Once upon a time, in the wonderful world of Washington, a peculiar tradition took center stage – the noble art of poking fun at political leaders. In a true democracy, the ability to tease and make fun of those in power is almost a rite of passage. Everyone, from presidents to congress members, is fair game because, at the end of the day, they’re just regular folks like you and me. But recently, certain comedy shows seem to have forgotten this golden rule. They’ve become more like cheerleaders for one side, ignoring an equal opportunity to roast everyone in the political spectrum.
Take Joe Biden, for example. Over the past few years, he’s had his fair share of public trips and slips, yet some TV shows act as if he’s walking on clouds instead of missing a step. While it’s true that Saturday Night Live has spent more time spoofing former President Donald Trump than President Biden, they have not entirely ignored Biden’s blunders, occasionally using stunt casting with Dana Carvey portraying him. Meanwhile, they used to love poking fun at President Gerald Ford’s clumsiness back in the day. Clearly, some comedy acts believe Joe’s stumbling is a no-joke zone.
Fast forward to the days of Donald Trump, and here comes a feast of mockery. SNL and others flipped the humor switch back on, delivering a barrage of jokes in a not-so-subtle way. The thing is, when the humor only flows in one direction, people start to see the strings. Suddenly, these comedy shows looked more like advocacy groups than artists of humor, leading their audiences to question the fairness of their laughs.
Now, here’s a twist worth mentioning. Political figures like Kristi Noem decided to turn the tables. When Saturday Night Live sketched a parody ad about ICE agents, she rolled with the punchlines and created her own ad to highlight her support. By doing so, she masterfully flipped their attempt at comedy into a boost for her message. Sometimes, the best way to disarm a joke is simply by owning it and giving it a new spin.
In conclusion, humor in politics isn’t about sparing feelings or picking sides. It’s about a shared chuckle over human foibles and keeping our leaders grounded with a touch of good-natured ribbing. When comedy shows shy away from this balance, they risk losing their audience’s trust. After all, laughing together is the best way to remind us all that our elected leaders are just as human as the audience watching them every Saturday night.
