November is all but over, and it seems as if the political chaos in America has settled down (at least a little bit). Many Americans are quite pleased with the results of last fall's presidential election, as well as the way that the White House has been run since Trump and Pence took office. There is also another half of the country that is still recovering from Hillary Clinton's shocking defeat, and trying to figure out how to approach the topic of national politics under a new President. |
Political labels involving conservatism and liberalism or Democrats and Republicans are often misleading, and the labels need to be tempered in order for both major sides of the spectrum to have an opportunity at compromise. However, I must admit that I was not supporting the candidate who ended up taking the presidency throughout the campaigns and electoral process. When it finally hit me on Inauguration Day that the Obamas – who were in the White House for half of my life up to that point – would no longer be leading the democracy that is the United States of America, I needed some time to heal from the devastating outcome.
Fortunately, it wasn't long before I had remembered my source of entertainment for the past eight months: SNL.
A notoriously liberal comedy show, Saturday Night Live had covered figures of the likes of Trump (played by Alec Baldwin), Clinton (played by Kate McKinnon), Bernie Sanders (played by Larry David), and Kellyanne Conway (also played by McKinnon) among others. SNL had also frequently made sketches and jokes regarding the campaigns of Clinton and Trump in the "Weekend Update" segment, and weekly hosts had made references to American politics in their opening monologues.
With the triumph of Trump came the exit of Kate McKinnon's Hillary impression on SNL, and I wondered if the election result had conveyed a shift in the comedy show's focus from politics to other aspects of pop culture.
I couldn't have been more misguided.
Since Donald Trump's victory on the night of Tuesday, November 8th, Saturday Night Live has performed twelve skits related to his administration, and has also covered numerous news stories regarding the first few months since the 45th President of the United States assumed the position. Comedians such as Seth Meyers, Stephen Colbert, John Oliver, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel and James Corden among others have poked fun at Trump, and there always seems to be a new headline surrounding policy changes, administration departures and acquisitions, and current events.
Comedy allows someone like me and a large percentage of Americans to take a deep breath every now and then, and reconnect with the things that make us happy in life. Even if the election had flipped Clinton's way, politics can be a really heavy and burdensome conversation topic, but comedy gives us the opportunity to approach the important issues in a light-hearted manner. Ratings for comedy shows such as SNL have skyrocketed in recent months, and it all seems to be a large part of why we as humans rely on one another for comfort and support.
For so-called "liberals" and other non-Trump conservatives and independents, comedy is a way to relax every now and then. For Trump supporters, well... it's a chance to explore a different perspective on politics. Even if that perspective is considered for just a few seconds before the channel changes.
It's difficult to cope with the emotions that come with a loss or dissatisfaction with one's circumstances. But with a sprinkling of humor and comedy here and there, the nation and world alike become much easier to appreciate.
Fortunately, it wasn't long before I had remembered my source of entertainment for the past eight months: SNL.
A notoriously liberal comedy show, Saturday Night Live had covered figures of the likes of Trump (played by Alec Baldwin), Clinton (played by Kate McKinnon), Bernie Sanders (played by Larry David), and Kellyanne Conway (also played by McKinnon) among others. SNL had also frequently made sketches and jokes regarding the campaigns of Clinton and Trump in the "Weekend Update" segment, and weekly hosts had made references to American politics in their opening monologues.
With the triumph of Trump came the exit of Kate McKinnon's Hillary impression on SNL, and I wondered if the election result had conveyed a shift in the comedy show's focus from politics to other aspects of pop culture.
I couldn't have been more misguided.
Since Donald Trump's victory on the night of Tuesday, November 8th, Saturday Night Live has performed twelve skits related to his administration, and has also covered numerous news stories regarding the first few months since the 45th President of the United States assumed the position. Comedians such as Seth Meyers, Stephen Colbert, John Oliver, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel and James Corden among others have poked fun at Trump, and there always seems to be a new headline surrounding policy changes, administration departures and acquisitions, and current events.
Comedy allows someone like me and a large percentage of Americans to take a deep breath every now and then, and reconnect with the things that make us happy in life. Even if the election had flipped Clinton's way, politics can be a really heavy and burdensome conversation topic, but comedy gives us the opportunity to approach the important issues in a light-hearted manner. Ratings for comedy shows such as SNL have skyrocketed in recent months, and it all seems to be a large part of why we as humans rely on one another for comfort and support.
For so-called "liberals" and other non-Trump conservatives and independents, comedy is a way to relax every now and then. For Trump supporters, well... it's a chance to explore a different perspective on politics. Even if that perspective is considered for just a few seconds before the channel changes.
It's difficult to cope with the emotions that come with a loss or dissatisfaction with one's circumstances. But with a sprinkling of humor and comedy here and there, the nation and world alike become much easier to appreciate.