Julia Louis-Dreyfus was honored with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor last Sunday, at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. Julia is currently filming the final season of her political satire, VEEP. In her everyday life, she’s never shied away from discussing politics but last year it became quite personal when she was diagnosed with breast cancer and used the opportunity to bring awareness to the need for universal healthcare. Naturally during her interviews on the red carpet, she was asked what she thought the funniest thing about the current administration was. As polite as Julia is, she had a hard time answering because like so many of us, she just doesn’t see anything funny in what’s happening in this country.
Actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus said in an interview with Hill.TV’s “Rising” that she doesn’t think the state of politics in the U.S. is funny anymore.
“I’m very worried right now about where we are as a country, and I have a feeling like I want to get our country back,” Louis-Dreyfus told The Hill’s Judy Kurtz on Sunday. The interview aired on Monday.
“I don’t think it’s that funny anymore, to tell you the truth. If you want to get funny, watch ‘Veep,’ she said, referring to HBO’s Emmy award-winning show.
The “Veep” star was at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., on Sunday to accept the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
This reminded me of the comments Amy Poehler made in The Hollywood Reporter article on comedy. “Who cares, the world is on fire.” It’s hard to be quippy when the walls are crumbling down. I very much appreciate The Daily Show and Seth Meyers’ ability to deliver devastating news humorously day after day. But ultimately, I agree with Julia – I just don’t think there is anything funny about what’s going on. And yes, VEEP does take me out of my misery because no matter how much I dislike those characters, their actions have no real consequences, which allows me to laugh at them. The new season doesn’t air until next spring. Let’s pray we can see the light at the end of the political tunnel by then, which will allow us to laugh even harder.
Julia’s award ceremony will air November 19th on PBS. E! has a brief recap of some of the presenters. It sounds like Julia’s was the funniest speech, which is appropriate. I’m glad she’s feeling well enough to get back out in the spotlight. She’s also helped get out the vote and I especially appreciate that because she’s in my state.
Julia partnered with Wes Gordon, the creative director for Caroline Herrera, on this t-shirt. The proceeds benefit the AiRS Foundation, which promotes breast cancer research. Not sure how much Julia had to do with the design itself, but I think it’s a great looking shirt. You can purchase one here.
Photo credit: WENN Photos and Getty Images
Yep. It stopped being funny a long time ago.
Or it was never funny in the first place.
I mean, this country has always been like this. It seems white people are just upset that their apple carts are being rocked and the world truly sees them for who they are. They want the country back alright, to where they can do what they want and no one question it.
“They want the country back alright, to where they can do what they want and no one question it.”
But isn’t that exactly what Trump and his goons are doing? I think that people are so distressed because even if we’ve not made as much progress as we’d like, at least with competent leadership that offered sound, progressive policies, we’ve had hope that it could happen. With the GOP controlling all branches, there’s no hope at all and things will surely get worse.
No.
This bland married white woman is appalled at what’s happening. I’ve never voted for a Republican in my life and while I still have no personal experience living the experience of racism, I’ve been told that it’s like a sharpened version of the fear vomit that’s lived in my throat since November 2016. I would very much prefer to make actual progress in this country, not return to some 1950s wonderland of whiteness that was actually pretty uniformly awful.
White lady. Democrat. Voted for Obama. I work with minority and low-income patients who are being denied basic medications and supplies under insurance which is getting more restrictive by the day. It’s about to get squeezed more. If you think the country “has always been like this” just wait – it’s gonna get worse. If we don’t vote the GOP out, people will die of neglect. So go ahead and you tell me just who I am.
It was never funny.
Here’s the thing, though – it was never funny. Part of the reason we’re in this mess was because too many people thought it was and continue to not take it seriously.
I love her and am so glad she’s doing well.
I think that in the past, although the political situation may have been bad, it never felt like a speeding downward spiral. These days, every day brings more bad news on so many fronts. Even the weather is hostile. It just feels like there is no light at the end of the tunnel.
We must not lose hope…the GOPs are counting on us losing hope, turning tail and running to hide whilst they rape and pillage. We must NEVER give up, we must never give in, we must continue to fight for human and animal rights. We must not lose hope that each of us can make a difference, however small, to another person and we can build on the strength and hope of each other when one of us feels done in, another of us can step up the fight till you catch your breath. Because we must never give in to these tools who say we are ‘less than’ because we have less material goods than they do….”gosh, y ‘all too stupid to steal, rape and pillage and get away with it so you deserve to be shat upon, y’all……”. We must not believe their rhetoric. We must not…..
I admire her thoughtfulness and depth so much. I hope she’s feeling as great as she looks.
Happy to hear she received this award. Always considered her a national treasure!