rant · moment 4 of 23

Why Comedy Is Dying and Podcasts Are Winning

from America's Election Headquarters · #121

Audio-only archive episode — no video to seek.

3 min

Tim and Ray discuss how stand-up comedy has lost cultural relevance compared to memes and podcasts, why Hollywood skews liberal, and how mainstream entertainment's sameness pushes subversive comedy fans toward extremes like Million Dollar Extreme.

In this bit8 moments
  • 6:45Stand-up comedy doesn't have culturally relevant things to say about the moment we're in.
  • 7:27TV shows all say the same thing in the same way—why would anyone need the same content shoved down their throat nine times?
  • 7:46SNL and mainstream late-night are safe and mainstream; even the far left is ignored, with no subversive comedy.
  • 8:06Tim connects the rise of alt-right content and shows like Million Dollar Stream to hunger for subversive entertainment.
  • 8:19Half the population is psychologically wired to want comedy that's dark, edgy, and subversive.
  • 8:40Million Dollar Stream found an audience because mainstream shows weren't getting through, though the fanbase includes actual Nazis.
  • 8:58The entertainment business speaks with one mainstream corporate Democratic voice, and it's boring.
  • 9:13Leaving subversive comedy only to actual Nazis becomes a problem because there are no other outlets.
Mentioned here

Stand-up comedyMillion Dollar StreamPC comedymemesprogressive politicsalt-rightSaturday Night Live

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