Conan to Obama: Honeymoon’s Over
by Jason Killian Meath
–
The New York Times wrote during campaign 2008 that late night comics were having a hard time cracking jokes about Barack Obama. This year, President Obama was treated with kid gloves. Leno, Letterman and Conan largely stood in a cone of silence when it came to prodding the Prez. But after scandals and bumbled policy initiatives, the once-airtight Obama spin control has given way to a White House spinning out-of-control. Late Night TV finally rises to the occasion — and the honeymoon is officially over.
This hilarious clip would have been unthinkable just 3 or 4 months ago. The wildly enthusiastic Conan audience cheers. Hilarity ensues. And Obama, Axelrod and Company find they’re not in Kansas anymore.
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98 Comments
Now that is funny! Keep it up Conan and you may start getting good ratings.
Maybe the late night comics have finally realized this is their country too and that they have a lot to lose. Like their way of life.
still kid gloves…
wait to the Olympic debacle hits…
Maybe the late night comics have finally realized that this is their country too and that they have a lot to lose. Like their way of life.
I don't know about that. We'll see.
You're right. That was unthinkable until recently. He was "sacrosanct" … now even his allies may start to enjoy eating some "sacred cow burgers"!
So I guess the saying is now, "if you lost Conan, you've lost America"?
They are still handling Obama with kid gloves.
This post reminded me (don't ask why) of a SNL skit with Reagan. I posted it here:
http://motorcitytimes.com/mct/snl-video-president...
Yeah, well, I'm not so sure. We live in a PC world, and Obama's the first black president. This "honeymoon" you refer to will never be really "over."
Anyone who thinks the comic mainstream will EVER be ripping into Obama the way they did with Reagan, Clinton, the Bushes, etc. is kidding themselves.
Hot diggety! That laughter sounded a lot more genuine than anything on Letterman over the last several months/years.
It is a step in the right direction in terms of getting Obama's head out of the clouds and chowing down to a little humble pie. The status quo "hands-off" approach was getting tired.
Thanks for sharing this! I remember watching this skit when it wa sfirst shown back when I watched SNL. The late Phil Hartman was, as always, brilliant and soely missed. Ironically, our "friend" Al Franken lamented that SNL wasn't tough enough on Reagan. What a smoo!
ohhh sacrosanct, I dig it!
Now that's what I'm talkin' about!
Maybe the late night comics finally realize this is their country too and that they also have a lot to lose . Like their way of life.
I don't think it was a joke about Obama at all. Looks to me like a dig at what the left has defined as right wing nut jobs.
I haven't watched SNL is years. Phil Hartman was funny.
If you look back the left just ripped on Reagan. And looking at how soft they are on Obama it's ridiculous.
Glad you liked the video.
Someone threw Big Bird under the bus.
Conan used to write for David Letterman, didn't he. I think first thing he needs to do on his show tonight is wave his finger at the audience and say "Let me make this perfectly clear: I did not have sex with that man, Mr. Letterman."
They are trying to make all the bad things that are out there about Obama, seem trivial and something to be laughed at. If they can make the questions being asked seem like a joke, it will be the same job they did on Sarah Palin. They made her out to be stupid in the press and most people who never watch anything but MSNBC, CNN or the networks, had no idea how smart or articulate this woman really is. They tried to make her a joke but the tides are beginning of turn with Glenn asking all the questions he is asking. The truth will out sooner or later. You cannot hide all the things the Democrats are up to for very long. Americans are beginning ot wake up. See the latest poll? Ethics is the thing most people are worried about today.
Good Lord, that was actually on Conan?!?! Congratulations to Rio aside, let the games here begin!!!
Excellent point, too, EdSki, but this "right wing nut job" doesn't mind.
If SNL can't get a skit out of today's shenanigans, they are hopeless. Today was fail-fail.
I totally agree. This was not making fun of Obama. It was making fun of the right wing. I don't think the honeymoon is over.
EdSki is right. This wasn't a slam against Obama, the "angry muppets" were touting the most strident anti-Obama talking points. They sounded like nutters (and did you notice that Birthers were grouped with health care opponents as if both were from the same wacky group?). It was exactly the opposite of what you interpreted it to be. It was a slam of the Right (all the way down to using cartoonish characters to make the comments).
That said, it was funny….sort of.
You're right. It was a defense of Obama, not a dig at him.
this was freaking awesome!!! Conan must be racist!!! Just like 50% of all whites who oppose Obama! And like those 5% blacks… and those 5% hispanics… and those 30% jews… ALL RACISTS!!!!
"I don't think it was a joke about Obama at all. Looks to me like a dig at what the left has defined as right wing nut jobs. "
That's how I see it, too–critics of Obama as puppets, deliberately choosing what the left sees as the most "out-there" criticisms of their Dear Leader.
When/if the Conan show begins attacking Obama by portraying Him as a giant puppet, mouthing what we understand to be leftist nonsense, then the honeymoon is really over.
LOL Good start. Was it the skit that brought the wall down? No. They will go down with the sinking ship.
A nice blog on this (not mine) on O's recent set-backs are here (I've made one or two comments).
http://my.opera.com/Licorice%20Pizza/blog/2009/09...
Yes, this was more focused on the detractors of Obama than Obama himself. But there is progress here. Previously jokes involving Obama have fallen flat with muted titters. This audience was full-throated in their approval.
No, no NO! Bill Clinton was the first black president. He even said so. However, at this rate, Obama may very well be the last black president, at least in my lifetime.
It's a set up.
You can't trust these assholes to tell the truth about the weather.
Yep.
I don't know- the punch line here seems to be more "Oh those whacky right wing birthers!" than "Oh that whacky Obama!" It was certainly amusing, and the jab at health care was rather an Obama poke, but overall this just seems like a joke about Conservatives that is actually funny to Conservatives.
[...] http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jmeath/2009/10/02/conan-to-obama-honeymoons-over/# [...]
Thank you for sharing. I remember this sketch when it first appeared on SNL. I was just out of high school, so the show was definitely geared toward my age bracket. But even then, whether SNL meant to or not, the one thing I took away about Reagan is he's a strong leader instead of a dolt with his palzied hand on the button as everyone else in the entertainment field portrayed him.
Sadly, I have to agree. Just watch the disdainful sarcasm that comes from Robert Gibbs on a daily basis. They don't take anything seriously and find the concept of criticism funny. I think this clip backfires on its purpose, as it is obvious some people are seriously laughing at Obama, and the attempt to caricature the Right.
Spot on. This is a smoke screen designed to denigrate the birthers and other critics of the almighty Kenyan Overlord.
That's what I thought. I was surprised when the post above said it was an attack on Obama.
One can only hope that the other comics will follow suit and try to one up one another until all of the dirty laundry is repeated over and over into the American consciousness. Then we just need to prove one issue for all of them to look suddenly possible for those Democrats who still can think for themselves (but obviously did not in November).
It is pretty bad when you have to ridicule yourself to provide political cover.
You mean us critics of Obama were called "VEGETABLES". Yes that was the intent, but it may have been too subtle.
Yeah, after watching it I think the same thing… :/
As a conservative independent, I have to admit I find humor in how they portrayed us but think it is a dangerous game they play.
I agree. Reagan was very decisive and had a clear view of what needed to be accomplished.
I'm glad you liked the video.
Ditto. Michelle was the "straight man" in the comedy routine. The role of the "fool" were the diatribes of the extreme right. Until Obama's own words are treated as punchlines, then will the honeymoon be over.
A pile on is coming. I smell a big one. After this Olympics debacle where they wasted a lot of tax dollars flying two jets over for what amounts to favors for his corrupt backers in Chitown, and the economy continuing to tailspin, he is going to make Bush look like the most popular president ever.
[...] The Gloves Are Off – It's ON!!! Go to Top Ah, you've just got to love Hollywood: Big Hollywood Blog Archive Conan to Obama: Honeymoon’s Over [...]
The Big Hollywood writer chides the media for pulling their punches with Obama… then does the same thing, by not even mentioning the gross failure to certify that Obama is a "natural born Citizen" — and his many evasions, for which he has now spent $1.4M to maintain, in legal bills — and for which he has even the "Department of Justice" spending our tax money. Huh.
The Little Pottywood calling Big Pottywood black.
Conan’s going to hell, and even worse he’s a racist. He must know it’s a no-no to make fun of the “Exalted One.”
I think Conan is hilarious. He's had a bit or a rocky start, but he'll prevail. Unfortunately for me he's way past my bedtime.
The first time I hear him speaking about politics in an interview I'm going to stick my fingers in my ears and shout lalalalalalaa can't hear you lallalala!
Clinton???? Ri-i-i-i-ight.
This is where the fun starts! If any of Hollywood wants to see better Nielsen Ratings, start dissing the Communist in Chief.
You are right again, son.
Well…it's a start.
The cheers at the end was refreshing. Still, we got a long way til Hollywood ever gives him the Palin hate.
The video didn't load. I can't help but wonder if Husseins' people are somehow blocking internet slaps and funnies about Insane Hussein to protect his dumb ass from the public ridicule he so richly deserves. This incident, with a blocked joke about the 1/2 black usurper to the throne, is not the first time I've experienced it.
Conan was on staff. So Letterman……… hmmm
Don't get excited folks. It was just another pathetic shot at ObamaCare opponents (compounded by associating them with birthers) by another gutless late-night dope.
Same old crap.
Got a feeling Conan's in the Letterman-class of Kool Aid Kids: the ones who didn't drink it, but drowned in it.
This is a joke on birthers , not Obama. I agree with you though it is hilarious because birthers are such idiots , and also because "bighollywood" can't even decipher late night talk shows.
Soft on B0, yes, I don't think that it will be changing any time soon, at least I'm not holding my breath. This video is a good sign, though. It'll never match the vitriol that accompanied Reagan, Quayle etc…
i see this show hasn't changed at all. Still far left.
Darn it… another video I have to wait to watch until I get home…. Thus making a comment to remind me…. :/ I like Conan, but I haven't been watching lately because I have been busy…
ADD @ 6:15 CST: Well that was NOT what I expected… :/ I expected it to actually be a dig at the Obama's…. guess not.
They were trashing the right wing. The bastards! Conan is still in the tank for Obama.
You got that mostly right James, however I don't imagine Bush's popularity rising anytime soon, at least not in our collective lifetimes. Other than that you're right on.
This skit was a blatent bash at the Birther Movement. If you can't see that, then you are part of that movement, shame on you. The left is trying to lump everyone on the right into that god forsaken trap. The Birther Movement totally delegitimizes serious criticisms from the right, from who aren't interested in conspiracy theories or wasting energy on that nonsense. Before you idiots pop up and flame me, think about it,what have you accomplished besides supplying ammunition like this skit for the left????
We on the right have real criticisms which can't be batted away so easily. Dollars to donuts Conan won't put those arguments up on his show. No, he'll bash the right with the birther movement to give some power back to the left.
I can't laugh at anything involving that beeyotch unless it's a pie hitting her face and covering it (dog poop would be better). I guess it's good that late night's cone of silence is gone but they've still lost any semblance of credibility…kind of like the MSM. And they ain't gettin' it back.
It's not a good start or anything else praise-worthy. It's the same old cowardly same old. Get back to me when someone actually deigns to joke about Obama and not merely use him to insult his critics or followers.
How does this indicate that the honeymoon is over?
A lightweight jab at best
[...] that No one nation can or should try to dominate another nation, I’m glad that the Obama Conan to Obama: Honeymoon’s Over – bighollywood.breitbart.com 10/02/2009 – The New York Times wrote during campaign 2008 that late [...]
I totally agree. Big Bird is using the most illegitimate, fringe reason to criticize the President – his birth certificate. The skit paints Obama critics as "birthers." Had they used Cap and Trade or some other policy of the Obama White House, I'd applaud the writers, but it doesn't.
I guess it's a first step, but let's not go overboard praising a sketch that makes Obama critics as nutters.
I think, "Oh look who is here to push her husband's Socialist Health Care Agenda" is about as good a shot we can hope for. Maybe "George Bush" and "Mark Sanford" will stop being the punchlines to one joke a piece every night in his monologue.
It is completely stunning that Conan has not done one joke about ACORN and prostitutes.
They have got to be hoping that they can book Obama before Jimmy Kimmel does.
I think, "Oh look who is here to push her husband's Socialist Health Care Agenda" is about as good a shot as we can hope for. Maybe "George Bush" and "Mark Sanford" will stop being the punchlines to one joke a piece every night in his monologue.
It is completely stunning that Conan has not done one joke about ACORN and prostitutes.
They have got to be hoping that they can book Obama before Jimmy Kimmel does.
Shocking!
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Click on my name and find out why.
I don't understand why wanting Obama to release his original, long-form birth certificate makes someone crazy. I don't care if you're on the left or the right calling me stupid, paranoid or crazy, nobody's intimidating or belittling me into ignoring that he has not done it.
If you care more about what your position makes you look like than pressing for the truth, you're kind of a pussy, if you asked me.
What are you folks seeing? It's an obvious dig at the RIGHT, not the left. Otherwise, they wouldn't have lumped the birther stuff (very fringey) in with criticism of the health plan (center-right).
Filmklassik, you hit nail on the head! He will never get raked over the coals like the rest.
Here's a new bumper sticker: BIG BIRD – HUCKABEE 2012!
Yes! Conan…..its about time Obama got pwned
Based on this video, they weren't very tough on Reagan at all. The joke here isn't the rehashing of lefty Reagan-was-an-evil-genius-AND-an-amiable-dunce talking points, it's the illustration of how utterly absurd those talking points would be if true. It's a slam against the Left, not the Right.
Plus, it's a chance to see Dana Carvey trot out his Jimmy Stewart impression… and is that a Dennis-Miller-in-a-sketch sighting?
What the writers and Conan intended and how the audience reacted could be two different things.
When "Patton" was made, the star, writer and director all thought the end product would come out as a slap to the general's ways, but instead found the audience to be with Patton more than they were against him. In this case, it's clear the goal of the skit is to portray Big Bird as a birther ("Big Birth"?) throwing out hyperbolic charges against Obama. But that's not what the audience seems to be reacting to — just the idea that anyone on a late-night show would even mention Barack's health care goal and socialism in the same breath appeared to unleash a lot of welled-up laughter that had just been waiting for any joke at the expense of Obama's recent policy failures.
During his Thursday night affair confession amid audience laughter, Letterman stopped for a moment and chided the audience "What's so funny about that?" You get the feeling the writers and star are going to start getting a little miffed themselves if they keep using Obama and/or Michelle in "Gee aren't those right wingers nuts?" bits, and the audience laughs more and more in the wrong places.
Yeah, that's what I thought too. I thought it was obvious, but I guess not. Don't know how it got past this Jason Meath cat.
That's an interesting thought, are the comedians nuetered because they want to book him?
Economically it would be smart not to burn any bridges. Because about the only thing the he hasn't been on is NFL and the Simpsons.
He could have been so jubilant, that he didn't pay close enough attention. To a starving person, table scraps a are feast.
I'm pretty hungry for decent non-liberal comedy myself.
Sure. You have to figure that they are also afraid of being boycotted. One phone call from Kai Penn and half of Hollywood would refuse to appear on his show.
Well Gee Jason I got a feeling the joke went over your head. "Big Bird and The Basket Bunch" That was suppose to be us! I believe That was an insult to the right. A veiled insult. An inside joke, so to speak.
Yowser!- Not a moment too soon but some months too late. If we had all been listening before the last election we might not be facing some scary issues now. The manchild is making a mess and we are going to have to clean it up.
Absolutely……it was way too extreme to be real. Definitely making fun of the right. It was obvious. Lets not be gullible here…..
Oh please……….let's not be naive here. That was in no way negative towards Obama. That was making fun of what is considered far right "wacko" views. NOT making fun of Obama. That was WAY too extreme to be real criticism!
hilarious skit and I love Conan, but sorry — this isn't attacking Obama. It's attacking the Right.
SNL hit him pretty hard in their monologue tonight. Portraying him as a clueless Do-Nothing, which is how I see him (not a dangerous socialist)
[...] Bird chats with Michelle Obama This is hilarious. __________________ [...]
[...] situation? If it isn't "Saturday Night Live," maybe Sarah Palin. … Conan to Obama: Honeymoon's OverThis post reminded me (don't ask why) of a SNL skit with Reagan. I posted it here: Yeah, well, [...]
Conan was never a writer for David Letterman. He was a writer on Saturday Night Live.
This was a Tonight Show version of the 2008 New Yorker Cartoon Cover. Close, but no cigar.
You're absolutely right.
The dig is at us, not at the Obamas.
And did you notice, the right-wing critics are VEGETABLES?
(And the skit-writers didn't mean that to imply that conservativism is "GOOD for you," as in nutritious;
they meant it in the sense of "no brains.")
You are the stupidest bunch of idiots I've ever seen gathered since….well the GOP National Convention.
That skit was making fun of YOU, not Obama.
Wow, you Limbaugh-ites really aren't that bright are you?
Sorry – this wasn't "obama-bashing" it was "obama-OPPONENT bashing". Close, but no cigar.
DD
It's not a matter of intelligence. We are simply looking for something- ANYTHING that even looks like a joke was made at BHO's expense (especially after 8 years of nonstop President bashing). It appeared that COB did attempt to throw off the kid gloves, but in the end it was a back-handed joke. It's a step in a different direction than just putting the jokes on Biden et al., but I'll believe that they're going after BHO when I see something that doesn't reign in Birthers at the same time.
Wow I didn't know Conan was a RACIST. yuck yuck
[...] http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jmeath/2009/10/02/conan-to-obama-honeymoons-over/#more-239198 [...]
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