John Leo's Memo to Colbert fans: Humor and edginess aren't the same

[neoblues]

Memo to Colbert fans: Humor and edginess aren't the same
John Leo's Blog, U.S. News and World Report
May 17, 2006

After comedian Stephen Colbert's anti-Bush routine at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, I suggested here that what he said that night was clever but not very funny.

The blog Boiling Mad criticized me over this, saying that "Mr. Leo ignored the meat of Colbert's remarks. Read these excerpts ... and decide for yourself whether Colbert was edgy or not." Colbert surely was edgy (or, if you prefer, insulting, rude, bold, courageous, or taunting), but that didn't make his comments humorous.

Oddly, the same type of argument was made repeatedly on Huffington Post last week, when Arianna Huffington returned to the subject of Colbert's performance and asked, "Is Stephen Colbert the Last One to Know How Amazing He Was?" Her commentary drew 239 responses. I didn't read them all, but a huge number seemed to suffer from Boiling Mad's inability to figure out the difference between funny and edgy.

I certainly hope this doesn't become a continuing problem for the left. Few of us begrudge Bush's detractors the thrill of seeing him insulted at length and having to sit through it all out of civility. But let's say it again: Insults to a politician may have edge and impact, but they aren't funny just because you enjoy them.

Only 4 paragraphs in it's entirety...

This guy, John Leo (1) has no sense of humor, and (2) apparently can't take constructive criticism on him without whining. Or instead of not being open to criticism, maybe he just can't admit making a mistake... Obviously millions of people thought he was "funny", which is more than just "enjoyable". Note to Leo, "funny" isn't the same as "enjoyable" and, by the way, we would scarcely have used the slightly derogatory term "edginess" to decribe Cobert's incisive use of irony to make even the nauseating reality of our imperial Presidency and it's pathetic sycophants in the media seem funny (insanely funny, actually). Though, we would use the term for the response by the MSM, yes indeed; there was a palpable sense of edginess in the media media as they received their long overdue comeuppance at the hands of Stephen Colbert at the White House Sycophants Dinner.

[htuttle]

1. "but they aren't funny just because you enjoy them."

Well, after the esteemed Mr. Leo finishes giving us his definition of 'absolute humor', perhaps he can get on to other topics that are crying out for his discerning intellect, like 'What is Art?'

:eyes:

ps. If I laugh, it was funny. Period.

[NoPasaran]

2. What an asshat!

But let's say it again: Insults to a politician may have edge and impact, but they aren't funny just because you enjoy them.

If I laughed at them, it must have been because I thought they were funny. Maybe "knock-knock" jokes are more Leo's cup of tea.

[GoldenOldie]

6. Colbert's fans got it while the Leo's don't want to get it!

As with everything else, those things the Bush media wish to ignore or handle as being below their elite intelligence thus delegate the obvious to the inane.

While the elite media wanted Ha, Ha, funny, they got the very sad and painful truth, which they failed to report, done as only Colbert can do. They can not face the fact that they have failed miserably in doing their jobs and instead of admitting it they report the Stephen Colbert was rude and unfunny.

No what this administration and the media have done in the name of WE THE PEOPLE is not funny.

[RevCheesehead]

3. Apparently, Leo doesn't know the meaning of "Lampoon."

I thought Colbert was brilliant. :loveya:

[SteppingRazor]

4. Yeah, but... It's John Leo.

I mean, this isn't like Richard Cohen, a supposed liberal, coming out against Colbert. Leo is a staunch conservative, as anyone who reads his US News and World Report columns knows. The man has nothing but bile for liberals and Democrats as a whole. So, it's hardly surprising that he takes an opportunity to knock Colbert around. Actually, he took an opportunity to knock Colbert's fans around -- i.e., liberals. It's just another liberal-bashing piece from a man who has written hundreds of them. No big deal, eh? :shrug:

[station agent]

9. Small potatoes

The guy's not even worth...

[kentuck]

5. Where the rule that says you have to be "humorous" ??

As i recall, Don Imus wasn't "humorous" either?

[orwell]

7. Since humor is subjective...

...I can grant him his point. What is funny to some (Gallagher for example) is not to others. Don Rickles was a classic example of this. Some loved him, some hated him. He was certainly "edgy." I never found Lenny Bruce that funny but I admired him for his courage and creativity.

That being said, I loved the fact that Colbert got in *'s face along with the toadying press that surrounded him. Somebody has to call the emperor naked and he did a remarkable job. I thought he was funny as well, although I thought the video bit was somewhat long and repetitious.

The point was not to be funny per se but to be pointed. These aren't "funny times." Innocents are dying out there and the entire planet has a fever. I applaud Steven's brass balls. Sometimes, it's the comedians such as Colbert and Stewart who are the only ones left to speak truth to power. This may be one of those times.

The more telling story is the overreaction by the pundits and politicians. That tells you Colbert was bullseye accurate. And that, in the end, is the cornerstone of artistic expression.

Fuck 'em if they can't take a joke!

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[gratuitous]

10. The butt of the joke rarely thinks it's funny

Sorry Mr. Leo; you got skewered by a master. For once in your miserable, sycophantic career of toadying to power and sucking up to the powerful, someone exposed your quisling ways for what they are.

The truth hurts, but in this case, it was damned funny. The only reason you aren't laughing for a change, is that the joke was at your expense.

[tsuki]

16. Isn't this what it is really about? The miserable job reporters and

pundits are doing, and Colbert pointing it out.

When the nation is laughing AT you, then you may not think it is funny. I feel every W joke skewered the 'press' more than W.

[Vinnie From Indy]

11. What is it with the right wing and telling everyone how they feel

or what they should enjoy? Maybe Leo could put out a guide as to what is truly funny and what is merely edgy. It is so hard for us serfs to make the distinction without our betters telling what is what.

[yurbud]

13. funny is Rush Limbaugh calling Chelsea Clinton a dog or

Ann Coulter calling Hillary a lesbian witch.

See, those are in good taste and have nothing to do with actual job performance.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

12. The Readers Digest is currently considering 2 of John Leo's jokes.

And he loves a good polka as much as the next fellow.

[yurbud]

14. Leo: "When I compose a joke, I ask myself, 'Could Lawrence Welk tell

it to his audience?'" If the answer is 'yes,' I know I have a winner."

[Gidney N Cloyd]

15. :-)

[mim]

22. What kind of joke could Lawrence Welk tell?

Lawrence Welk was quoted in his New York Times obituary as saying that he didn't have humor on his TV show because humor would be too risky. There were a lot of laughs on TV in Welk's day, but they didn't come from Welk.

[yurbud]

26. "You know, after we have keilbasa for dinner, my wife calls me a

bubble machine in bed. Now here's Bobby Van to do a little dance number from RENT."

[CAcyclist]

17. Yay, the spotlight is Still On Stephen!

WooHoo, let's have another round of these - I love that "they aren't funny just because you enjoy them"

Does he even read what he writes? Is he insane?!?!

[CAcyclist]

18. Link

"a funny clay mation" video of you-know-who, 'cause I can't get the Google version to run.

http://video.freevideoblog.com/video/AAC7FA18-2DDC-4D3E-B1BB-9D6CBD83E27F.htm

[mim]

19. Edgy, shmedgy

Well, yeah, I agree, edginess and humor are not the same thing. But Stephen Colbert's speech was hilarious.

[Jade Fox]

20. Leo is so jealous of Liberal creativity....

About three years ago he wrote a column all about how Conservative culture makers--artists, comedians, etc.--are coming into their own. He based this on....wait for it....Dennis Miller!

[TheFarseer]

21. coincidentally

Dennis Miller lost all his creativity and became irrelevant right about when he started being a boot-licking bushbot. Or maybe not so coincidentally. . . . . . . .

[K-W]

23. The humor police, grand. EOM

[kitkat65]

24. This was published May 17th? It took him that long to form an opinion?

I guess his copy of the talking points memo arrived late.

[kitkat65]

25. Self-delete

Wrong thread