Obama jokes coming? Shandling on Late Night!

by Brian McKim & Traci Skene on October 11th, 2009

An article in Time magazine asks if the president is “in trouble with his late-night comedy base.” Disturbing though it may be that the pack of monologists that reaches the largest number of comedy consumers via major television networks and cable outlets is referred to as the big man’s “comedy base” (and that they’re joking about him signifies that he is “in trouble,”)… at least they’re noticing something.

But there is perhaps another more subtle set of “defining” episodes playing out for Mr. Obama in the televised comedy salons that had previously, by and large, been relatively gentle spaces for him. The bits about him are getting harsher. They are no longer just gentle gibes about Bo the dog, big ears, bad bowling and beer summits.

And at least the “late-night comedy base” seems to be delivering… finally.

Go to the piece if you can’t get enough recap of Fred Armisen’s takedown or you can’t get enough quotes from university eggheads or “media analysts.” (When will Time call us? We give “good quote.”)

We had the unequalled pleasure of watching Garry Shandling do a 20-minute set that contained a chunk or two of great material about the commander in chief and his shortcomings (and his Nobel Peace Prize!) this past Friday at the Comedy & Magic Club! What a thrill to hang out backstage with so many great comics– among which were Shandling, Larry Miller and Tom Wilson!

Shandling will be on Late Show with David Letterman this tomorrow night. You can bet we’ll be watching.

He’ll be appearing on the late-night talker to plug the release of his box set of It’s Garry Shandling’s Show! It’s $119! (We didn’t know it was coming out, otherwise, we would have bugged the proper authorities and obtained a copy or two!)

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