Local comics tap political funny bone

Election Day means an end to the incessant political ads plaguing commercial breaks of ‘The… Election Day means an end to the incessant political ads plaguing commercial breaks of ‘The Office’ and ‘CSI.’ Whew. But it also means the culmination of recent politically fuelled comedies ‘mdash; now hotter than ever ‘mdash; covering every television and computer screen in America. Popular satires like ‘The Daily Show,’ ‘The Colbert Report’ and ‘Saturday Night Live’ hit comedic gold with 2008’s candidates. Although token politicians seem to be following a ‘bridge to nowhere,’ comedians certainly are not ‘mdash; they’ve done well with the candidates’ quirky mannerisms and distinct idiom. And it’s not just the national comedic figures who have utilized the election. Local comedians have found footing in politics, as well. Tim Dimond, a 2008 CMU grad who now performs throughout the city, fuses comedy and music to develop musical parodies and original comedic songs. ‘Recently, I’ve placed the guitar on sabbatical and taken to the more traditional spoken word form,’ said Dimond. And in these verbal routines, he has found a timely focus in politics. ‘As long as you have a government creating undue stress, you’re going to need a way to relieve it,’ he said. ‘Comedy allows me an outlet for my pent-up rage without actually having to do anything of ‘substance.’ I can be an argumentative prick on the sidelines while politicians go in and muck things up some more.’ Dimond’s attitude is mirrored in this season’s ‘SNL’ sketches. By capitalizing on the candidates’ spewed jumble during recent debates and interviews, the show’s recurring political segments have skyrocketed its popularity. The Oct. 18 episode brought in 17 million viewers ‘mdash; the most in 14 years, according to the Associated Press. ‘SNL’ should be grateful to Sarah Palin, who stopped by for that episode two weeks ago, but the show owes most thanks to the return of ex-writer and cast member Tina Fey, whose impeccable impersonation of the Alaskan governor was deemed ‘spot-on’ by Palin herself. ‘It’s a combination of two things: One, the political climate is so rich of material that making fun of it is so easy, and two, Tina Fey is brilliant,’ said Dimond. ‘I think that these newest attack ads are getting a little bit absurd,’ said comedian Bill Crawford, a Pittsburgh native. ‘The McCain campaign is now playing ‘Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon’ with Obama,’ said Crawford. ‘The ad will say something like ‘Obama pals around with Bill Ayers, who is a fan of Hugo Chavez, who is a friend of Fidel Castro, who started the Cuban Revolution, which [led to] our involvement in the Bay of Pigs scandal, which was documented in Oliver Stone’s movie, ‘JFK,’ that Kevin Bacon was in.” Unsurprisingly, Crawford has similarly worked politics into his routine. ‘I think it’s pretty clear that Kevin Bacon is a threat to our national security, and as long as he is still out there making movies, none of us will be safe at home or abroad,’ he concluded with a refreshing air of sarcasm. Crawford is currently a stand-up comedian who began in improvisation, even training at the Improv Olympic, where Chris Farley and Mike Myers got their starts. And like Dimond, he believes that comedy is an essential outlet in getting out political news.’ ‘In serious times, people gravitate towards comedy,’ he said. ‘Look at shows like ‘The Daily Show’ or ‘Bill Maher’ or ‘SNL’ or ‘Letterman’ ‘mdash; they are all experiencing heightened viewership. I think that is a testament to the fact that people trust comedians to tell the truth.’ And it doesn’t hurt that the truth viewers appreciate is enhanced with sardonic undertones. ‘We are involved with two wars that aren’t going well. Do you really think a 72-year-old POW is a good idea?’ joked Crawford. ‘I mean, that is kind of like putting someone who got busted on that show ‘How to Catch a Predator’ in charge of a day-care. That is just a set-up for failure.’ The appeal of comedic approaches to the news is that comedians have the ability to mix mockery with seriousness when needed. ‘This year you can really sense the history of it all,’ said Crawford in a more serious tone. ‘There have been so many barriers broken with respect to race and gender, and I think it has raised the level of consciousness in the country and energized young people like I have never seen before.’ Susannah Perlman, a New York comedian originally from Pittsburgh, touched upon the issues of race and gender as well when discussing election aspects she has focused on. ‘I tried to inspire my audiences to demand a Clinton/Obama ticket because not only would it be exciting,’ she said, ‘it would also bring the women and the black people together. And that’s mean hair weaves for everybody.’ Perlman recently hosted a performance by The Obama Girls of Comedy at Pittsburgh’s own comedy club, Slapsticks! Comedy Loft. ”The Daily Show’ and ‘The Colbert Report’ have been the saving graces of so many for the past eight years. That’s where I and many get our news,’ she said. ‘If I am watching the news and not laughing, there is something seriously wrong. Comedy is truth, and that’s what many of us need right now.’