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If you ask any comedian what their first job is, theyll say some version of making people laugh.
Conversations about what the art form can do are secondary to the primary transaction.
In turn, political comedys first goal is to make people feel better about politics.
But what if it cant?
Donald Trump, like he did with many institutions of our culture, tested and proved its limits.
Late-night shows are, by design, like very expensively produced sleep aids.
Whether due to substance restrictions, habit, or preference, millions still do.
To help people process these feelings, topical humors primary tool is exaggeration.
It makes sense you make a terrible thing seem smaller by comparing it to the comically unbelievable.
There was no more room to exaggerate.
Kimmel compared the rioters to a psychoticPrice Is Rightaudience forcibly taking control of the Plinko wheel.
David Letterman didnt come back until September 17, 2001.
Jon Stewart waited until the 20th.Saturday Night Livereturned on September 29.
The processing of traumatic events isnt easy.
Often the jokes felt too soon.
And yet, he was the most joked-about president in history.
What hypocrisy can I point out?
