# Recommend some political comedies. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 3, 2006, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-political-comedies/351142 "2006-04-03T21:02:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![II\_Gyan\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-political-comedies/351142/1 "2006-04-03T21:02:10Z")
Title says it all. Well, almost. I love Yes, Minister and its sequel, Yes, Prime Minister. I’m looking for similar stuff. Preferably TV shows, but movies are welcome. No books or radio shows. Preferably in English, but foreign languages with subtitles will work. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-political-comedies/351142/2 "2006-04-03T21:17:01Z")
[The New Statesman](http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/n/newstatesmanthe_7774820.shtml) was very funny indeed. A more surreal, anarchic and less erudite version of Yes, Minister, starring Rik Mayal (Young Ones) as Tory MP Alan B’Stard. It was spawned by the sleazy, corrupt and heartless the Conservative government of the 1980s, and aptly enough is just about to be revived, with B’Stard having defected to today’s sleazy, corrupt and heartless Labour party. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-political-comedies/351142/3 "2006-04-03T21:58:03Z")
My two favorite political comedies (movies) are probably _Bob Roberts_ and _Bulworth_. I’m casting my mind back for older movies though, so I’ll probably pop into the thread again later. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-political-comedies/351142/4 "2006-04-03T22:46:39Z")
The Chris Rock movie _Head of State._ _Dave_ qualifies I suppose, although it’s not that funny. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-political-comedies/351142/5 "2006-04-03T22:47:31Z")
_Primary Colors_ is great, starring John Travolta in a brilliant role as a thinly fictionalized Bill Clinton. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-political-comedies/351142/6 "2006-04-04T00:41:09Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > _Primary Colors_ is great, starring John Travolta in a brilliant role as a thinly fictionalized Bill Clinton. But, again, not very funny. ---
**Author:** ![yBeayf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e274bd/32.png) [@yBeayf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yBeayf)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-political-comedies/351142/7 "2006-04-04T00:53:22Z")
_Wag the Dog_? ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-political-comedies/351142/8 "2006-04-04T00:56:47Z")
Not exactly a comedy, but Frankenheimer’s _The Manchurian Candidate_ was a political satire. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-political-comedies/351142/9 "2006-04-04T01:12:10Z")
How about _Election_? It’s High School politics, granted. But terribly entertaining High School politics ;). - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-political-comedies/351142/10 "2006-04-04T01:29:51Z")
One of my favorite political movies is [_Citizen Ruth_](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115906/). It’s not about polticians so much as about abortion politics. Both sides are skewered, and it’s hillarious. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-political-comedies/351142/11 "2006-04-04T04:34:44Z")
I came in to post [Wag the Dog](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120885/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnx0dD0xfGZiPXV8cG49MHxrdz0xfHNvdXJjZWlkPW1vemlsbGEtc2VhcmNofHE9d2FnIHRoZSBkb2d8ZnQ9MXxteD0yMHxsbT01MDB8Y289MXxodG1sPTF8bm09MQ__;fc=1;ft=22) and [Dr. Strangelove](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057012/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnx0dD0xfGZiPXV8cG49MHxrdz0xfHE9c3RyYW5nZWxvdmV8ZnQ9MXxteD0yMHxsbT01MDB8Y289MXxodG1sPTF8bm09MQ__;fc=1;ft=20;fm=1), but the OP seems to want comedy set in a political setting than comedy about politics. There was the satirical series [That’s My Bush!](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0268077/), about the home life of GW Bush and family, done by the **South Park** guys. ---
**Author:** ![II\_Gyan\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-political-comedies/351142/12 "2006-04-04T05:06:33Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > the OP seems to want comedy set in a political setting than comedy about politics. I want comedy about politics. Obviously, many of them will be set in a political setting. I’ve seen many of the ones recommended above, but keep them coming. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-political-comedies/351142/13 "2006-04-04T12:39:11Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > I came in to post [Wag the Dog](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120885/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnx0dD0xfGZiPXV8cG49MHxrdz0xfHNvdXJjZWlkPW1vemlsbGEtc2VhcmNofHE9d2FnIHRoZSBkb2d8ZnQ9MXxteD0yMHxsbT01MDB8Y289MXxodG1sPTF8bm09MQ__;fc=1;ft=22) and [Dr. Strangelove](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057012/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnx0dD0xfGZiPXV8cG49MHxrdz0xfHE9c3RyYW5nZWxvdmV8ZnQ9MXxteD0yMHxsbT01MDB8Y289MXxodG1sPTF8bm09MQ__;fc=1;ft=20;fm=1), but the OP seems to want comedy set in a political setting than comedy about politics. _Wag the Dog_ qualifies either way. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-political-comedies/351142/14 "2006-04-04T12:45:22Z")
_The Distinguished Gentleman,_ Eddie Murphy, 1992 (con man gets elected to Congress by the luck of having the same name as the incumbent who just died; all he has to do is stay out of sight until election day and the majority, who haven’t gotten or remembered the news, vote for him out of habit; then, of course, he gets to DC and finds out he’s an honest man compared to his colleagues). _Legally Blonde II,_ Reese Witherspoon, 2001 (deceptively bubbleheaded young lawyer becomes a legislative aide in DC and starts a crusade against animal testing of cosmetics). ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-political-comedies/351142/15 "2006-04-04T12:51:20Z")
I don’t think it’s out on DVD yet but keep your eyes open for [The Thick of it](http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/thickofit/). A brilliant new BBC political comedy. Made in the same kinda style of The Office this is modern political comedy at its best. It’s won lots of praise and awards in the UK. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-political-comedies/351142/16 "2006-04-04T13:07:53Z")
In 1976-77 Bernadette Peters starred in the political sitcom _All’s Fair._ ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-political-comedies/351142/17 "2006-04-04T17:26:10Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > _The Distinguished Gentleman,_ Eddie Murphy, 1992 (con man gets elected to Congress by the luck of having the same name as the incumbent who just died; all he has to do is stay out of sight until election day and the majority, who haven’t gotten or remembered the news, vote for him out of habit; then, of course, he gets to DC and finds out he’s an honest man compared to his colleagues). And it was directed by one of the co-creators of _Yes, Minister_. If you liked _Yes, Minister_, try to find an Austrialian series called [The Games](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0165024/). It’s fictional, but made to look like a documentary set among the organizing committee for the Sydney Olympics. In one scene, they have a meeting with the contractor who has built the main stadium and ask him how long the track is for the 100 meters; and then have to try to convince him that “about 100 meters” is not what they had in mind. It’ll be hard to find a copy, but worth it. It’s one of my favorite shows of all time. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-political-comedies/351142/18 "2006-04-04T18:10:46Z")
There was also the Fox sitcom, “Mr. President,” with George C. Scott. ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-political-comedies/351142/19 "2006-04-04T22:25:22Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > There was also the Fox sitcom, “Mr. President,” with George C. Scott. And ABC gave us **Capitol Critters** and **Hail to the Chief** , the latter starring Patty Duke as the President and Ted Bessell as her husband. And no jab at politics and political figures is complete without the UK’s **Spitting Image** puppets. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-political-comedies/351142/20 "2006-04-05T08:04:25Z")
_Thank You for Smoking_ and _Broadcast News_ should qualify, even though their main characters are peripheral to the political process. - Moon Over Parador\*. The episode of _Northern Exposure_ where they had a mayoral election. Certainly, the first three seasons of _Blackadder_. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-political-comedies/351142.md?page=2)