# Why are there no topical, humor oriented shows like the "Daily Show" for conservatives? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 28, 2016, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-topical-humor-oriented-shows-like-the-daily-show-for-conservatives/773247 "2016-11-28T00:14:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2016, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-topical-humor-oriented-shows-like-the-daily-show-for-conservatives/773247/41 "2016-11-28T21:40:39Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > That they’ve failed to produce a successful comedy show, and not from lack of trying, would suggest that either conservatives don’t like comedy news shows or else the Powers That Be are just really bad at making a comedy news show that conservatives find funny. Red Eye has been on since 2007 and has had something like 2,000 episodes. Sure it has a niche late night (and DVR) audience but I think you can consider that a success. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2016, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-topical-humor-oriented-shows-like-the-daily-show-for-conservatives/773247/42 "2016-11-28T21:40:44Z")
False excuse. What I find consistently funny is how Conservatives deliberately say provocative stuff and then laugh about how they imagine Liberals will react. Because most of the time, I’ve never met the variety of Liberal they always seem to be describing. But then there’s the whole ‘sad human being’ bit underlying it when you consider they’re saying things they think will shock or hurt people they imagine they don’t like, and they think that is funny. (Yes, being angry and hurtful is funny. har har.) ---
**Author:** ![Trancephalic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trancephalic/32/380_2.png) [@Trancephalic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancephalic)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2016, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-topical-humor-oriented-shows-like-the-daily-show-for-conservatives/773247/43 "2016-11-29T00:04:13Z")
well, there’s Dennis Miller… Also, Doug TenNapel is funny, but only when he _doesn’t_ let his awful views show. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2016, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-topical-humor-oriented-shows-like-the-daily-show-for-conservatives/773247/44 "2016-11-29T00:26:38Z")
[quote=“jtur88, post:34, topic:773247”] Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush were actually very funny guys who could deliver a good punch line. Either of them could have been decent stand-up comics. [/QUOTE] I’m surprised at Dubya, he was really quite good. Here’s good old Ron, much better known of course: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yVYtIdUcYqY/hqdefault.jpg "The Best of Ronald Reagan") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVYtIdUcYqY) ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2016, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-topical-humor-oriented-shows-like-the-daily-show-for-conservatives/773247/45 "2016-11-29T00:42:07Z")
I’m kinda wondering if Trump will go the correspondent’s dinner and if so, how bad his speech will be. He didn’t seem to enjoy being a guest. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2016, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-topical-humor-oriented-shows-like-the-daily-show-for-conservatives/773247/46 "2016-11-29T00:50:19Z")
If he does go (and no guarantees there), he will enjoy it as long as he’s not the target of the humor. And then there’s the question of whether they bring in a comedian to perform and if so, who. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2016, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-topical-humor-oriented-shows-like-the-daily-show-for-conservatives/773247/47 "2016-11-29T01:01:13Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > [Is it this dude? 'Cause that stuff was downright unfair and racist.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJmnLzw8NA4) Why is it unfair and racist? Would you have the same critique if he was poking fun at fly over rednecks? ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2016, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-topical-humor-oriented-shows-like-the-daily-show-for-conservatives/773247/48 "2016-11-29T03:20:52Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Red Eye has been on since 2007 and has had something like 2,000 episodes. Sure it has a niche late night (and DVR) audience but I think you can consider that a success. Fair enough. There’s enough conservatives interested in that brand of humor (and/or the humorists are successful enough) to support a show in the 3am time slot. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2016, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-topical-humor-oriented-shows-like-the-daily-show-for-conservatives/773247/49 "2016-11-29T04:07:16Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > When they swing right, you get [An American Carol](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2BKVsjtnWs). One of the better movies made that year! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2016, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-topical-humor-oriented-shows-like-the-daily-show-for-conservatives/773247/50 "2016-11-29T06:26:09Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > One of the better movies made that year! From [all the movies made that year](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_films_of_2008), you think this [Rotten Tomatoes 11%er](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/an_american_carol) is one of the better movies? That movie isn’t low brow-it’s _uni_brow. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2016, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-topical-humor-oriented-shows-like-the-daily-show-for-conservatives/773247/51 "2016-11-29T13:31:35Z")
46% of the audience liked it, which is close to the % that voted for Trump. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2016, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-topical-humor-oriented-shows-like-the-daily-show-for-conservatives/773247/52 "2016-11-29T13:47:05Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Why is it unfair and racist? Would you have the same critique if he was poking fun at fly over rednecks? Probably not, since ‘fly over rednecks’ aren’t a race. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2016, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-topical-humor-oriented-shows-like-the-daily-show-for-conservatives/773247/53 "2016-11-29T14:28:08Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > Probably not, since ‘fly over rednecks’ aren’t a race. In Texas, the Coastal Redneck may be encountered in bait camps & dive bars. The Cajun shares the environment. Distinguish them by their songs! ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2016, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-topical-humor-oriented-shows-like-the-daily-show-for-conservatives/773247/54 "2016-11-29T15:08:58Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > 46% of the audience liked it Sure, but that’s 46% of an audience of twelve people 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2016, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-topical-humor-oriented-shows-like-the-daily-show-for-conservatives/773247/55 "2016-11-29T15:48:10Z")
This is what I picture when conservatives attempt to do comedy: [Lt. Haulk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ge6QPJfrGcY) ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2016, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-topical-humor-oriented-shows-like-the-daily-show-for-conservatives/773247/56 "2016-11-29T23:32:29Z")
Trying to think of Daily Show style comedy from a Conservative angle that’s actually funny, and the first thing that comes to mind is a [segment that Rob Riggle did for the Daily Show back in 2008](http://www.cc.com/video-clips/9fgyc6/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-marines-in-berkeley). Not sure if that’s typical of Colonel Riggle’s comedy style. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2016, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-topical-humor-oriented-shows-like-the-daily-show-for-conservatives/773247/57 "2016-11-30T01:04:49Z")
Can you imagine a Conservative Daily Show reporter sitting down with an “Urban version” of a West Virginia yokul…letting said astute gentleman talk himself into a corner about how Obama is going to pay for his gas and his mortgage and then the post staring into the camera? Or post a video of the erudite urban gentleman and his buddies kicking seven shades of shit out of some white guy? Shit, I’ll probably get called racist just for this post. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2016, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-topical-humor-oriented-shows-like-the-daily-show-for-conservatives/773247/58 "2016-11-30T01:24:13Z")
Conservatives are not known for their sense of sarcasm and verbal irony. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2016, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-topical-humor-oriented-shows-like-the-daily-show-for-conservatives/773247/59 "2016-11-30T01:25:15Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > Shit, I’ll probably get called racist just for this post. I’m not sure it’s written clearly enough to make \*any \*firm determinations about your motivation. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2016, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-topical-humor-oriented-shows-like-the-daily-show-for-conservatives/773247/60 "2016-11-30T01:35:26Z")
> [@Biffster](#): > > Conservatives are not known for their sense of sarcasm and verbal irony. As best I can gather, the conservative version of sarcasm too often runs to taking on the affect of a simple country boy baffled by the city-professor’s high-falutin’ jabber-jawin’. Details and nuances are treated as signs of weakness, while honest “true” Americans prefer straightforward talk expressed as simple ideas. It doesn’t lend itself to the “heh, I’m clever enough to get that joke” chuckles that modern irony tries for. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-topical-humor-oriented-shows-like-the-daily-show-for-conservatives/773247.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-topical-humor-oriented-shows-like-the-daily-show-for-conservatives/773247.md?page=4)