The election and the end of funny TV
No matter who wins the election, TV comedy and news will lose
If “you can’t wait for Election Day to be over,” said Joal Ryan in E! Online, you clearly don’t work for “Saturday Night Live" (click for NBC video). Or for Jon Stewart, Tina Fey, David Letterman, Fox News, MSNBC, “The View,” or “any other TV show or TV star that, in a fall of crushing economic news, has gotten fat off the presidential campaign.” This election has produced huge ratings boosts for cable news and political comedy shows, but the fun's over come Wednesday.
Yes, “it’s all fun and games until someone gets elected,” said Tim Goodman in the San Francisco Chronicle. But the election won’t hit all shows equally. Stewart’s “The Daily Show” will “remain vitally important and relevant” no matter who wins. But after being “revitalized” by Tina Fey’s Sarah Palin, “‘Saturday Night Live’ immediately goes back to being unwatchable.”
That may be for the best, said Thomas Schaller in Salon. “Our perverse Palin-mania revealed a deeply felt need for a humorous escape from a broken government and financial system,” and for all the good political comedy this year, “now is a very unfunny time for America.” Hopefully, what’s bad for the “satirical industrial complex” will be good for the rest of us.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
What should you be stockpiling for 'World War Three'?
In the Spotlight Britons advised to prepare after the EU tells its citizens to have an emergency kit just in case
By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published
-
Carnivore diet: why people are eating only meat
The Explainer 'Meatfluencers' are taking social media by storm but experts warn meat-only diets have health consequences
By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published
-
Scientists want to fight malaria by poisoning mosquitoes with human blood
Under the radar Drugging the bugs
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
By The Week Staff Published
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?
Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: who are the billionaires backing?
The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
By The Week UK Published
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published