Samantha Bee kicks off inaugural Full Frontal with off-color jokes about Cruz, Rubio
Monday night was the debut of Daily Show alumna Samantha Bee's new show on TBS, Full Frontal. And as the show's name suggests, Bee isn't dressing up her jokes in pleasantries. In this clip from her inaugural show, Bee takes a whack at the Republican presidential field, which, she said, has "laid out a banquet of all-you-can-eat crazy." Specifically, she mocked Sens. Ted Cruz (Texas) and Marco Rubio (Fla.), starting with Cruz, who was supposed to get a bump from winning the Iowa caucus but didn't.
After playing a cringe-inducing clip of CNN's Dana Bash asking Cruz's wife how she feels about everybody hating her husband, Bee mustered up a little bit of sympathy: "Now look, I dislike Ted Cruz as much as the next everybody, but that's no reason to be rude to Ted's loving wife — and possible hostage." The sympathy did not extend to Cruz, nor to the candidate who "snatched" his Iowa bump, Rubio.
Bee ran through Rubio's meltdown during Saturday night's GOP debate — "He showed up at the debate all but wearing his 'Likely Nominee' crown, and it took Chris Christie 10 seconds to crush him like a bug" — Trump's lack of nouns, and the failure of 43 percent of the candidates to go on stage when their name was called. After pointing out the sad faces of Rubio's kids in the debate audience, Bee ended the segment with a pretty gross, likely NSFW punch line about Rubio and abortion. There is also mildly NSFW language sprinkled throughout, but if none of that bothers you, watch below. Peter Weber
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
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Today's political cartoons - February 1, 2025
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - broken eggs, contagious lies, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 humorously unhealthy cartoons about RFK Jr.
Cartoons Artists take on medical innovation, disease spreading, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Brodet (fish stew) recipe
The Week Recommends This hearty dish is best accompanied by a bowl of polenta
By The Week UK Published
-
The Louvre is giving 'Mona Lisa' her own room
Speed Read The world's most-visited art museum is getting a major renovation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talks
Speed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tour
Speed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamation
Speed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box office
Speed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appeal
Speed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91
Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published