The rise and fall of political comedy on late night TV

Bibliographic Data

ID21642014
AuthorsJody C Baumgartner (0000-0002-2575-9393, East Carolina University, corresponding author)
Year2024
Volume27
Issue3
Pages242-255
Publication date2024-07-02
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Communication Review (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1071-4421 • E-ISSN: 1547-7487
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10714421.2024.2375138
OpenAlexW4400588935
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited13

The emergence and demise of political comedy – a form of political humor distinct from political satire – on late night television, can be understood as a commercial response to the media landscape of the time. During the “golden era” of broadcast television, three networks dominated the television landscape and crafted their content to appeal to a mass national audience. This meant avoiding overtly political programming and messaging that favored either side of the political spectrum. But by the early 2000s, the widespread penetration of cable and satellite television, and later, the advent of the Internet and television streaming services meant that content providers could no longer hope to appeal to mass audiences. Thus, they began to target their programming toward smaller, more specific audiences. In this environment, political satire could thrive. In addition, the inclinations of late night talk show hosts and particular political circumstances helped push political comedy off the late night airwaves. Political satire now rules the late night television political humor landscape and will likely do so in the future

Advertising · Art · Business · Comedy · Geography · Literature · Meteorology · Political science · Politics · Gender, Feminism, and Media · History · Humor Studies and Applications · Law · Media, Gender, and Advertising

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