Conan O'Brien has defiant message for comedians who criticize Trump
Conan O'Brien gave an extremely interesting take on how people like himself use Donald Trump as inspiration for comedic content.
Having a president like Trump would arguably make comedians' lives a lot easier since the current POTUS undeniably says some wild things and has made some questionable choices during his second term at the White House.
However, to make fun of something, it kind of needs to have been a serious topic for the likes of O'Brien to take a jibe at... but if something's already a joke without any purposeful satire, where does it leave comedians?
The legendary TV host recently visited Oxford University in the UK, where he sat down with its union for an almost-hour long discussion — and, of course, Trump was brought up in the conversation.
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"Comedy needs a straight line to go off of," O'Brien explained. "And right now we don't have a straight line right now. We have a very bendy, rubbery line. We have a slinky. We have a fire hose that's whipping around spewing water at 100 miles an hour (or something else)."
Explaining the 'straight line' theory, O'Brien gave an example of a comic wanting to make up a scenario where the president knocks down parts of the White House to build a giant ballroom that's not needed, but they can't parody that as it's actually happening.
O'Brien went on to say what he believes some comics have been doing instead and revealed that comedy regarding US politics is 'challenging' right now.
He shared: "Some comics go the route of, 'I'm gonna just say F Trump all the time,' or that's their comedy. Now, a little bit, you're being co-opted.
"Because you're so angry, you've been lulled into just saying 'F Trump, F Trump, F Trump, screw this guy.' I think now you've put down your best weapon, which is being funny. And you've exchanged it for anger."
O'Brien added: "That person, or any person like that, will say, 'Well, things are too serious now! I don't need to be funny.' And I think, well, if you're a comedian, you always need to be funny. You just have to find a way.
"You just have to find a way to channel that anger... because good art will always be a great weapon. It will always be a perfect weapon against power."
The Late Night with Conan O'Brien host further noted that 'if you're just screaming and you're just angry, you've lost your best tool in the toolbox'.
Topics: Conan O'Brien, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Celebrity, Politics
Niamh Shackleton