For the last couple of months, I’ve spent time locked in a satellite, being forced to watch bad movies with a couple of wise-cracking robots.
Wait. Maybe that wasn’t me, but someone else. I think I may have seen that on TV or something.
Yeah, that’s what it was.
I used to enjoy watching Mystery Science Theater 3000. Still do, in fact. I have all of the episodes on disc or recorded.
If you remember the show, you’ll recall that there was a character, TV’s Frank, played by Frank Conniff, that joined the cast at the start of Season Two and left at the end of Season Six. I liked the character. A lot. He was funny, and Frank Conniff made him really likable.
What’s Frank Conniff up to now? He’s still a comedian, and besides doing stand-up and participating in Cinematic Titanic shows, is doing commentary for Salon.com. Yes, it’s political. And yes, Frank is a liberal. Frank Conniff, I mean. Here’s his first Salon commentary.
[Vimeo direct link]
Tip: Satellite News
Now, if you’re a fan of MST3K, as Frank J., Harvey, and I are, I’m curious as to what you think of Frank Conniff’s commentary. Lots of Satellite News readers agree with his politics, but a good number don’t.
I had a brief back-and-forth with one of the commenters there. He ended up linking to IMAO as evidence that I’m political or something. I thanked him for the link.
Anyway, what about you? Was it funny, regardless of political bent? How about the forum, an MST3K fan site? Is that the place for political commentary? And what about entertainers who go political? Does it ruin your appreciation of their past work?
What do you think about Frank Conniff’s commentary?
UPDATE: Linked by Frank Conniff. I think he thinks we think he sucks. I don’t think he sucks. I think his politics suck, but that’s true of most entertainers.
Working class Americans shouldn’t be “sitting around the house”. They should be WORKING.
That is a prime example of the pot calling the kettle black.
I’ll admit that Christie has done some newsworthy things, and I actually liked the “fat guy – NJ Governor” mashup angle.
But toward the end, it became less about Christie and more about liberal talking points, so he kinda lost me.
I’m a little torn on the appropriateness of political commentary on the MST3K forum. Since Conniff was a major player on the show, his current activities are fair game. On the other hand, although I sometimes post cleavage pictures at my personal blog, I don’t post them here, because I know that’s not what IMAO’s all about.
So put me down for “I don’t like it personally, but I can’t go so far as to condemn it on principle.”
Harvey:
Wait. What? Cleavage? I didn’t see anything you wrote after I read “cleavage.”
Personally, I hope all of these Hollywood socialists follow the Oprah template for career destruction. Letting them spew their liberal talking points has become the quickest way to get rid of them.
Frank should have stuck to pushing the button…that’s what he was good at.
I’m a huge MST3K fan, have been since they were still on the air. Funny thing- I recently found out that, though the Cinematic Titanic crew is largely liberal (they’re a group of former MST3k cast members who are kinda doing the MST3k thing, only through video) Mike Nelson is a Republican. Unlike the CT crew, Nelson has decided to keep politics out of his comedy, however, and mostly sticks to the jokes.
By the way… RIFFTRAX.com is run by Mike Nelson and two other MST3K guys- and it is HILARIOUS. Plus it’s much less expensive than the CT’s set-up. Highly recommended if you’re missing MST3k. Seriously, I watched the Twilight movies with the Riffs and it turned them all into solid-gold comedies. Also recommend watching the Star Wars prequels with the Riffs… and pretty much any other horrible, over-rated film that’s come out of hollywood lately.
He has more chins than a Chinese phone book and he’s making fat jokes?
Now that’s funny!
Rifftrax is Def. the way to go. It’s done by the real MST3k Mike Nelson who was head writer on the show then became the host. Kevin Murphy the voice of Tom Servo from the 2nd season on Comedy Central all the way to the end on Sci-Fi and Bobo the Gorilla on Sci-Fi, and Bill Corbett the Second voice of Crow T Robot after the show moved to Sci Fi and The Brain Guy AKA Observer. The CT crew is actually a ripoff of Rifftrax (Rifftrax had been around for awhile and was a success before the CT crew was even created). So go to Rifftrax and have fun listening to Mike, Kevin and Bill. The shorts are the best thing and they are hilarious, and you don’t have to worry about syncing an audio track while you’re watching the video.
Absolutely. I thought – still think – that Barbra Streisand had one of the most amazingly beautiful singing voices in the world (apparently, as Anna Russell would say, because she has resonance where her brains ought to be). She has been so obnoxiously outspoken in her political lecturing to the poor dumb slobs who just don’t get how liberals are going to save the world, however, that I simply cannot listen to any of her old recordings without a sour reaction that absolutely destroys my appreciation of the performance. I won’t purchase any of her recordings because I will not contribute a penny to that shrill harpie. Unfortunately, changing the station when her songs appear on the radio doesn’t stop the rise of bile that begins from the moment I hear the opening notes, and am reminded of her entitled ass telling the rest of the world how to live their lives. She has well and truly poisoned the well by using her mouth for non-singing purposes.
COB – I have the same problem, having heard Patton Oswalt do his liberal schtick.
Makes it very hard for me to enjoy watching Ratatouille, which I like a lot, as long as I’m not hearing Patton’s voice.
Bet that guy never goes – what was I thinking?
Yup. Frank had a good gig with the button pushing. Let him spout. For a comedian who needs fans, he won’t enlarge his base as he travels down that road. It’s one thing to spout off camera. It’s another to make it part of his professional gig.
And I can’t bring myself to watch Rifftrax. I enjoy being in the theater with Tom, Mike, Joel and Crow. I like watching Crow and the optical illusion of his shadow as it appears to face away or toward the screen. I also like the dumb skits. Last night, I watched Tormented. Joel made a lighthouse, and they took turns picking awful musicians to push off of it. Tom Servo picked Kenny Rogers twice. A hoot!
Whoopsie! Looks like they closed the comments over there. Right after some lib said something along the lines of: any Republicans whose feelings were hurt needs to grow a thicker skin.
I’ve noticed that about political humor. It’s hilarious so long as you agree with the sentiment. Otherwise you’re only alienating people who disagree with you- have to wonder about the MST3k people purposefully alienating a chunk of their viewers.
Then again, Cinematic Titanic kinda sucks, I’m guessing if Frank can’t get work as a movie comedian, expanding out to political commentary might seem like a solid business move.
Conservative comedians are out of work (black listed) and you feature a … a …..! For shame.
{Humor is in the ear of the beholder.}
Doug…what on Earth are you talking about? I’m one of those weird liberals that would defend your opinion to the death – if it made any sense. I’m afraid you’re going to have to explain what you mean by “blacklisted,” since we no longer live in the 1950’s.
Ezra Pound and Robert Frost were two of the greatest poets of the Modern era, and they were both horrible people and pants-crappingly insane. I happen to share Frank’s politics. From what I have heard through the grapevine, I vehemently disagree with Mike Nelson’s politics (one of Frank’s MST3K colleagues). Does that keep me from appreciating the years of laughs that both have provided? Heck nah. They’re my heroes. I do what I can to financially support both of them because I appreciate their product. All of this binary, all-or-nothing thinking is making us mentally weak. Suck it up and quit whining, folks. Remember way back when Americans were tough and could handle others disagreeing with them? Cinematic Titanic, RiffTrax, and the original: they have all brought me great joy! Thanks to all who have been involved.
“For a comedian who needs fans, he won’t enlarge his base as he travels down that road. It’s one thing to spout off camera. It’s another to make it part of his professional gig. ”
Definitely didn’t work for Jon Stewart. What was he thinking going political?
Mike Nelson is actually a very conservative Christian, but he never really allowed his politics to intrude on MST3K.
Frank hasn’t either with his old MST3K work and his current Cinematic Titanic project.
They are both professional enough to not let their politics interfere with their work.
As long as they keep it that way, I could care less.
Kinda unbelievable how so many Mst3k fans are so touchy about politics-“conservative” comics are very few and rarely funny for a reason, think about it.
I follow Frank on Twitter. His comments do rub me the wrong way sometimes, but a lot of the time I think he’s counting on the sheer audacity of his statements to be part of the punchline. I mean, heaven help us if a conservative person would say the same kind of things, that’d just be wrong, but Frank is good at taking refuge in audacity (and at least we’re always sure where he stands on issues.)
Having said that, I did prefer his Twitter feed when he posted about the music he listened to back when he was first getting started. The guy has great taste in jazz music.
Frankly speaking (hmmmm)…I don’t understand your statement, Cheryl. Conservative comics?
How do you know if they are few and not funny? Most comedians PROBABLY espouse liberalism because they want to get jobs. It is my understanding that anything OTHER than liberal/progressive/socialist/communistic leanings will make one a pariah in Hollywood. Charleston Heston comes to mind.
Most conservative comics, I would imagine, are in the closet. Just as Frank should have stayed. ***sigh***
For the most part, I don’t really care one way or another…but if you want to rub my nose in it (like the myriad of stars: Streisand, Bono, Baldwin, and now Coniff, who really isn’t a STAR) then I will take note and try to avoid spending any of my hard earned money on anything they are selling.
I don’t find liberal “comics” such as the repulsive and disgusting Bill Maher funny.
I don’t know why it’s a surprise to anyone that most great comedians, actors, musicians and writers are not conservative. Demographically these are the smart nerdy theater/band geeks who spent their formative years being picked on by the powerful and the ‘normals’ and responded by flipping the bird to authority whenever possible. In general they are educated, young, analytical thinkers with low religiosity none of which lends itself to rigid conservative ideology. They spend most of their careers gigging wherever they can for meager pay, trying to survive without health insurance while being screwed over by people in suits and you wonder why they might be fans of policies that favor the poor and help people get heath care.
Not that it matters, comedians are not there to reinforce your sense of what is ideologically right in the world. They make you laugh or they don’t, if they do you pay them. Frank has made me laugh quite a few times over the years and his FB posts run about 50% hilarious which is more than I can say for most people. His current act which has a lot of leftist political stuff seems to be doing well for him so I say go for it.
Charlotte – Way back when he had his “Politically Incorrect” show, Maher used to be a libertarian. Then 9/11 hit, and it had the opposite effect on him that it did in waking up the VERY liberal Dennis Miller.
Not that Maher was ever super-funny, but he also used to be a lot less crude, too. At least when Andrew Dice Clay was crude, he was doing it as shtick. Maher just does it to be a dick.
As was probably his goal all along, here we all are talking about TVs Frank for the first time since 1996. I’d say so far, so good on going political!
The funniest thing wasn’t what Frank said (start things off at Salon.com with a poem? I mean, where do you GO from there?) but all this B.S. jealousy about “liberal comics” and how mean that big, jewey “liberal media” is for seemingly giving Dems all your candy! Hahaha! Maybe Cons only SEEM to make for bad comedians? The reality they create in NeoCon media is definitely their best material. No wonder you guys always call Limbaugh a “comedian” and an “entertainer” whenever he puts his hoof in his mouth! THAT’s ConComedy!
If you liked Patton Oswalt (as someone above sited, of all comics) or ANYONE before you knew their politics, only having found out theyre Liberal and then having stopped (like the former Streissand fan above who had BETTER be a woman, or they had better really enjoy their life in the sexual and intellectual closet) , I’m sorry, but much like in November, you lose because you have no idea what you actually STAND for! You just know you don’t like it! Comedy needs exaggeration. Conservitatism is exaggeration incarnate! Complaining that it seems to you that Liberals get/own all the _____ and my team is down in the 8th inning… Well…Welcome to liberalism circa 2004! And if you were miserable then, too, maybe you should find a new hobby?
Conservitatism today: Racist? Possibly. Gay bashing? Most definitely (way to hate on Frank for coming out, you big MSTies)! Good comedians? Never have been and never will be! Now shut up and let the liberal comics make me laugh! If that was a con’s job, we would all, regardless of political stripe, die of sadness and despair.
PS- I’ve heard this Mike J. Nelson is a conservative crap before… Well, if he’s such a Con, how is he ever funny?
I don’t think Frank sucks. I think I’m not the target audience for his political humor.
Although “Defense of Marinara Act” was frickin’ hilarious.
Frank Connif’s comedy is not even close to political. If it’s true and funny, it’s funny. You’re either missing the punch lines or are truly an unfunny person who takes their own politics way too seriously or themselves for that matter. Unfunny would be Brad Stine at CPAC. Not one punchline in any of his material and he simply yells at the audience for no reason. Of course, what logical comedian would even take that gig unless they paid you a ton to show up. Look it up on Youtube. Very painful to watch.
Don’t worry guys, Mike Nelson is still a wingnut.
I love the guy, but Frank is definitely political-biased in his comedy, exclusively favoring the Left. There’s no doubt about it.
He averages at least 3 or 4 digs on Bush (‘previous administration’ as he refers to it). Why not dig on the current admin? In the past, comedians have always attacked the current admin, not necessarily favoring one over the other. That was the way to do it. You didn’t rub people the wrong way. Comedians realized that there’s plenty of material to mock from both sides, all three if you include Perot or Nader 😉
See, that’s how they used to do it. Now, you only hear liberal comedians attack the right. It’s terribly boring and usually not funny, just invoking applause from the like-minded rather than actual laughs.
When SNL first began, they made fun of President Ford but also of President Jimmy Carter. They made fun of Papa Bush, but also of Dukakis. Hilarious skits. MST3K had few, very few political jokes during their run, and the only ones I’ve heard are either against Pat Buchanan, Trent Lott or Conservative Christians. Nor were they mean-spirited or unfunny. And I’ve not heard a single one against the Left. That shows that Mike, who was head writer, and actually voiced some of those jokes, didn’t mind riffing on the right, his own side.
Whereas Frank, whom I also think is hilarious, rubs me the wrong way with his political digs, because he reminds me of Letterman – in other words, he comes out of character when he utters it, making sure you know it’s how he really feels and is convinced you feel exactly the same way as he does. That’s a big mistake many liberals, famous and un-famous alike make; they cannot imagine that anyone would disagree with them and feel any attack on the right, no matter how crass or inappropriately timed is perfectly fine. If anyone says it’s not the right place or time, they say ‘don’t be so thin skinned’, etc.
I think that’s also not only a big mistake, but just shows a lack of respect for their audience (or those who they are with if talking about conversations between friends and colleagues). I like CT and RT. Both are very funny, but neither approaches the magical genius of MST3K. The fact that only a couple of Pat Buchanan jokes are all that make up the political humor of the long-running series makes it that much more magical. With the way media is today, finding something, anything that isn’t politically skewed is a major challenge. There’s politics everywhere, it’s nice to get away from it and just laugh and enjoy. I pity the folks who are immersed in politics all day. It’s sucks out your soul.