The King of Late Night TV nailed it long ago:
The world changed after the Charlie Kirk assassination as a lot of loud mouthed liberals are finding out to their dismay.
Sic Transit Kimmel
- Donald R. McClarey
Donald R. McClarey
Cradle Catholic. Active in the pro-life movement since 1973. Father of three, one in Heaven, and happily married for 43 years. Small town lawyer and amateur historian. Former president of the board of directors of the local crisis pregnancy center for a decade.
Johnny certainly lampooned politicians. I remember the Reagan bits being pretty funny. I’m sure Reagan thought so too.
Greg, he lampooned or jabbed at everyone. Like the old guard journalists and their interviews (Tim Russert leaping to mind). My parents knew they were liberal Democrats, but woe to the Democrats or progressives who thought that meant they would get a free pass. They were equal opportunity, usually despite their own biases. Unlike today.
Dave, I know Carson lampooned everyone. I just gave the Reagan example because that’s what came to mind. None of these late night hosts are worthy to wash Carson’s soiled skivvies. Carson was the king of late night. There will never be another like him.
“Jimmy Kimmel pulled off-air following FCC threats.” USA Today”- suspension shocked his staff…” CNN
Surprised and why not? For years they’ve joked about murdering reputations, cancelling, imprisonment and ending livelihoods. How is actual murder so different?
Maybe this will cause some self reflection by those responsible.. but I won’t hold my breath. Some zombified followers though who follow the zeitgeist -might just wake up.
Too bad. He was paid to do one job – to be entertaining and funny. But he chose to push his own agenda. Oh well.
Carson for the most part steered clear of anything smacking of partisanship. I think Jay Leno did as well. Those that followed are another story. Ideally entertainment and sports should be a neutral platform which all can enjoy and find a bit of common ground, even if only briefly.
I miss Carson so much, I loved watching him do the Tonight Show. He did lampoon politics, but in a way that was unifying. It was a style of “I’m making a joke about the President, or Governor, or any politician, but I also do that with respect.” You could feel the respect behind the comedy. Now, it’s just hatred driven comedy, yuck!
Street-level Democrats are pushing this nonsense meme online, as is monster Substacker Heather Cox Richardson. What’s amusing is that they fancy themselves the smart ones.
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Ca 1972, Johnny Carson averaged 4.8 million viewers and Dick Cavett 2.2 million; ca. 1987, Carson averaged 6.2 million and Arsenio Hall 2.8 million; ca. 2010, Jay Leno averaged 5.2 million viewers. Mr. Kimmel’s average is around 1.1 million.
If you’re talking entertainment-oriented programs, the best host evah is Dick Cavett.
Just remember, the left is the paladin of free speech:
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https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/germany-spd-youth-chapter-kiel-ban-male-podcasts/
Carson was already retired when the Clinton-Lewinsky affair was al over the news but I read that he seriously considered returning to the air just so he could make jokes about it.
I hate stories where I can describe both sides with an “of course”. Of course he should have been taken off the air. Of course he shouldn’t have been taken off the air under government pressure.
Johnnie Carson always made me laugh. The Amazing Carnac. The banter with Ed McMahon and Doc Severnson. The way he could get the best out of his guests, without interrupting them. His golf swing.
Jimmy Fallon made me laugh, about three times.
The others. Not so much. Who is Jimmy Kimmel?
The good days of late night TV:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTpCbSat1-0