Commentary

Relax, Guys

by Joe Mandese , July 25, 2025

Relax, guys -- and gals -- satire has always been a part of politics, especially in free societies. Less so in not-so-free ones. Is that the direction we're heading in?

I mean, it's one thing to sue, threaten regulatory oversight or withhold regulatory approval of media companies when it's about fact-based news content, because -- even if that's wrong -- it's fair game, because that's what journalists have signed up for. But to silence comedians for poking fun at political leaders -- especially a president -- is downright un-American, if you ask me.

But that's where we are just 14% into Trump 2.0, but as the first comedic canary in Trump's cold mind put it, it's time to take the gloves off. And if the season opener of "South Park" is any indication, it will take off other garments too, as part of the depantsing of a presidential emperor with no clothes.

And while I wouldn't characterize it the way my "TVBlog" colleague Adam Buckman did in his breakdown of Colbert's preexisting bare-knuckled takedowns of Trump, I would argue that it has not been disproportionate relative to Trump's own over-the-top antics, which have begged for that magnitude of satirical response.

I mean, political satire is as old as politics itself, and as they say, if you can't take a joke go (expletive deleted) yourself.

Or as this week's "South Park" episode put it, "Relax, Guy."

Anyway, just for shit-and-giggles, I prompted a couple of AI chatbots to see if they could actually calculate the quantitatively index Colbert's satire of Trump vs. Obama, Biden and Trump 1.0, and they said while they didn't have the data to quantify it, the could at least qualitatively rank them.

And according to at least one -- ChatGPT's assessment -- Adam Buckman was correct in saying that Colbert took his gloves off a long time ago vis a vis Trump.

To which I would say, "Only because Trump asked for it."

4 comments about "Relax, Guys".

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D K from Retired, July 26, 2025 at 9:10 a.m.
Colbert's show is headed to the trajectory of where it belongs - oblivion. And yet, you still blame Trump. Hah!!! Trump Derangement Syndrome lives!!!
Reply

Jason Kanefsky from Havas, July 27, 2025 at 5:47 p.m.

The problem is when TDS colors every thought that one has and it forces smart, logical people (who used to have influeuce) to not understand basic math- losing $40MM a year is bad, having ratings declines of 40% over three years is bad, having no path to profitablity is bad, offending 50% of the audience (who know watch Gutfeld) is bad.

Dan C. from MS Entertainment, July 28, 2025 at 10:04 a.m.

Telling the POTUS to "go f-ck yourself" is not satire.

Carson and Leno both said the late nite host's role is to entertain - not espouse your political beliefs.

Colbert's ratings have been declining for the past 5 years. A staff of 200 and the costs and losses associated with his show are not acceptable. Stop pretending like he's a victim of a Trump presidency. He's only a victim of his overblown ego and self-worth and inability to actually entertain.

David Mattson from Not Ordinary Media, July 28, 2025 at 2:06 p.m.

To dk - Colbert will be back and bigger and better than ever. As he should be - he is beloved for the very things you hate.

Cancelling someone's show because he hurt your feelings is the epitome of cancel culture and snowflakism.