Conan O'Brien Gets Candid About the Limits of Anti-Trump Humor
Conan O’Brien is weighing in on political comedy and why anger alone isn’t enough.
The late-night legend shared his thoughts during a recent appearance at the Oxford Union, where he cautioned comedians against relying too heavily on anti–Donald Trump rhetoric instead of actual humor, per The Hollywood Reporter.
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“I think some comics go the route of, ‘I’m going to just say, “F Trump” all the time,’ or that’s their comedy,” Conan said. “Well, 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.’ And I think you’ve now put down your best weapon, which is being funny, and you’ve exchanged it for anger.”
According to Conan, anger can blunt a comedian’s sharpest weapon. “You’ve now put down your best weapon, which is being funny, and you’ve exchanged it for anger,” he explained, adding that comedians should always prioritize humor, even when tackling serious topics.
“Good art will always be a perfect weapon against power,” he said. “But if you’re just screaming and you’re just angry, you’ve lost your best tool in the toolbox.”
Still, he did acknowledge the unique challenge of parodying today’s politics. “We don’t have a straight line right now,” he explained. “We have a very bendy, rubbery line. We have a slinky. We have a fire hose that’s whipping around spewing water at 100 mph. So comedically, it’s been very challenging.”
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