Jay Leno just alluded to the "war on Christmas"

[hiaasenrocks]

in his monologue. Mocked "Happy Holidays" and said you have to have a "Holiday Tree." Then went on to say atheists are against organized religion but apparently it's okay to have organized atheism.

I know he's just a comedian, but these comments struck me as something he takes personally. I don't think he's very funny to begin with, but you could tell the tone of these comments weren't really in a joking manner. Very strange. I guess Leno has bought into the bullshit about a "war on Christmas."

[Oceansaway]

1. cuz in reality, hes a bush ass-kisser

[Dem Agog]

2. Leno's a freak of nature... and just a freak...

He's always been a right winger, only one who plays it up for laughs. At least he's funnier than that washed up Dennis Miller.

I'm not surprised Leno's spouting that bullshit. He's a dumbass and got where he was by having that chin and mouth so far up Johnny's ass that Johnny couldn't stop short for fear of getting some Leno-chin anal action.

I don't watch Leno. He's a waste of skin and oxygen.

[Nikki Stone1]

3. Friend of AHnold

Nuff said

[kevinbgoode]

4. He's boring. . .and a shill for the White House.

I wonder how the audience reacted.

[kevinbgoode]

5. They really try to work the "holiday tree" angle

while concentrating their political work on retailers and public schools.

[Lindacooks]

10. He's not only boring, he's lazy.

Fat jokes are old, boring, and stupid, and only lazy 'comedians' use them. Between fat jokes and Clinton jokes, that's about 99% of his repertoire.

[drhilarius]

6. "organized atheism"?

Crap! This thursday after atheist church, me and my atheist priest are going to have to sit down at the atheist pot-luck supper and talk about this.

[hiaasenrocks]

7. I should have been more specific.

He was talking about an atheist on TV, and the caption said he was part of some atheist organization.

I guess to Leno, any group that has anything to do with religion (or no religion) is the same as an organized church.

:shrug:

[Warpy]

8. Don't forget your atheist sacred texts

and your copy of the liturgy so that you can have arguments over the finer points of lacking belief. Oh, and be prepared to sing all those atheist hymns. That makes us all feel so warm and cuddly.

[drhilarius]

9. Love those hymns and carols...

"Oh, Come All Ye Faithless", "Silent Night, Secular Night", "Onward Christless Soldiers", I love 'em all.

[mcg]

12. some venerated atheist texts...

The Origin of the Species
The Blind Watchmaker
Darwin’s Dangerous Idea
etc.

You don't believe what they have written?

You don't believe in all those gradual mutations
that fill in the gaps in the fossil record?

You don't believe that qualia are illusions?

[Dogmudgeon]

11. Leno is being "sat on" (and other observations)

I think it sticks out like a sore thumb which, unfortunately, the NBC top brass has stuck up Jay's behind.

His friendship with Governator Ahnold isn't very significant in that regard. And AS' behavior has definitely been split, as Governor Ahnold and Mr. Schwarzenegger. So, effectively, he cancels himself out, like a Terminator meeting an anti-matter Terminator. And after he leaves office, he will account for a big, fat Goose Egg (i.e., nothing).

Leno gets the largest ratings, and the honchos at NBC appear to have been riding his ass for years, especially since September 12th, 2001. There are also Conservative "activists" who analyze and count every joke for libbrul or "Patriotic" content. I would not be surprised if he has a "Political Adviser" on his writing staff, in the manner of Soviet political officers who accompanied entertainers, scientists, and other loose-cannon types. You can do the math yourself with Leno's Clinton jokes. You can tell that he still pines for the Big Dog, because he still tells Clinton jokes, but count the slant: over the course of a week, it's almost exactly 50-50 for supportive and critical gags.

And there are still at least three marijuana gags per week, usually in banter with bandleader Kevin Eubanks, who can now command nearly any price he wants, second only to Conan's bandleader Max Weinberg. So Jay is the Designated Whipping Boy at NBC.

Lorne Michaels was under similar pressure under Reagan, but since he's now an eminence gris with a lot of pull at NBC, the writing staff at SNL can cut loose. Even their own "War On Christmas" goofing last week contained many, many digs at the Rectal Right. The only real poke-in-the-eye conservative "slant" they've had was when Sen. John McCain was on, slamming Barbra Streisand, which was still a funny skit. Compare that to something like Rachel Dratch's Harriet Miers impression, or Darrell Hammond's weekly slam of Fox News whores -- or Will Forte's Bush and/or Zell Miller impressions. (And note that Hammond is a nominally pro-Bush Republican.)

Dave (not at NBC) and Conan (under Lorne Michaels' wing) can tell the censors to get bent, and often do; Leno is the NBC cash cow, but he's vulnerable, replaceable. He's stepping down after next year, though Conan has been chosen as the heir apparent. Tell me, who the hell would voluntarily step down from Carson's throne? I expect a tell-all book about the politicking at NBC.

Now, of course, Leno isn't Mr. Perfect by any means, but there's more than just the possibility of his own ideological shift happening here. I think it's been blatantly obvious for over four years now. It will be interesting to see how it plays out when he is at last free to speak.

This is one of the reason why I don't give much credence to the politics of entertainers. The party label is misleading. Between Bruce Boxleitner, a Republican who would probably be chucked out of the party if the Theocrats took power, and Jackie Mason, who calls himself a Democrat, but is one of the ugliest Conservatives in America, there is not much consistency. But when it comes to the network brass -- now, there are some mighty expensive, and powerful, whores!

--p!

[Catamount]

13. Leno has actually been very good

At least most of this year. He seemed very right wing in recent years, but lately he has torn into Bush and Repubs night after night. He's been on "Duke" Cunningham's case since that scandal broke, he has frequently referenced Bush election fraud, his terrible approval ratings, the disaster that is Iraq, and many other scandals. The Arnold thing is disturbing, but I have to think that, working for GE, Leno would be basically required to echo corporate sentiment (pro Bush). Recently though, the Republican joke to Democratic joke has been at least 5-1.

So lay off Jay a bit. :)