Trump ally shot in Utah a few minutes ago

[Jeff]

Kimmala is an idiot. He said he didn't want a single Trumper ever watching his show. So he alienated half of his potential audience and wonders why a network let him go. It's business dumbass. Same with Cobert. Good riddance.

MAGA

And don't forget what he said about the jab. Basically unvaxxed people deserve to die.  "rest in peace wheezy"

[Del.]

And don't forget what he said about the jab. Basically unvaxxed people deserve to die.  "rest in peace wheezy"

I'm sure he will land a gig at CNN or MSNBC. That's where liberals go to to die.

[mowens]

Johnny Carson never used his show for political purposes the way late night does now. He might use some stupid thing a politician did for comedy, but nothing like the late night hosts do now.

Carson's reasoning for avoiding a political agenda
The danger of self-importance: Carson felt that once an entertainer began commenting on serious social and political issues, they risked developing a sense of self-importance and believing that their opinions carried great import.

Dividing the audience:
He believed that making a show political could divide the audience rather than unite them with laughter. He aimed to entertain everyone, regardless of their political beliefs.

The role of an entertainer:
Carson consistently maintained that his primary job was to make people laugh and provide an escape from the news of the day. When asked why he didn't use his platform for more serious matters, he questioned why a comedian like himself would be expected to, pointing out that earlier comedians like Jack Benny and Red Skelton didn't do so.

Poking fun at politicians, not policies:
While Carson famously avoided discussing political issues, he did use his comedy to poke fun at politicians, treating them as celebrities with funny quirks. For example, he joked about President Gerald Ford's clumsiness, and during the Watergate scandal, he began making more critical jokes about President Richard Nixon as news media scrutiny increased. However, he avoided discussing their specific policies.

Carson's approach contrasted with modern hosts
Carson's neutral, comedy-first approach stands in stark contrast to the overtly political late-night monologues that are common today. The shift away from Carson's model is often cited by commentators as a reason for increased division in political comedy. In his day, Carson's jokes often focused on the personalities of politicians rather than their policies, and his political affiliation was largely unknown to the public.

[Smit]

Poking fun at politicians, not policies:
While Carson famously avoided discussing political issues, he did use his comedy to poke fun at politicians, treating them as celebrities with funny quirks. For example, he joked about President Gerald Ford's clumsiness, and during the Watergate scandal, he began making more critical jokes about President Richard Nixon as news media scrutiny increased. However, he avoided discussing their specific policies.

Trump woud have hammered him for that.

Do you remember the Smothers brothers? They got in trouble for the political commentary.

[mowens]

I remember watching the Smothers Brothers growing up. I just thought they were funny. It wasn't until I got older that I understood the political overtones.

Compare that with things Colbert has said.
He quipped that the only thing the president's "mouth is good for is being Vladimir Putin's cock holster."

That's not even funny.

[Smit]

I remember watching the Smothers Brothers growing up. I just thought they were funny. It wasn't until I got older that I understood the political overtones.

Compare that with things Colbert has said.
He quipped that the only thing the president's "mouth is good for is being Vladimir Putin's cock holster."

That's not even funny.

Both political commentary and comedy seemed to be more subtle and clever back then.

Now it's more coarse and crude.

For the most part.

[Jeff]

I remember watching the Smothers Brothers growing up.

They were great.
Tommy Smothers was awesome as a "dumb" sidekick.

[Brian]

Both political commentary and comedy seemed to be more subtle and clever back then.

Now it's more coarse and crude.

For the most part.

Know your audience-you've got to play to the room!

[Jeff]

[jstell]

I remember watching the Smothers Brothers growing up. I just thought they were funny. It wasn't until I got older that I understood the political overtones.

Compare that with things Colbert has said.
He quipped that the only thing the president's "mouth is good for is being Vladimir Putin's cock holster."

That's not even funny.

I'm not sure it was intended to be funny.  Except that it's true.  So that's a dark comedy.

[CNCAppsJames]

Look, if you don't like the guy, don't watch his shit. Enough people don't watch his shit, the show won't be around. I don't like the FCC or anyone telling me what is okay to watch.

BITD... Ratings dictated who stayed and went. Essentially things took care of themselves.

That's how it should be.

If ABC made the decision because his ratings have been ... whatever. Good. 

If the FCC says yadda, yadda, yadda, because he's a meanie... FTPs!

[ghuns]

I am old enough to remember when the left demanded people be fired/cancelled for every minor slight or transgression committed by someone on the right we all called them snowflakes. 

I have no problem with doing this to people who publicly cheered for Charlie's death. Fuck them.

But Kimmel didn't rise to this level. Not even close.

And this is not just right wing snowflakes calling for his job, this is the .gov threating his job. That ain't a good thing.

[Del.]

Network called for his removal

[jstell]

This is comedy gold.  After previously stating that the FCC was not in the business of policing speach.  [Brendan Carr wrote in 2019 that the "FCC does not have a roving mandate to police speech in the name of the 'public interest.'"]  He goes to Hannity of all ironic places to talk about Kimmel.  Thirty years of Fox News Lies and now the right is too uptight to take a joke, funny or not.
https://deadline.com/2025/09/brendan-carr-jimmy-kimmel-public-interest-1236547721/

[ghuns]

Network called for his removal

After the FCC chairman threatened them.