Somebody Said..
Somebody said, “Glen Beck is a clown.”
Oh, I don’t know. Entertainment/News is the thing. I mean the Talking Heads always did at least one crispy critter story or so when they ran out of real news, but it used to be News/Entertainment.
Now we have real discussion and real opinion about issues done on ‘comedy’ shows. Now it is News/Comedy. As a theatre artist, I find this development quite fascinating.
The Commedia dell’Arte and Shakespeare and the Greek theatre always include clowns. Clowns can say anything. That’s the rule. Even in the courts of Kings.
The Sad Clown is a classic archetype in comedy. He is a stock character like The Miser, El Capitano, Harlequin, The Cuckold. Clowns exist to give voice to that which cannot be said in polite circles.
In News/Comedy right now, it is all about ratings. And everybody loves or fears a clown. Especially the Sad Clown. Think Emmet Kelly.
Am I saying that Beck is as great a clown as Emmet Kelly? Never. He is just right on time. Entertainment-wise.
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May 2nd, 2009 at 4:40 pm
What do you think of Jon Stewart? He is knocking it out of the park as far as I am concerned!!
May 3rd, 2009 at 3:07 pm
I’ve tried to watch Glen Beck but couldn’t bear it. He certainly looked like a scary clown to me but I know some folks who follow him faithfully and take him very seriously.
Love Jon Stewart! Did you see Jon Stewart’s bit mocking Glen Beck?
May 4th, 2009 at 1:07 am
I love Jon Stewart. Smart and very funny. I did not see his bit mocking Beck and I wish I had. I tuned into Beck once or twice and watched for a bit. I wanted to see what all the press he was getting meant. Gave me the chills, actually.
May 4th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
I did, it was gooood!! He really made Beck look like a clown.