Conan O'Brien recently took part in a nearly hour-long discussion with the Oxford Union and criticized comedians whose material is dominated by serious anti-Trump comments. The former late-night host said Trump is unsuitable for comedy in general because “comedy needs a straight line, and we don’t have a straight line right now. We have a very flexible, stretchy line” (via intermediary).
“Some comics go the route of, 'I'm going to say 'Trump' all the time… that's their comedy,'” O'Brien said. “And I think now, a little bit, you're being co-opted because you're so evil. You have been lulled to sleep. It's like a siren leading you into the rocks. You were lulled to sleep by simply saying “F Trump.” F Trump. F Trump. Fuck this guy. And I think that now you have put aside your best weapon – jokes – and replaced it with anger.”
O'Brien rejected the idea that because the state of the world has become so serious, that means comedians need to be serious all the time too.
“That person or any person who will say, ‘Well, things are too serious now. I don't need to be funny.” And I think, well, if you’re a comedian, you always have to be funny,” he said. “You just have to find a way. And you just have to find a way to channel that anger… because good art will always be a great weapon, will always be a perfect weapon against power. But if you're just screaming and just being angry, you've lost your best tool in the toolbox.”
O'Brien found himself at the center of the Trump controversy last year when he attended a Kennedy Center event for the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. The event took place after Donald Trump's election to the Kennedy Center board and his takeover of the center. Trump has since added his name to the building, in a controversial move.
“Obviously there have been some controversial things going on with the Kennedy Center in the last couple of months under the new administration,” O'Brien said during an August episode of his “Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend” podcast a few months after the ceremony. “The question arose: “Should I go?” Should I not go? And I felt it was important to show up.”
O'Brien explained that he was rewarded by the “old regime” and that he “thought we should respect their decision.” The event marked first national event at the Kennedy Center since Trump replaced Chairman David Rubinstein and President Deborah Rutter last February.
O'Brien currently hosts the popular podcast Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend and is set to return as host of the Oscars in March. Watch the full discussion with the Oxford Union in the video below.
