Free Republic

In August 2021, Fox News’ “Gutfeld!,” a late-night comedy-talk show hosted by right-wing pundit Greg Gutfeld, overtook “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” in overall ratings.Surprised?We weren’t. As media and comedy scholars, we’ve been tracking the recent ascension of right-wing comedy, which has flourished thanks to shifts in media industry economics and political ideologies.Gutfeld’s success might come as a shock because it punctures long-standing assumptions about what comedy is, who can produce it and who will enjoy it. These prejudices obscure an important truth: Right-wing comedy has become both a viable business strategy and a crucial element of conservative politics.Yes,...

The US version of BBC sitcom Coupling has been banned by two local stations because of its sexual content. The stations - WNDU in South Bend, Indiana and KSL in Salt Lake City, Utah - are affiliated to national network NBC, which made the show. NBC has remade the cult hit British comedy, about six friends, with the first episode to be shown on Thursday. WNDU said the sexual jokes "push the envelope well beyond the boundaries of our community's standards". The station's managers said they were "disappointed and uncomfortable" with the content. NBC has admitted the show is "provocative"...