Some days, I really do wonder what it’s like to BE a white guy. What is it like to have your every mediocrity be “good enough”? What is it like to get to choose what issues you want to be involved with, rather than the issues you have to be involved with because of how you were born or what family you have? What is it like to catered to politically, financially and culturally? And what is it like to be told over and over that you are the one who should have a grudge against society, because now you only have 99% of the power instead of 100%? I don’t know. It’s mind-boggling.
So, yes, it’s mind-boggling that Jimmy Fallon thought it was in his best interest, in the current world in which we live, in the current political atmosphere, to come out and say that he doesn’t “really even care that much about politics.” Fallon spoke to the Today Show in a pre-taped interview, and Fallon was asked why the Tonight Show hasn’t done more political humor, or used the platform to speak out in any way, shape or form.
When asked if Fallon ever feels pressure to take on Trump like Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert do night after night, Fallon offers three reasons why his show, compared to others, isn’t one to take swipes at POTUS.
First of all, Fallon isn’t really a political comedian to begin with. “It’s just not what I do. I think it’d be weird for me to start doing it now,” he muses. “I don’t really even care that much about politics. I gotta be honest. I love pop culture more than I love politics. I’m just not that brain.”
Second of all, Colbert, Kimmel and the rest of late night have already kind of, sort of, cornered the market on Trump jokes. “I think the other guys are doing it very well. Colbert’s doing great. That’s what he’s good at. He’s great. He’s always into political comedy,” Fallon, whose rating have continued to dip throughout the fall, explains. “When it’s organic, I’ll dip into it as well. But I’ve always made jokes about the President.”
Finally, given this year’s non-stop flood of natural and man-made catastrophes, it’s not been easy to milk jokes from disaster, especially a joke Jimmy Fallon can deliver with conviction on The Tonight Show. “A lot of stuff is hard to even make a joke about,” he observes. “It’s just too serious.”
I actually understand – a little bit – the idea of “we’re here to make people laugh, it doesn’t have to be so serious.” The thing is though, Fallon comes across like he’s content to be consciously oblivious, that he’s making the choice to play the violin as the Titanic goes down. No one is really asking Fallon to suddenly turn into Seth Meyers or Stephen Colbert or John Oliver – that kind of thing would fall flat, for real, because that isn’t Fallon’s style and no one expects it of him. But it’s not an all or nothing proposition, it’s not like “Be John Oliver or GTFO.” Fallon could start organically, which is how Jimmy Kimmel started getting more political, because of Kimmel’s come-to-Jesus realizations about healthcare. But that’s the problem, isn’t it? Jimmy Fallon is a white guy who has the white male privilege to live in Trump’s America, so he’s not being affected by the daily monstrosities.
Photos courtesy of WENN, NBC.
If you don’t want to be political don’t ruffle a racist’s hair
Valid point.
Yeah, this.
I have conservative friends, politically speaking. They are good people who genuinely feel a light-hand approach to state intervention works best (I am a Brit, so our right is probably your left). None of them like the current British Tory party, because the bunch currently in power are ideology before welfare of the population at best, and motivated by their own financial interests at worst, and that doesn’t fly with anyone who is genuinely fiscally right leaning because they want the best for the country and believe that achieves it. Their politics comes from a good place and an intelligent place; we just disagree on conclusions. I don’t share their views, but I do respect them.
That’s worlds apart from Trump. Not calling out a racist traitor who is also a self-confessed sexual predator… that’s not down to politics. That’s down to basic human decency.
I agree K
EXACTLY.
Agreed. If he wants to be silly and apolitical, he can’t pick and choose when he wants to do so. I do get wanting to be a distraction and be silly, but he hosts a late night talk show. Those shows have always been political, even weaksauce Jay Leno went after Clinton and Bush. So maybe he should have hosted a daytime/afternoon talk show like Ellen. Maybe it would have been more his speed.
I watched that Trump interview on youtube without knowing any of the backstory or criticism surrounding it and it made me really cringe. I didn’t cringe for the reason everyone is jumping on Jimmy though. I cringed because I thought it made Trump look really stupid. Then when I read the comments, I kind of felt that everyone was just jumping on a bandwagon and being rather unfair to Jimmy Fallon.
His political jokes are pretty much always lame and I prefer Seth Meyers for that but Jimmy Fallon is amazing at other things. I hope he can weather this storm. Does The Tonight Show have a history of being political? I don’t know enough about it. I strongly feel that speaking out is vital at the moment but that doesn’t surely mean that every late night talk show needs to be political.
Exactly–don’t affectionately ruffle the hair of a racist — and admitted sexual predator — if you have any social conscience at all. For my money, the best, most hard-hitting, and most intelligent late night political commentary is coming from Seth Meyers.
It’s easier to stay out. I mean, you have to be talented and smart and sober to make jokes that punch the right direction.
Jimmy should just take up residence under that shade because it’s the absolute truth. Political or not, I’ve never found him to be all that funny, just silly.
His humor appeals more to immature young boys. He sufferers from the Petter Pan syndrome. I know many people hated Leno but he was at least funny half the time. Fallon is more of an entertainer than a comic.
Exactly, His humor is puerile at best.
**chefs kiss**
yes! burn him.
“I’m just not that brain” um jimmy – you are just not “a” brain. he sucked on SNL. he sucks on late night. boy, bye.
Ha, yes. Staying in his lane is a good idea, although I agree with Kaiser that his brand of oblivious silliness doesn’t feel right for these times. I’m sure plenty of people are fine with it, though. The same ones who are content with Trump as POTUS.
LOL spot on!
Great comment. “…and sober,” indeed. I don’t watch him. But I’ve seen a couple of clips lately and, uh, people know he’s drunk and/or on coke, right? I’ve dealt with alcoholics all my life and it’s as plain as day. What must it be like behind the scenes?
He has NEVER been funny to me. The few times I would tune into SNL when he was on…he would always break during the sketch and start laughing, or flub the lines (they only read them off the prompter now, and don’t bother to learn them, so how taxing is that?). I think he’s just a self-absorbed, privileged twat who sucks up to whomever he has on. I don’t think he’s capable of giving a thought to anyone’s plight but his own.
Exactly, Detritus. Fallon trades on a “cute” persona and he goes for easy laughs and childish humor. He never should have had Trump on his show, because his affectionate behavior toward Trump that night humanized a dangerous and unstable presidential candidate.
I guess he doesn’t have a daughter.
What a dick
He has two little girls. He probably thinks his money and fame will protect them which is completely ridiculous.
1+
I was being snarky/referencing the idiots to refer to their daughters when calling out disgusting behaviour…
I loled.
He needs another. You have to have at least four women in your life before you see them as equals, obvi.
I can’t fathom what it’s like to be unaffected right now in America, or anywhere else in the world. The only people who claim the same are closeted racists.
I actually cannot stand Fallon. He’s a slime ball.
He’s a drunk; he’s getting way too old for the alcoholic frat boy shtick.
Definitely.
Between being so incredibly privileged that he doesn’t feel the need to at least be somewhat interested/invested in politics, and the fact that he’s probably half-lit on a ‘good’, ‘quiet’ night, I am not all that surprised.
I really can’t wait for him to go away. He’s such an obnoxious, narcissistic idiot. I have never seen someone find someone as funny as Jimmy Fallon thinks Jimmy Fallon is.
Yep you said it @Erinn. There has never been a battle of the Jimmy’s for me. Jimmy Kimmel blows this dude out of the water. Denying being “political” in the state of destruction his boy trump has put us in, is walking with blinders on……or is the once vaguely amusing aging comedian afraid of losing some of his audience. I can’t imagine 45 having stans that have a sense of humor, so for them is Fallon for the win. Asshats
So true. I watch Jimmy Kimmel a lot.
I think the era of Trump is about more than politics. It’s about a collective decency, it’s about human dignity. I hate when people say: i’m not getting involved in politics, when clearly the core values of a country are at stake.
Completely agree. Trump being in power is everything about human rights and dignity (or the loss of them). He can’t do jokes because he’s not smart enough and doesn’t care.
So agree. Politics govern the very rules of your life. People who say this have the luxury of not being impacted either way
I remember, as a teenager, being incensed beyond words when a bunch of kids at my (very white, very privileged – I was a scholarship kid) school piously insisted that the national sports teams should always go to apartheid South Africa, because sport should be above politics. My inchoate argument was that politics was about human beings, and lives, and life choices, and how could you argue that something that determined how we all lived was somehow separate and value-free? Now, I’d simply say that there is a major difference between a human rights issue, and an opinions issue. Politics is opinions. Trump’s choices have removed him from the area of differing opinions, and taken him squarely into the arena of human rights threats.
Trump is about as politically neutral as Jim Crow. Sitting on the fence makes you complicit.
I have always thought that politics were tied to core values, too, so I’ve also never understood people who say they “aren’t political.” I feel like even if you’re not personally affected by something it’s still important to stay informed and, if necessary, engaged. It’s more incumbent than ever on all of us to be more “political,” as the fate of our very democracy is at stake.
Exactly. We should stand up for those who are or feel disenfranchised. We should vote to improve society even if it means voting against personal interests otherwise we can’t do the work needed to do away centuries of privilege.
I agree – how can you NOT follow politics right now, because as you said, it’s about so much more than that right now?
If he were to say he knows he’s not cut out for it, or thinks it’s all too deadly serious to joke about, or that he just wants his show to be a relief from all of that everywhere, I’d feel better about it, but to say he doesn’t care and isn’t interested?!?!? How f-ing nice to have that privilege, Jimmy, where it likely won’t affect you personally.
Yes! It’s totally fine if he doesn’t want to DO politics on his show. It’s a business, and if the market is already saturated with others doing politics better and funnier, he’s under no obligation to take his product in a political direction.
HOWEVER, he as a person should CARE. We should all care!!
Man, rich, white, male, privilege is powerful.
Agreed. That was my first thought: What a luxury to not really care about politics right now. I would LOVE not to care. I would love not to be depressed all the time, heartbroken whenever I read the news or even just talk to friends and my therapy clients, effing exhausted and worried whenever I read about healthcare disappearing or racists parading or my rights being forcibly taken. Sounds awesome.
What a privileged, entitled hack.
YES. All of this.
There is no neutrality on 45, and Jimmy you of all people don’t get to take a pass on this one (you can’t live down the Trump appearance on your show with these comments). You need to own it.
So well said, Lenn.
Politics are Life- we’ve been on the Democracy train for so long we’ve just sat back and have enjoyed the ride. For JF, he’s in 1st class with 24 hr service as a wealthy white male, apparently not feeling the bumps. For MOST of us, the train has derailed or has been on one wheel since trump’s admin took over. How could you NOT notice or NOT care that part of this train is on f’ing fire???
He’s a man-child. Whenever I’ve tried to watch him, I end up switching channels about five minutes in. Hes a walking ‘puff’ piece with no layers or depth… even his comedic value runs light and airy so the above statements make perfect sense. Oblivious and empty.
After a day of Two Scoop coverage, it may be the mindless relief some people are looking for. And if he’s no good at harder-hitting comedy, maybe it’s best that he stick to what he’s merely mediocre at.
He hit the genetic jackpot being male and white, so he has that luxury, must be nice to not care! Ugh, he should’ve just said he’s not good at making political jokes and leave it at that, how the hell can you not care with all that’s going on, doesn’t he have daughters??
He is also rich. Male, white and rich. Eventually he will not be able to stay apolitical. He will have to take a side whether he likes it or not.
Male, white, rich, and straight. The four pillars of the privilege of “not caring”.
I respect if he would say ‘i do not think my show is the right platform’, but then do not have policitians as guests, especially during their campaign.
But to come out in these dire times and flat out state that he does not care about politics is just so lame.
But WHO in these days dark times can afford the luxury of not being into politics?????? Who??? Ah yeah, extremely rich guys who are given tax breaks. He lives a cushioned life, and since his garden is all milk and honey why ask his neighbors whats up with the brown grass? As long as it doesn’t affect him why tackle on important issues? He hasn’t said a think about WH either.. maybe he doesn’t want to burn some financial bridges. or maybe he scared he loose more audience if he gets involved which is a douche move anyway. I don’t even think he is funny..
Jimmy doesn’t care about politics, and we don’t care about Jimmy Fallon. He can go away now.
Lol. This was pretty much my thought too. “Oh, good. I don’t care about Fallon.” I would much rather watch super-smart Colbert, and Kimmel’s heartfelt pleas re: healthcare and the Vegas massacre showed a whole other dimension of who he is.
Fallon is one-note “nice goofy guy.”
He’s purposefully ignorant. No wonder his ratings are going down. I understand he’s a late night talk show host, but shit is serious dude. Take a moment to realize how effed the USA is right now. He should let people know that hes aware because right now it looks like he doesn’t give a sh!t.
It is impossible for anybody at this point into Trump’s presidency to be neutral. You must have an opinion on politics. People who decided to be so cool and be neutral did not bother to vote in the 2016 elections and now all of us collectively are harvesting the consequences.
Fallon is a massive and very sloppy drunk. I imagine being a typical alcoholic he is selfish so makes sense this wouldn’t appeal to him..
Also know this to be true based on mine and other experiences as service staff during the Superbowl in Indianapolis a few years back. He was a nice guy but always some degree of Intoxicated at all times.
There’s a photo of Fallon next to the word “mediocre” in the dictionary.
That’s an insult to mediocre.
No kidding, it’s astonishing to me that this no talent has a career.
And it’s fine by me if he doesn’t get on the anti-Trump-train. But I prefer to watch late night comedy that is sharp on current events, thought-provoking and helps me laugh at the clown that is in office.
Well, he has done some funny Trump jokes, some just okay, and some Don, Jr. jokes.
I did love this joke Jimmy Fallon did.
“The Washington Post reports that some White House staffers have already started looking for other jobs,” he continued. “A lot of them have posted their résumés on the job-hunting site, ‘IWorkedForAMonster.com.”
So, he doesn’t care about all the people negatively effected, people losing health care, their homes, racism, etc.etc. nice. Makes him sound like a sociopath.
I would boycott his show but I already don’t watch it. 🤷🏻♀️
Me neither.
Is Jimmy Fallon under the impression that any of us actually want to be consumed by politics like it’s a fun hobby? It’s about survival, you shmuck. It’s about caring for ourselves and the world around us. It’s having principals, it’s having a moral conscience. It’s about dignity and respect. What a fete for you to be void of such decency.
I can understand a person keeping their political opinions to themselves especially in a day and age where it can feel like a real witch hunt if you disagree with anything i.e. you voted for Brexit – you’re evil etc.
But I think to say that you have no interest in politics whatsoever is extremely naïve. Politics affects absolutely everything.
But anyone who voted for Brexit is ‘evil’ (although I will grant these people the benefit of doubt if they regretted their decision), one needs to be blindfolded to oblivion not to see that a petty point about immigration is actually damaging the lives of 3.2 million people (of which I am one).
I had to go to therapy thanks to Brexit. Should I not voice it out for fear of a witch hunt?
We need to speak out, whether we get hunted down or not.
Fallon, on the other hand, is not touched by Trump’s derailed ways directly, nor indirectly as he has the financial/race privilege to survive the ‘storm’. So speaking out is not convenient for him and he would have to probably stand a witch hunt with no personal issues involved.
ETA: I have delurked today as Brexit has made me itch since June 2016.
I’m glad you’ve delurked, I’ve missed your posts, I mostly lurk as well, but I remember you. I’m so sorry about brexit and how it has adversely affected your life. It’s good that you’ve cared for yourself by going to therapy, and awful that you’ve had to. Over here looking at who is in the Oval Office, I’ve needed to do the same for my anxiety is through the roof. I am not welcome in the country I was born in, I’m used to it but lately it’s become quite “in your face,” you know? Anyway, good luck to you, I hope things work out for you.
We watch only Colbert these days. He’s smart, and satire is the time honored way to battle tyrants. Fallon may also have the added problem that he wants too much to be buddies with celebrities [from whatever sphere].
I love Stephen so much, but I think the show format doesn’t give him time to actually write anything funny or scathing the way he used to. He’s basically reading the headlines right now and cracking one-liners. They’ve been doing heroics with the show schedule attempting to give him more days off, which means looong days, and they’ve been stuffing the interview roster full of like 95% actors. Usually Stephen has to set them up for questions about their personal lives unless you get a champion storyteller like Jenny Slate, Paul Rust (his Colbert segment is maybe my fave of all time), or Conan, who just told back-to-back-to-back stories. Stephen often seems bored with this, and forgets things he’s told them, or interrupts them just as they’re getting to the best bit of the story to railroad them back on topic. When he’s engaged with someone and their work, it’s a totally different person behind the desk and he’s sharp, insightful, listening, asking great questions.
Anyway! Stephen hasn’t lost his wit, but the showrunners seem to be catering to these very conservative expectations: Stephen will do a ripped-from-the-headlines political monologue, there will be celeb interviews, there will be one or two late-night bits of comedy comprised of strung-together one-liners. I guess Comedy Central decided to play hardball with “the Word” segments after all, because we haven’t seen another piece resembling what Stephen used to do with The Word, and that sort of segment, IMHO, is where he really shines.
They’re doing well with ratings right now, so I’m probably in the minority, but I loved what Stephen was trying to do with the show at first when he was micromanaging everything. He had non-movie-star guests; I loved the early bits like Friday Night Fights (they were hysterical), I loved learning about some of his producers and staff and how the show is run.
I feel that the new media world caters more to the smart, well-prepared takeaway piece, like what Seth Meyers has been doing with A Closer Look, what John Oliver prepares so brilliantly every week, and what Sam Bee does with her entire show. I guess the big late-night star-studded show fills a niche, but it feels like a dinosaur, and it’s like the execs are catering to people’s idea of what dinosaur they want to see before it goes extinct.
I love Stephen, but I hope he doesn’t look up in 10 years and find he’s been stuck in a rut of catering to other people’s expectations of what it means to run a late-night show without making it his own.
Senna, very thoughtful comments. THE WORD segments were indeed brilliant.
This guy’s house band is The Roots. THE ROOTS. And he doesn’t care about politics???? So he doesn’t care about how the current climate is affecting them??? Because when you are Black, it doesn’t matter how much money you have because it can’t shield you from racism.
Very good point. That makes his apathy even worse.
Gah! Thank you!
He sucks.
I don’t even know what to say. What an idiot.
How hard would it have been to simply say, I regret bringing 45 on the show and making light of what kind of person he is, this is why I usually leave the political stuff to hard hitters like Colbert who have been doing it a long time and are very good at it.
No one is asking him to be Colbert. No one is asking him to suddenly make serious political commentary on his show.
But we shouldn’t have to ask him to deeply examine why it was a horrible decision to invite 45 on his show and act like it was a big laugh. But we have to when after all this, Fallon thinks a good excuse is “well, I was never into politics anyway, derp!!”
A weak, gutless excuse from a weak, gutless host.
How nice to have so much privilege that you get the option of not caring about politics. Must be nice to be a rich, white millionaire.
Absolutely. When a person says “I don’t care about politics,” all it means is that he occupies such a privileged position in society that monumental issues that hit at the core of the majority of Americans’ lives don’t make a dint on his life, and that he simply doesn’t give enough of a flip about the soon-to-be inflicted suffering on his fellow human beings to get off his late-night throne and speak out. Who knows–he may have actually voted for Trump to begin with, which would also make satirizing him uncomfortable and inconvenient.
I don’t watch his show but listened to his interview with Terry Gross on Fresh Air. He is pretty much a light souflee, airhead of a man who is full of self praise. At one point he said he couldn’t watch daytime tv because there aren’t enough laughs. He then said in a halting, valley girl voice that he read “Meaning of Life” but said the author was Arthur Frankel (it’s Viktor Frankel). I don’t believe for a second he read that book, but he tried to come off as a a deep person.
He’s the Howdy Doody of late night tv.
I am a black woman. Not caring about politics is not an option.
I’m bummed Universal Studios FL removed the Twister attraction and replaced it with a 3D Jimmy Fallon ride. Total downgrade. I’d rather be in a tornado than a 3 min ride through NYC with this knucklehead.*
(* I’m exaggerating, of course. Tornadoes are no joke. But, that ride was a classic and I’ll miss it)
Wonder if Trump has something on him, like compromising video or mob ties. Far fetched, but reaching for answers when nothing makes sense. I don’t see Fallon as the kind of guy who could ever stand up to any public or peer pressure, and yet here he is at this late date, still refusing to say a word about our political plight. Odd.
He has. I just don’t think he’s comfortable with it. He’s more of a lightweight monologue kind of humor. But he throws Trump jokes in there. Here are many of them in the Daily Beast article. https://www.thedailybeast.com/jimmy-fallon-finally-mans-up-and-goes-after-donald-trump
And he got serious also one night and talked about Charlottesville on his late night show.
“Even though The Tonight Show isn’t a political show, it’s my responsibility to stand up against intolerance and extremism as a human being,” he said. Watching what happened in Charlottesville over the weekend, Fallon explained, and seeing “Nazi flags and torches and white supremacists … I was sick to my stomach.” Speaking of his daughters, who are 2 and 4, he wondered, “How can I explain to them that there’s so much hatred in this world?” At times he seemed close to tears, particularly when he praised Heather Heyer, the 32-year-old protester who was killed when she was hit by a car allegedly driven into a crowd by a white supremacist.”
I see what you’re saying. I did like his statement on Charlottesville.
It did seem he was acknowledging that he’s just simply not as good at making political humour.
When I read his statement in full, I didn’t think it was that bad — he seemed to be saying he can’t be as funny as Colbert, etc. when it comes to making political jokes, which is what everyone says about him anyway. I do think you need a certain kind of intellectual delivery to make those kinds of jokes, and I think Colbert has it.
He could have left the part out about not caring about politics, but I read his statement as an awareness of his limitations as a comedian.
Some comics aren’t good at political jokes. It’s not their thing. He does tell Trump jokes here and there. Why judge him? He does jokes in the opening monologue that works for him. We have more than enough late night hosts taking Trump on the full monty. And Jimmy Kimmel does them here and there, but nothing like Seth and Stephen. And there’s other late night shows taking on Trump on cable.
As a liberal, I refuse to start dictating how every celebrity should speak out or comics or late-night hosts should use their humor in opening monologues. I become no better than the right going off on Stephen Colbert trying to dictate his monologues.
I judged Jimmy for Trump coming on and having a softball interview. That is how he interviews, but then just don’t have the asshole on. But other than that, Jimmy can do his thing.
Agreed Jayna!
Fallon has been the biggest bottom feeder I’ve seen. I’ve never found him likeable.
If you are apathetic about politics, Fallon, you are part of the problem.
He did not have a problem making jokes about President Obama during Obama’s first term. He had not issue with giving Michelle Bachmann a platform to promote her dangerous book. He did not have a problem throwing The Roots under the bus when they told him how they felt about Bachmann and the song they were going to use for her walk out music.
What I am saying is, Fallon is full of it and his ratings are only going to get worse and The Roots can always go back on the road and continue to be the best live band ever.
He made jokes about Obama. He’s made jokes about Trump. It’s not a centerpiece of his humor.
The Bachman thing I agree was mindblowing. The lady is disgusting. I only agree having someone like her on to skewer, like David Letterman would have.
His remark saying he is apathetic about politics won’t help him nor his ratings. You can say political humor is not your forte. And I can see people saying they find politics distasteful. Many find politicians and promises self-serving to get elected and then nothing done. But saying you don’t care that much about politics means you don’t care about issues, and that is not excusable. Another foot-in-mouth remark. In your daily life, you should deeply care.
@Jayna, we seem to be similarly-minded on the Jimmy Fallon issue and I’m glad to hear someone else express what makes me uncomfortable about it.
I’m a black, foreign woman and these last 5 years of being back in the US working on another masters and now living and working here sexism and racism has been IN MY FACE. I’ve commented elsewhere of the many times I’ve contemplated packing up and shopping out. Since Trump’s campaign and election I’ve had the inner tool of “let me off of this ride” and for the students I teach and interact with I want them to have another living, breathing black, foreign woman in their lives, a positive relationship that will hopefully help them question the undignified, selfish, seeming unconcerned for other humans values and teachings Trump and some of his supporters now have a wide platform to disperse.
That being said, while I am conservative and hate what I see around me as heavy as the hearts of so many in this country are over current political state of affairs, as an outsider in some way I find so much about it hopeful. Trump and some of his supporters are making many aware of what long has been thought, believed yet not expressed. There is an understanding of how prevalent some ideologies are. Further, more people are speaking, more people are listening. People from different backgrounds, influences, classes, ethnicities and religious beliefs are finding they have something important in common “care for the welfare of their fellow man”. We may not agree in all the applications of this but under the umbrella of grief over current politics people are finding they are not alone and they’re not as different as they previously thought. Yes racism, sexism, predjudices etc. exist. They were there all along. But more people are aware of, disgusted by and in my opinion finding unity in wanting to fight it. And they’re people who are so different! I find that beautiful! My prayer for this country is that these 4 years people across varying differences will be united as they find ways to thrive and be strengthened in common pain and there will be a growth in listening, understanding and empathizing with others who are different (politically, religiously, socially, ethnically etc.) and living peaceably with them that takes this country forward. But I think that’s going to necessitate being ok with others not valuing and championing all the same things we do in the same ways (I’ll put myself out there and say I’m a conservative Christian and consider myself pro-life. Nonetheless (maybe even because of my spiritual beliefs), I’m bothered with enforcing on other women what they choose to do with their bodies. I have no problem expressing my concerns and grief over abortion but at the end of the day I don’t get to make that choice for other women. My choice is to love the human who is literally before me regardless of their lifestyle and choices because I can’t change people and it’s not my job). If this or any country I lived in became all abortion any time for whatever reason (if that’s a thing) that doesn’t change the fact that I live with humans that I should love. We don’t HAVE to agree on everything to unite in the welfare, dignity and respect for humanity.
That being said, I have long found it unsettling how much weight and concern we give to celebrities and socialites we don’t know. They don’t owe us their opinion on everything or a look into all the aspects of their lives. Why is it so important that they speak out on every issue? Why can’t they keep their opinions to themselves? Why can’t they engage and then realize for some reason they’d rather not comment on certain things. I may be unique in my opinion (I don’t have cable and resisted Hulu for the longest because I hate being told what to value, wear, eat etc. unsolicited. (Who are you to me person in the advert?!). I guess what I’m saying is I get that Jimmy’s “I don’t care about politics” comment is upsetting but that’s probably why he’s chosen not to comment for so long bc people jump down his throat over what little he does or says politically (and seems not to be good at). Even if we don’t agree with his opinion (and I really hope he just expressed it poorly😬) that’s kinda his opinion. He can do his little talk show lite. If you’re into it tune in, if not don’t. Many people disengage from politics talk right now because it’s divisive, others because it’s upsetting. I think that’s fair and their right. He’s expressed concern and care over other issues that most of us agree on, just not in wanting to get political.
Can’t stand him.
Nobody gets to be apolitical in this climate, dude. You’re either supporting a fascist or you’re not, simple as that. You don’t get to play Switzerland when the cost is human lives.
I agree 100% with Jimmy. No need to be anti anything. Live your life. You do you!
Can’t live it if the government is invading your right to live it the way you need to.
Even beyond his bad taste in politics and humor, I think Jimmy has just passed his prime time. Not in an age related way, but culturally. Ten years ago things were sooo different. Will Ferrell and the man-child (think the Hangover franchise, ‘bro-code,’ immature man children, etc) ruled pop culture. The fluffy celebrity games were kind of new—we were just getting greater access to celebrities via the birth of social media, over sharing, etc. Celebrity culture esp via reality tv was huge ten years ago. Now, I feel like the culture and the mood has dramatically shifted. Even young flaky people realize they can’t be young and flaky. Activism is the new reality.
Jimmy’s humor is like some of the Friends episodes with Chandler’s homophobia—it doesn’t age well.
I bet he thinks he’s taking the high road.
if he doesn’t want to do politics is his work, so what? I for one avoid discussions on religion and politics because those are very touchy topics.
David Letterman summed up my thoughts on Fallon during his appearance last night on Kimmel when he said, “For the purpose of this conversation, I have nothing but the highest regard for all of the talk-show men and women. Even Jimmy Fallon. I’ll include him.”
Affable as Fallon might be, he’s always been an intellectual lightweight. I get that not everyone can be Colbert. But there comes a point in time when silence gives consent.
…and Seth Myers, and Samantha Bee, and, and, and everyone but Jimmy seems to know how messed up the US is right now – political or not these are just current events. He’s a big effing moron and a prime example of white male privilege. He’s very close with Jerry Seinfeld and I swear that is the only reason he has a job. Because he’s not funny enough to really deserve the job he has and he’s clearly not smart or he never would have said such a stupid thing!
Gimme a break. Unless you live under a rock you are political these days. He must be a Trump closet supporter. (White male) privilege means you get to shut your eyes to the world around you…
Didn’t he do the news on SNL? Which is almost entirely political satire. This fella is full of beans.
…and that’s why the other guys win each night because they offer satire and comedic respite from the idiocy. Jimmy cannot. He simply has neither balls or brains to do so.
Fallon is more of a three stooges type comedian, whereas Colbert, Seth and Kimmel are more thought provoking, intelligent comedians. I prefer the latter.
It will always irk me that NBC fired Conan O’Brien from The Tonight Show for lackluster ratings (?) to give the job back to whiny Jay Leno and then Jay Leno retired a “second” time, to finally give the job to Jimmy Fallon. Conan wasn’t given a chance by NBC. Fallon’s ratings continue to wane yet he still has a job and his show is not even that good. I don’t get it. Obviously Conan got a better deal at TBS but NBC messed up on that one (as they did for passing on Ronan Farrow’s Weinstein story).
This attitude drives me nuts. “I’m not into politics.” As if politics is an entirely optional hobby that one either partakes in or doesn’t, like gardening or woodworking. Politics is not an optional hobby. Politics is serious, it’s people’s lives, it’s people’s rights, it’s the environment, it’s our health care, it’s a million serious, important things. I have a cousin who says this. “I’m just not into politics.” Oh really? Cool, well let me know when you can’t afford the birth control you take for severe PMS, or your other prescriptions, or when the non-profit you work for is shut down b/c of budget cuts, or when our gay cousin calls in tears b/c he’s afraid for his life, you let me know how you’re not into politics then.
Jimmy doesn’t have to be Colbert. He also doesn’t have to be a flippant privileged ass.