosi! But I'd still give that vid B for concept and C for execution. Surely the almighty Democratic juggernaut (who controls the liberal media, har har) could afford something way better than that, amirite? Nice try, though. I'll give you that.

( Pelosi's video, etc! )

telemann.livejournal.com

The first Colbert Super PAC ad entitled Attack in B minor for strings is now running in media markets in South Carolina. John Lithgow is the narrator for the one minute spot and the comic gold is surreal. If you are a regular watcher of the Colbert Report, there has a been sort of instruction class on how Super PACs are formed. Trevor Potter, an election law attorney has appeared on several shows explaining the entire process and specifics on what is legal and not legal, and it's all great comedy but the genius is the civics lesson that's sneaked in very intelligently with all this comedy. Personally I think it's brilliant stuff. I'd just want to see the face of a few Republicans in South Carolina who don't know a thing about Stephen Colbert. Ha.

( Embedded video behind the cut )

dv8nation.livejournal.com

Charlie Chapin's film The Great Dictator came out 71 years ago. It was Chaplin's blistering jab at Hitler and it ends with what I think is one of the greatest speeches ever made. I'd put it up there with "I Have A Dream" in terms of not just its power but with the genuine truth of its message. I'm honestly saddened that I'd never heard this speech until today but now I don't think I'll ever forget it.

In 1940 Chaplin was saying this at a time when the United States was trying to pretend Hitler and the Nazis weren't out problem. Jump forward to now and we still have comedians Steven Colbert and Jon Stewart being among the very best at calling us out on our own BS. I think that we forget that funny people are also often people with good minds and strong understanding of emotion. It helps make them good at their jobs but also helps them to see the world perhaps a little more clearly.

Anyway, some awesome person took this fantastic speech and made it even MORE awesome by using Star Wars footage to drive the point home. If you've never heard Chaplin's speech then do the best thing you'll do for yourself all day and give it a listen. You won't regret it. And then take a moment to reflect on how Chaplin's words are just as true today as they were in 1940 and what that says about the world we live in.

Mood: impressed
Location: Icheon, South Korea

telemann.livejournal.com

Bill Maher's season finale of 'New Rules' ended with a commentary on GOP/Republican values including self-reliance as understood by all of the current Republican candidates. It's interesting to me that when you look at their policies (including far right Libertarian ones as well), the people that espouse them really resent being called out for uncaring, or lacking compassion; A charge that obviously bothered George Bush, who promised a new type of conservatism-- "with compassion." But that was over a decade ago: today's current body of Republican candidates are running a primary race to the right that will leave their eventual nominee in a nearly impossible situation for winning. Mr. Maher captures the essence of several policy proposals of the current slate of Republicans, policy proposals so radical even Ebeneezer Scrooge would blanch; and I have to agree with his assessment.

( Video behind cut )

ddstory.livejournal.com

Imagine Hitler's head, looking like an egg, and with an arm-band on the sleeve, but with an apple instead of a swastika. And that's not just some silly joke, produced by a bored imagination. That image belongs to a new anti-Nazi movement in Germany that's gaining momentum. They believe in the power of humor and they mock right-wing extremism in a way that makes you wonder: are they being serious?

You can see them on the streets chanting "Heil, Apple!" and "What does the German youth need? - Apple juice!" They call themselves the only real national force, they march on the streets of Hamburg dressed in black, with red arm-bands on their sleeves with their symbol, a black apple on a white background. Their cause is "To protect the cleanness of the German fruit!"

They call themselves the German Apple Front, and their involuntary patron is the right-wing politician Holger Äpfel from the NPD party (Äpfel = apple, got it?) With their satirical appearances, the activists of the Apple Front are making one jab at right-wing extremism after another. Satire is their weapon against neo-Nazism.

( Read more... )

telemann.livejournal.com

A few days ago, comic genius Jon Stewart elaborated in greater detail a point he made after his interview with Chris Wallace on Fox News: the ability of insular logic that is self fulfilling; a logic that was tighter than an otter's sphincter (Stewart's words) concluding "That narrative of conservative victimization is the true genius of what Fox News has accomplished."

But this week, after the dust had settled on the Norway massacre using the launch pin Anders Breivik's Christian beliefs and his extreme right wing world view: Stewart returned to that theme of "conservative victimization," showing examples from several well known conservative editorial writers, authors and TV personalities (all on Fox News) whining about the unfair treatment conservative (and Christian) Americans receive at the hands of the meanie pants liberals. The pay-off is a clip from Sean Hannity saying he doesn't hear conservatives criticizing liberals with the same vitriol. Stewart's reaction? That is, if I may say, some of the most free-range, organically grown, disingenuous, ideologically marinated, un-self-awareness I've ever seen in the wild. Watch the clip. Stewart offers some of the most insightful analysis of the media in this country, and his comic genius is making that both fun to watch and in my opinion, spot on.

paft.livejournal.com

Stephen Colbert: This is why we must repeal Obamacare and get back to insurance companies covering only real necessary medical expenses like boner pills.

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Women's Health-Nazi Plan

www.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor & Satire Blog

Video Archive

Sean Hannity: This isn't about women's health! It's about birth control. Stop expecting other people to be responsible for every minute aspect of your life in this nanny state you want to create?

Jehmu Greene: But why should we pay for a man's Viagra?

Hannity: That is a medical problem versus a choice to have sex!

Hannity is twice as funny in half the time.

Crossposted from Thoughtcrimes

*

telemann.livejournal.com

Jon Stewart made his first appearance on a Sunday morning political show, appearing on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace (incidentally one of the lowest rated Sunday morning shows; Meet the Press with David Gregory is the highest rated). During the course of his interview, Stewart said "Who are the most consistently misinformed media viewers? … Fox viewers, consistently, every poll." Turns out Stewart was wrong according to Politifact (a website that checks politicians/ electoral candidates' statements, but also will analyze media coverage of specific news stories). While it was true that in two surveys, Fox News viewers were the least informed and in some others "merely near the bottom," but Politifact noted that on some specific news stories-- Fox News viewers viewers were occasionally more informed that Daily Show viewers (but not other media outlets). So ultimately, Politifact declared Stewart's statement "False." Stewart made a public apology, saying it would be highly irresponsible not to issue a correction in good faith.

( Then the fun began )

stewstewstewdio.livejournal.com

I fondly remember the days when I would set aside a certain time to hit the couch and watch some of my favorite sketch comedy. Tivo, DVD's, NetFlix, On Demand and online programming has made that unnecessary, but I still miss that time I set aside. Then, the programs either disappeared or changed to a cast that was so bizarre that everybody lost interest. Here are clips from a couple of my favorites:

MadTV - Will Sasso and Mo Collins as Arnold and Maria Scharzenegger

The Man Show - Jimmy Kimmel and Adam Corolla featuring Man Show Boy
The Man Show Fake ID

paft.livejournal.com

My bride!
My bride!
I've come to claim my bride,
Come tenderly to crush her against my side.
Let haste be made!
I cannot be delayed:
There are lands to conquer, cities to loot and peoples to degrade.

In this number from the 1966 musical, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Leon Greene is playing a stock character who’s been around for well over a thousand years, going back as far as Plautus. Miles Gloriosus is the essence of the boastful, arrogant, and brutal soldier.

I’ve always loved the cynicism of this scene of Gloriosus marching into town. It skewers the flipside of the grandeur that was Rome (or for that matter, the “grandeur” that is any other empire.)

(And yes, that is the great Zero Mostel near the end)

( Video after the cut )

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Talk Politics.

A place to discuss politics without egomaniacal mods

MONTHLY TOPIC:
National Identity in an Age of Mass Migration

DAILY QUOTE:

"The NATO charter clearly says that any attack on a NATO member shall be treated, by all members, as an attack against all. So that means that, if we attack Greenland, we'll be obligated to go to war against ... ourselves! Gee, that's scary. You really don't want to go to war with the United States. They're insane!"

(edelsont)

March 2026

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Talk politics.

A place to discuss politics without egomaniacal mods.

Entries tagged with comedy

Re: Marxism

On-topic: Best political comedy films

Friday LOL. Ultimate blocks - with Scott Sterling

Friday offtopic. Major shifts in Comedy Central

Dangerously funny -- Rémi Gaillard: the legend.

Friday LULZ -- PSYCHOVILLE!

Every Friday is Mel Brooks Day:

Lolols: SWS (!?)

Stephen Colbert wins another Peabody Prize

Bill Maher: Liberals Have To Get Out Of ‘Bubble’ And Realize Obama Might Not Win Reelection

Oh no she din'n!!1

Colbert Super PAC releases South Carolina attack ad "Attack ad in B minor for strings"

Wise Words From A Funny Man

Bill Maher New Rules "The GOP - Cratchit Job"

Heil Äpfel!

Jon Stewart: Conservative Self-Victimization

Who Needs Colbert when we Have Hannity?

Jon Stewart and Fox News at the summit of Mount Fib

Friday Lulz - Comedy Nostalgia

Friday Lulz: Miles Gloriosus!

Credits & Style Info

Links

March 2026

Summary