This weekend at iO Fest, the largest improv comedy festival in Chicago, the Whirled News Tonight team showcased their unique blend of humor as they drew inspiration from current headlines.
With President Donald Trump making news by releasing billions of dollars in education funding, the team quickly crafted comedic sketches revolving around the implications of the education budget, especially focusing on the ever-present issues of inadequate classroom funding.
Contrastingly, last year’s festival coincided with former President Joe Biden’s announcement to exit the 2024 presidential race.
This year, however, the political landscape is rife with controversy, heightened by CBS’ recent decision to cancel “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”
Local comic James Dugan, a regular performer with Whirled News Tonight, explained that addressing the president is an unavoidable aspect of their comedy.
“If we grabbed the newspaper and took out every article that mentioned Trump, we would eliminate about 75% of the newspaper,” said Dugan.
He added, “Up until a day or two ago, we at least knew we could do the sports section, but now he’s talking about sports also,” referring to Trump’s recent comments encouraging the Washington Commanders to revert to their previous name, the Redskins.
Stephen Colbert, initially from South Carolina, honed his comedic skills in Chicago before he reached national prominence.
In light of Colbert’s cancellation, many local comedians believe the resultant humor will turn even more satirical toward Trump rather than diminishing.
Mark Bazer, the local late-night host of The Interview Show at the Hideout, voiced similar sentiments.
“That would go for whoever is the president,” he stated.
He acknowledged the ongoing tradition among comedians and late-night hosts to poke fun at those in power, emphasizing, “That’s the gig. My guess is there’s very few comedians or late-night talk show hosts who are going to bend the knee.”
Bazer speculated that Colbert might have moderated his critiques of Trump during his tenure, but in light of his show’s cancellation, he might feel liberated to speak more freely.
Comedians often grapple with the sheer volume of Trump-related news in their routines, a concern shared by Dugan, who noted the danger of oversaturation.
“A lot of times with our show in particular, we get four or five newspapers and spread them out,” Dugan explained.
He mentioned the dilemma of whether to omit Trump-related jokes given the public’s fatigue on the topic.
Eunji Kim, a stand-up comedian with a history of political activism, characterized late-night comedy as a critical platform where comedians, through incisive humor, not only react to the news but can also inform the audience.
She commented, “Comedians come from a place of punching up,” adding that this form of humor can deeply unsettle those in power, revealing their vulnerabilities.
Kim referred to how late-night television historically has played an informative role, recalling how “The Daily Show absolutely did that work during Bush’s second administration.”
She expressed concern that Colbert’s cancellation and ongoing legal actions against major news networks signal broader issues that should be closely monitored.
“The fact that a sitting public official is doing so much private litigation, and that it results in this type of thing — it’s dangerous,” she concluded.
As iO Fest continues, it becomes evident that comedy, fueled by controversy, serves as both entertainment and a lens through which to view the complexities of contemporary politics.
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