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Eminentoes

Will Ferrell Isn’t Funny Either

By on 5.18.11 @ 6:08AM

The Kennedy Center owes Mark Twain a huge apology.

Last year, when the Kennedy Center named Tina Fey the 2010 recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, I was compelled to offer my opinion that Fey is not funny and that the only reason she was being honored was because of her imitation of Sarah Palin. Humor, of course, is in the eye of the beholder. So some people liked what I had to say about Fey’s brand of “comedy” while others vigorously made their objections known.

Well, last week the Kennedy Center named Will Ferrell the 2011 recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. I am now compelled to offer my opinion that Ferrell is not funny and that the only reason he is being honored is because of his imitation of George W. Bush. Once again operating with the understanding that humor is in the eye of the beholder, some people will like what I have to say about Ferrell’s brand of “comedy” while others will vigorously make their objections known.

The year before Fey was awarded the Twain prize, the Kennedy Center bestowed it upon Bill Cosby, a true pioneer of American humor. Here is how I described the Kennedy Center honoring Cosby and Fey in consecutive years:

The idea of honoring Tina Fey the year after Bill Cosby is kind of like the Baseball Hall of Fame enshrining “Marvelous” Marv Throneberry the year after inducting Mickey Mantle. The Mick and Marvelous Marv were both baseball players but the similarities end there. Cosby and Fey are both comedians but there too the similarities end.

Well, honoring Fey and Ferrell in consecutive years is more of a lateral move. If going from Cosby to Fey is like going from The Mick to Marvelous Marv then going from Fey to Ferrell is like going from Marvelous Marv to Choo Choo Coleman. Indeed, much of the Saturday Night Live cast from the mid-1990s onward could be likened to the 1962 New York Mets.

But Ferrell is nearly single-handedly responsible for making me stop watching SNL on a regular basis. I simply found his antics annoying and unfunny. At best, he was a tenth-rate version of John Belushi or Chris Farley. At worst, watching his act was like tuning into someone run his fingers down a blackboard week in and week out.

Nevertheless, I realize Ferrell gained a fan base on SNL which turned out enthusiastically for his movies such as Old School, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby and Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. Yet the Kennedy Center tells us:

The Mark Twain Prize recognizes people who have had an impact on American society in ways similar to the distinguished 19th century novelist and essayist best known as Mark Twain. As a social commentator, satirist and creator of characters, Samuel Clemens was a fearless observer of society, who startled many while delighting and informing many more with his uncompromising perspective of social injustice and personal folly.

Notwithstanding his success at the box office, Mark Twain is probably the last person who comes to mind when discussing the “humor” of Will Ferrell. Running naked while shouting, “Let’s go streaking!!!” doesn’t exactly convey an “uncompromising perspective of social injustice and personal folly.”

This brings me to George W. Bush. Now Ferrell is hardly the first SNL cast member to impersonate a U.S. President and he won’t be the last. But make no mistake. Ferrell portrays Bush as a stupid and venal man. Contrast that with Dana Carvey’s mimicry of George H.W. Bush, which was done with affection and in many ways humanized the 41st President. By Ferrell’s own admission, he declined the opportunity to meet Bush because he doesn’t share his politics. Indeed, when Ferrell was told that Tina Fey thought Ferrell’s portrayal of Bush “almost made him likeable,” he responded by saying he tried to make him “fumbling and bumbling.”

Consider also the reception Ferrell received when he took his act to Broadway in February 2009 shortly after Bush left office with “You’re Welcome America: A Final Night with George Bush.” Shortly before its opening, Patrick Healy of the New York Times wrote, “And who better than liberal New York theatergoers, they (Ferrell and co-writer and director Adam McKay) hoped, to appreciate a cutting post-mortem on the Republican president?” Well, not surprisingly, Ferrell’s Bush was a smash hit with the liberal intelligentsia of the Upper West Side and was nominated for a Tony Award. Joe Dziemianowicz of the New York Daily News shared this sentiment when he wrote, “Unlike Dubya, Ferrell is lightning fast on his feet and turns each ad lib into a burst of hilarity, a mission accomplished, if you will.” Michael Kuchwara of the Associated Press echoes Dziemianowicz by writing, “As a thinker, Ferrell is a lot faster with a quip than the bumbler he is impersonating.”

I think you get the idea. The only purpose of Ferrell’s portrayal of President Bush is to reinforce liberal hatred of him even after he has left public life. How else does one explain the video Ferrell made of Bush’s reaction to the death on Osama bin Laden on his website, funnyordie.com? Of course, if a comedian of conservative inclination were to write and star in a play about President Obama, there is little doubt these same critics would cry racism before the curtain went up. But for publicly deriding a prominent conservative public figure, like Tina Fey before him, Will Ferrell is celebrated, feted, and given prestigious awards such as the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

The only comfort I take in all of this is that Twain’s contributions to American humor will be remembered decades after Ferrell’s off-key, one-note act has been long forgotten.

About the Author

Aaron Goldstein writes from Boston, Massachusetts.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (149) |

Steve Burgess| 5.18.11 @ 6:35AM

I was starting to think that I was the only person who did not think that Will Ferell was funny

JmsA| 5.18.11 @ 8:24AM

No, Mr. Burgess, you're not the only one.

LarryK| 5.18.11 @ 8:59AM

Here, here, Steve.

Doorgunner| 5.18.11 @ 9:10AM

The man couldn't ad-lib a fart.

LarryK| 5.18.11 @ 2:47PM

LMAO!

cuban pete| 5.18.11 @ 9:53AM

You are not alone.

CopyKatnj| 5.18.11 @ 10:27AM

I also never thought of this person as funny, ever.

CopyKatnj| 5.18.11 @ 10:28AM

I also never thought of this person as funny, ever.

The Bruce| 5.18.11 @ 1:29PM

Will and Tina are just confirmation that we've really lowered the bar in this country.

Aquanomics| 5.18.11 @ 1:50PM

I would rather file my own teeth than watch him in a movie or TV show.

SpiralArchitect| 5.18.11 @ 2:59PM

other guys was a funny movie & not mentioned in this piece.

Your articles are very much akin to what you often decry as foul... favoritism. Relax a bit, Aaron, enjoy life a bit more.

Whalberg in a non dramatic role.. couldn't let that by without a view. Only W.F. movie I have seen as I do not care for that dolt much either.

Grzmlyk| 5.18.11 @ 3:24PM

Relax a bit, SpiralArchitect, and don't take other people's opinions so seriously.

9| 5.18.11 @ 4:12PM

Ferrell doing bush was funny and fey is one of the few women that will joke about a women's (yes they have them) imperfections. Got to take the bad with the good

David W| 5.18.11 @ 7:02PM

I liked Elf (though maybe it was because of Zooey Deschanel and Bob Newhart). That's about it for Will Farrell. The rest of his stuff is not very good.

wachunga| 5.18.11 @ 11:32PM

Ditto

Fred Z| 5.18.11 @ 11:47PM

Double plus unfunny.

Fredrick Ward| 5.19.11 @ 10:48AM

Anchorman was a complete bit of trash, and that was probably the most palatable bit of 'humor' this guy has done thus far.

he's a hack and ever shall remain so.

JK| 5.18.11 @ 6:59AM

I agree with you about Tina, and also agree that Farell isn't particularly funny, but I don't think his Bush impression has anything to do with this. He's got some kind of spell on people to where they will pay good money to see his repetitive, non sequitur filled movies. Loads of people are believers and I don't think it has anything to do with GWB.

Incidentally, Fey is the reason I stopped watching SNL, and it was long before anybody knew who Palin was. She was the head writer during probably the most comedically bankrupt period of SNL's run, and I think the ratings support that.

Ken (Old Texican)| 5.18.11 @ 7:05AM

Aaron,
thanks. You got my vote.

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 5.18.11 @ 7:13AM

Will Ferrell is not funny and you have to wonder about the morons who keep his ratings going.

Mike D.| 5.18.11 @ 7:31AM

Ferrell is about as funny as a case of bone cancer.

Grzmlyk| 5.18.11 @ 3:31PM

What others have said before is true - the nature of humor has changed in our culture. It used to be that our best humor involved an intellectual take on life, or some aspect of it; Bob Newhart, the aforementioned Cosby, even George Carlin.

There was a clever distillation, a sly point of view, usually combined with a sense of shared humanity, that often worked on many levels.

Now, if you merely mention something scatological, you are a genius (Sarah Silverman). And if you work up a mediocre impersonation of a hated Republican and reflect liberal dogma, you win awards.

The problem with so many in our culture today is that they think they are intelligent, and, if they have the right political views, they will be hailed as intelligent.

Actual intelligence doesn't enter the picture anymore, which is why Democrats can turn out people like Jimmy Carter, Walter Mondale, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, John Kerry and Barack Obama, all of whom are lauded as geniuses. And our guys? Doesn't matter how intelligent they are - the culture says they're idiots.

Sad.

SpiralArchitect| 5.18.11 @ 3:42PM

Dennis Miller is in town in a few months...

Grzmlyk| 5.18.11 @ 4:53PM

I'm fond of Dennis Miller, but he tries too hard.

Westie| 6.9.11 @ 3:18PM

I agree with you Grzmlyk, however no one with a mind expect leftist drones to actually be good at anything intellectual? These comics do excel at juvenile bathroom humorlessness.

oldfart| 5.18.11 @ 7:14AM

Ferrell is one reason I stopped watching SNL. What he passes off as humor is stupid. OPPS - that is right - he is playing to the liberal base. Perhaps he should run for political office and be a Senator and follow in the footsteps of Al Franken. Ferrell certainly does not have the talent to make his own footsteps.

oldfart| 5.18.11 @ 7:20AM

I take part of that back - he played a good role in Springtime for Hilter where he played a bumbling foot - that is - himself.

Josh Marihugh | 5.18.11 @ 6:13PM

I was gonna say, Will Ferrell actually had some solid moments in _The Producers_, a movie I liked despite its cast, not because of it.

Appleby| 5.18.11 @ 7:27AM

Toddler Liberation, PJ O Rourke calls it -- the demand to strip in public, yell *poo poo* in church and shove everything in your mouth. Most people stop their children from behaving this way at age 3.

All American American| 5.18.11 @ 7:47AM

Diana West wrote a book called "Death of teh Grown Up" which although its been out a few years I just ordered, but it makes the same premise.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who's noticed that pre-teens are being sexualized and there appears to be an overt attempt to make them adolescents before their time, while at the same time society tells adults its OK to act like morons. I swear if you were Glenn Beck you might think there's a conspiracy to keep society in a permanent adolescent state. (I say that only half-joking)

Petronius| 5.18.11 @ 9:28AM

AAA
On to something here
The ruling class wants to keep average Americans in an infantile state. Their objective is maintaining public need to perpetuate their power.
As to the award; were Mark Twain living today he wouldn't have his reputation cheapened to credit anyone with talent less than his. Only a hand full of writers and comedic public figures would qualify: Cosby certainly. Garrison Kiellor, despite his character flaws does not utter one word on Prairie Home Companion unfit for a family audience. Fannie Flagg was to true for the beltway critics. Erma Bombeck should be remembered here, as she was one of us. But who makes the selections? We do not know. We only know what they like to hear.

All American American| 5.18.11 @ 3:14PM

Petronius yeah IMHO it is all around. I have a young daughter and try to limit her TV. One thing I've noticed is the character of "moron heterosexual white guy" isn't just limited to prime time TV sitcoms, its on kids' programming too (that is if a parent is even portrayed).

Look at the movies nowadays. When we were younger if there was a comedy with teenage type hijinks, well, teenagers were doing them. Now its all 30 and 40-something men and women doing stupid stuff in movies.

You know not only do you keep people dependent by keeping them in a perpetual adolescent state, but how do most 18-30 y/os vote? I go back to nancy pelosi a few months back saying something like "yeah don't go to work just yet, if you want to paint pictures, do that and the govt should subsidise you."

2 + 2 = ?

SpiralArchitect| 5.18.11 @ 3:46PM

So true.

2 + 2 = ?
2+2= coconut these days :/

My son is allowed to watch (sexual grafics aside) most anyhting on (standard) TV.

The responsibility lay with the parents to guide and explain things to the child. Sure, the younger they are their understanding is more limited.

Better to have them aware of what is in the 'real world' than be in for a huge surprise down the road.

Opinions welcome

SpiralArchitect| 5.18.11 @ 3:46PM

So true.

2 + 2 = ?
2+2= coconut these days :/

My son is allowed to watch (sexual grafics aside) most anyhting on (standard) TV.

The responsibility lay with the parents to guide and explain things to the child. Sure, the younger they are their understanding is more limited.

Better to have them aware of what is in the 'real world' than be in for a huge surprise down the road.

Opinions welcome

Appleby| 5.18.11 @ 7:49PM

Re-read Mustapha Monds lecture to John Savage explaining the premise behind Brave New World. Its all right there in plain words, in the 1940s. Aldous Huxley saw it coming and got it right. In order to keep people in line, encourage promiscuous sex, drugs, movies, and sports; discourage hard work, intelligence, non-conformity, solitude and thought. Encourage permanent teenhood. Make the words *mother* and *father* into obscenities. When you see someone suffering, stare at him and take his picture.

Its all there in that one speech.

All American American| 5.18.11 @ 7:43AM

The probem with Ferrall is not only is he not funny, but unfortunately he's spawned all these copy-cat "comedian/actors" who do the same tired, unfunny, childish schtick and make the same tired, unfunny, childish shows and movies.

It reminds me of when Stern was starting to get syndicated outside NY, all of a sudden local morning radio became "Morning Zoos" with fart noises and boob jokes and no music. Ugh!

Citizen Jerry| 5.18.11 @ 11:26AM

I'd rather listen to fart sounds and boob jokes than Will Ferrell.

Albert| 5.18.11 @ 7:13PM

Fart sounds and boob jokes vs. Will Ferrell. Hmmm... Hard to see a difference.

Fredrick Ward| 5.19.11 @ 12:16PM

Agreed. That was a significant decline in morning radio. Fortunately there is the AM band that has intelligent people to listen to; at least in my area.

gearjammer| 5.18.11 @ 8:10AM

So, where is the conservative Twain to serve up uproarious satire of a society that calls such vulgar and talentless louts genius, and creative ? Limbaugh and Hannity are hamfisted and sterile. Savage actually has the wittiest commentary-but he is avoided like a dirty bomb. We need our Saturday Live. A guy in Boston, Michael Graham has some of the kind of talent I feel is needeed. Conservative absolutist fail-no sense of humour. If, I had money and a connection I'd do a show about Providence Rhode Island Fire and police. The othe week five fire truck and three police cruisers and sundry other official vehicles and man powewr showed up for burning pan of pork chops a few streets away from me. All these people are trying to justify their existence. A media story showed fire men on disability in a gym lifting huge barebells. The union docter looks into the camera and explains it is really all quite legit. As for the fire and the five trucks-well a little old lady explained to me we can't be " too safe". You see it was a windy night and it coulda spread this flaming pork chop inferno in a pan. We never know when a situation might arise that the neighborhood was saturated with high octane gas and a herd of Mrs. Murphy's cows with flaming candle sticks for horns stampede through the streets. And yes, the city is on the verge of going bust.

Pcc| 5.18.11 @ 9:19AM

Well said and right on, Gearjammer!

Kilgore Trout| 5.18.11 @ 11:19AM

Might I call your attention to P. J. O'Rourke as a conservative humorist? And Mark Steyn has his funny moments altho he is not primarily a humorist.

Skippy| 5.18.11 @ 3:55PM

Mark Steyn, AmSpec alumnus, is the wittiest writer and keenest observer on this side of the aisle.
Considering the range of issues on which he is qualified to comment, and the clarity of his articles, Steyn is my personal global content provider.
Anyone not checking his site daily merely compounds their ignorance.

Occam's Tool| 5.18.11 @ 4:19PM

Skippy,

Thou art correct. My copy of America Alone is signed. As is my copy of Lights Out.

Grzmlyk| 5.18.11 @ 5:06PM

I agree, Steyn is great - he's the closest thing we have to an Oscar Wilde. And O'Rourke is a true wit.

Sadly, while I applaud Limbaugh in many ways, his sense of humor is eternally frozen in the amber of what it's like to be a 6th grade boy. He is utterly devoid of wit, and his invariably lame efforts at humor are very, very grating.

However, Paul Shanklin picks up the slack nicely on Limbaugh's show - his stuff is hilarious.

Hannity is not a thinker at all, and while I'm glad he espouses conservative principles, it is disturbing that such a prominent conservative "pundit" is an insensate, stolid regurgitator of dogma and/or anything he thinks Reagan might have said. Alas, Hannity has no wit whatsoever.

J.T.Foster| 5.18.11 @ 8:36AM

Amazing at the length these Socialists have gone and are going to bring down America.From awards like this to sitcom scripts,textbooks,virtually every conceivable opportunity to SELL their perverted idealogy.Our freedom is in jeopardy.

OhioGuy| 5.18.11 @ 8:42AM

Giving Tina Fey and Will Ferrell an award named after Mark Twain demonstrates both the lack of true humorists in our age and the politicization of such awards.
The Mark Twain of our time, IMHO, is the aforementioned P. J. O'Rourke, another good Ohio boy I might add. His humor is everything described in the award criteria---but unfortunately, he's a conservative/libertarian so he's pretty much overlooked by the sophisticates who sit on awards panels.

Kurt in S.L.C.| 5.18.11 @ 10:24AM

I have to agree with you OhioGuy,not all of his writing is family fare,but nobody satirizes the ignorance and stupidity that passes for liberal intelligence and sophistication better than P.J. Twain would have loved him.

Butch | 5.18.11 @ 2:14PM

Speaking of PJ, any of you folks remember "The 1964 High School Yearbook?"

Rossignol| 5.20.11 @ 12:59AM

That one's a classic, Butch. Still have it somewhere. Never realized O'Rourke was one of the main writers, but probably should have, his great "How to Drive Fast" article being from about the same time. The golden age of National Lampoon. When they fell, they fell hard.

Go Kangaroos!

Occam's Tool| 5.18.11 @ 4:20PM

James Lileks is another great satirist on the Conservative side, as is Michael J Nelson.

DVG93| 5.18.11 @ 9:06AM

I didn't even know he was on SNL. I found him boring and unlikeable in what I have seen of him
Have to agree abour Dana Carvey. His wouldn't be prudent nails it.

Gear...I would say that the money which controls the media isn't interested in real talent. Returning from a camping trip, I passed through Tenn. and heard the Bob & Tom Show. It's outrageous. They did a skit w Bill Clinton and the Crocodile Hunter that was awesome. Then there's Mr Obviousman. Wish I could listen to it from home.

Vern Crisler | 5.18.11 @ 9:10AM

It's nice to honor Mark Twain by naming an award after him, but Twain was both a literary comedian and a stand up comedian. Fey, et al., are just stand up comedians, so why give the Mark Twain prize out only to stand up comedians, who are clueless when it comes to literary comedy.

I agree that Cosby (and some others) are at least some where near to being worthy of the award, but Fey and Ferrell? I'm afraid the Mark Twain prize has become like the Nobel Peace Prize. It's given out for political reasons more often than for real accomplishments.

Nunya| 5.18.11 @ 12:27PM

Vern, couldn't agree more. Twain was a genius in my opinion, and having his name affiliated with moderately funny (at best) actors besmirches his talents. It's sad.

Padoux| 5.18.11 @ 9:18AM

Yeah, Ferrell is a big hit with his liberal fans, big deal. He pales when compared to many other comedians. I was a big fan of John Candy whom I thought was always underrated. His humor was not based on disdain or politics. These guys today seem bitter and seek laughs by mean spirited parody designed to appeal to a particular audience. Carson, Hope, all knew how to needle public figures but not seem mean spirited. Ferrell is a cow in a herd of foul mouthed, unimaginative, spiteful and bitter "funny men,"

Fred Farkel| 5.18.11 @ 9:31AM

I don't know about being the conservative Twain but the writer of this should be considered just for sheer audacity:
http://www.theonion.com/articl.....lex,20476/

MOS was 71331| 5.18.11 @ 11:17AM

Thanks for the URL. That piece is brilliant.

The Bishop| 5.18.11 @ 9:35AM

I have to agree about Ferrell being unfunny and totally juvenile. All one has to do is see the couple of episodes of The Office on which he recently appeared. Boorrrrrriiingggg! (Sorry, that was juvenile of me.)

Albert| 5.18.11 @ 10:13AM

I was beginning to wonder if I were the only one to think Ferrell is unfunny. My wife falls down on the floor laughing when one of his movies is on the TV (particularly "Blades of Glory.") Indeed I never saw a Ferrell movie until my wife virtually forced me to watch the aforementioned title. After that regrettable experience, when a Ferrell movie comes on I tell my wife that I will pay good money NOT to watch! She always refuses and tries to make me watch anyway. I agree with another poster that Ferrell has some attraction that Americans seem to like, as if his audience were overgrown 12 year old boys, the type who laugh at anything. I can't stand this amateurish boor. I only paid cash money once to see a Ferrell movie, at my wife's behest, "Bewitched." In it Ferrell virtually plays himself in a reflection of real life. The movie rightfully bombed as I hope Ferrell's career does very soon.

And I NEVER understood what all the hulabaloo was about SNL. It was always amateurish and mostly unfunny. Most of the people I witnessed watching SNL were stoned while doing so. I long ago came to the conclusion that SNL was a show by people on drugs, about people on drugs, and for people on drugs. Ferrell fits right in.

SpiralArchitect| 5.18.11 @ 3:06PM

"Most of the people I witnessed watching SNL were stoned while doing so."

Interesting. No, I wont ask why you loiter watching stoned people watch SNL at the wee hours of the morning.

Albert| 5.18.11 @ 7:11PM

I was visiting friends, and yes they smoked the wacky weed, and yes they watched SNL habitually. I partook of neither. But they were (and still are) my friends. This was a long time ago.

Bob Grant| 5.18.11 @ 10:14AM

I have to politely disagree with Aaron. Farrell's resume is more than just mean spiritedly mocking President George W. Bush. Yes, he crosses the line portraying him; at times, it seems almost obsessive.

Lest we forget other Farrell characters: Ricky Bobby; Ron Burgundy; Mustafa; etc.

Like him or not the guy actually IS funny. He's a naturally gifted comedian. He just doesn't always put it to good use but on par, I'll continue to put him in the funny category.

Oldefarte| 5.18.11 @ 11:47AM

Nope, I disagree. These wantabees can't hold a candle to Cosby, Newhart, Skelton, Hope, Benny, Carson, etc

Nunya| 5.18.11 @ 12:33PM

I'm with you, OF.

Bob Grant| 5.18.11 @ 12:48PM

Old Flatulence,

Come on friend lighten up. Yea, he's a naif (like all liberals) when it comes to political thought but you've gotta admit his Ron Burgundy character is damn funny.

SpiralArchitect| 5.18.11 @ 3:15PM

Some like Rock & other like Country -

Is that to say one is right and one is wrong.

How can you tell someone that your opinion is what is correct and not theirs?

Remember, I do not like WF but obviously many do. The same can be said of Rap, esp the Ganster (style) Rap but does that make it bad ( murderous lyrics aside).

People are all so American yet want to limit everyone that does not agree.

Oldefarte| 5.18.11 @ 4:38PM

Nope, sorry. As the OLD saying goes, he's about as funny as A TRAIN WRECK!!!!!!

YeloStalyn| 5.18.11 @ 12:31PM

His ONLY funny character is when he protrays Alex on Jeopardy.

Other than that he's nothing but a retread of himself... over and over. Same jokes, same schtick, same pointless joke. I will say that there are PARTS of Talledega (sp?) Nights that are funny... but on a whole, it's nothing special.

I will admit, though, that he does a great job in movies in which he doesn't play himself (a wannabe comedic idiot)... namely Stranger Than Fiction. For those who don't think he's funny... I would suggest watching this film. It's interesting, not a comedy (not in the Ferrell sense at least), and he doesn't play the same damnable bore that he does on everything else (again... the exception being the Jeopardy skits... where, oddly, he's having to play the serious character... and be serious about it... and he ends up being funny... completely opposite of everything else he does).

Lisa| 5.19.11 @ 10:51PM

Want to know what Will Ferret considers funny? Tea bagging a drum kit ("Stepbrothers"). That i not the product of the mind of a "naturally gifted comedian"; that is flat-out gross!

Doctor Right| 5.18.11 @ 10:26AM

I've never been a big Farrell fan. He's funny in small doses, but most of his schtick seems like an over-long SNL skit, which I guess it is.

Except for a brief period in the late 80's when Dana Carvey, Phil Hartman, Norah Dunne, Jan Hooks, and Mike Myers were all on the show together, SNL hasn't been funny since the 70's.

Whenever I watch the show (which is rarely), I can't help but shake the feeling that most of the laughter in the audience is nervous laughter...as in "Hah...Heh...Hee-Hee...That's funny...right?"

What the idiot Liberals (is that redundant?) at SNL don't understand is that the show originally made it's mark by skewering the establishment. Unfortunately for Libs, in 2011 they ARE the establishment, and since they won't skewer themselves, we're left with mediocre talents like Fey and Farrell making a career out of fun of Republicans.

Anthony| 5.18.11 @ 10:32AM

American institutions such as the Kennedy Center, that are controlled by leftist elites, will use their positions to denigrate conservatives every chance they get.
It's like Dan Rather being surrounded by like minded lefty reporters, after his fabulous disgrace and fall, who honored Rather with a Peabody Award for journalism.
The diseased left circle the wagons and take care of their own. We need to rid America of the sick left ASAP.

Josh2005| 5.18.11 @ 10:37AM

I'm sorry, but is everyone else who reads this site a senior citizen? Will Ferrell is hilarious. He was a riot on SNL, and it declined drastically when he left. His movies are great too. In fact, Anchorman is one of the funniest, most quotable movies ever. It's very high on my list of favorite comedies, along the The Jerk, Dumb and Dumber, The Hangover, and Young Frankenstein.

There's nothing wrong with dumb, goofy humor. But I have a feeling that the writer of this article doesn't like any comedies made after Some Like It Hot.

Bob Grant| 5.18.11 @ 10:52AM

Sounds like you didn't bother to do any cursory research before posting. Read about the writer of the piece. Specifically his age.

Josh2005| 5.18.11 @ 11:17AM

The writer's age is irrelevant. You don't have to be old to like old movies. For instance, I'm 28 and love John Wayne films.

The point I'm making is that some people seem to have an elitist attitude when it comes to movies, music, etc. And in the field of comedy, a lot of people (both young and old) look down on dumb, goofy humor while contantly praising Woody Allen movies and other forms of "smart" comedy.

In the real world, a lot of people love Will Ferrell, including me. I'm as conservative as it gets, and I voted for Bush twice, but I still think Ferrell's Bush impression is funny. I also love Sarah Palin, but I still think Tina Fey's impression of her is funny as well. We need to loosen up and quit being so sensitive.

There is enough crap going on in this country right now without whining about who gets meaningless comedy awards. We have a Marxist in the White House who is destroying our economy, and A.S. is actually publishing articles discussing the comedic value of Will Ferrell? Seriously?

Bob Grant| 5.18.11 @ 12:08PM

Thanks for expanding on your original post. You'd be amazed at the diversity of people who post here. For instance, I'm no spring chicken, nor (err, whatever's oposite of that), but one who also finds Will Ferrell funny. All you had to do is read my post. Like other great SNL performers, Ferrell's GW (goofy/witty) ratio is just right. Admittedly, he might be a little too mean spirited at times.

I'm just suggesting you refrain from tagging people so freely on this site.

elPuma| 5.18.11 @ 1:52PM

A little mean spirited? Like the skit the weekend before the 2000 (?) elections when George H. Bush contemplates shooting his son (W) for the "good of the country" but doesn't because "Barbara wouldn't forgive me".
These tow hacks (Ferrell and Fey) are being rewarding for their part in the character assesination of two enemies of the left. Period. Their talent (or lack there of) is for the left, irrelevant.
One more thing, this article is not about the comedic value of Farrel, but about the modus operandi of the left; and the tools they use to keep their grip in the same popular culture that made possible the election of the "Marxist in the White House". As a former leftist and a refugee of a former socialist country I can tell you that these things are not irrelevant. Indoctrination was for us just another tool of war. Control the culture and you control the country.
Wake Up! Here in America, you lost the culture war long time ago, and now you are on the verge of loosing your country.

Oldefarte| 5.18.11 @ 11:38AM

No, ashwipe, he's not funny and YOU'RE STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oldefarte| 5.18.11 @ 11:41AM

PS: GROW UP and best of luch with your professional career at Mickey D's!!!!!!

SpiralArchitect| 5.18.11 @ 3:21PM

Impressive and mature retort.

Oldefarte| 5.18.11 @ 4:41PM

Tsk, tsk,, tsk! AND THE COW JUMPED OVER THE MOON, WHILE THE DISH RAN AWAY WITH THE SPOON, no doubt!!!!!!!!!

Occam's Tool| 5.18.11 @ 4:22PM

Josh---

Casablanca is a much funnier, wittier, better written movie than any you've named. For example: (as he collects his winnings) Reynaud---"I'm shocked, shocked that there is gambling here."

Josh Marihugh | 5.18.11 @ 6:18PM

The rest of your list doesn't exactly put Ferrell in high company.... Dumb and Dumber had moments, but I still haven't figured out what's so damned funny about The Hangover?

Kerry| 5.18.11 @ 10:39AM

The Mark Twain award isn't nearly so prestigious as the Nobel, yet the rate of degradation is remarkably similar. File this under, "Who cares anymore?"

solidground| 5.18.11 @ 10:51AM

One only need to have observed Ferrell's recent (and blessedly brief) stint at "The Office" to gauge his comedic merit. The finding: completely nil. The guy tries hard. He really does. But even at the peak of whatever powers he may have, he simply falls a beat short of tickling my laugh response. To paraphrase the Iowa voter's recent remark to Newt, Ferrell needs to get out of the comedy business before he embarrasses himself any further.

solidground| 5.18.11 @ 10:51AM

One only need to have observed Ferrell's recent (and blessedly brief) stint at "The Office" to gauge his comedic merit. The finding: completely nil. The guy tries hard. He really does. But even at the peak of whatever powers he may have, he simply falls a beat short of tickling my laugh response. To paraphrase the Iowa voter's recent remark to Newt, Ferrell needs to get out of the comedy business before he embarrasses himself any further.

Maddox| 5.18.11 @ 10:56AM

Thank you, I thought I was the only person who found Mr. Ferrell's attempts to be funny childish and sometimes offensive. His roles only appeal to children and they are usually poor attempts to make fun of a person or segment of our culture.

bill glass| 5.18.11 @ 11:07AM

That such political zingery has an effect is obvious...just ask Chevy Chase.( and Saul Alinsky)

Wayne | 5.18.11 @ 11:27AM

Being Funny is no longer a requirement for a comedian.

SpiralArchitect| 5.18.11 @ 3:26PM

Yes, only specific peoples opinions are relevant. Perhaps we need more legislation to tell us what to like and what we approve, right?

This overwhelhming it is not funny or good because I disagree mentality here is pathetic.

I can provide a huge yet diverse array of inspiring and funny comedians yet why should I bother.

This is a conversation as solid as cavement speakign ill of Grog as he returns with his new thing...fire.

Good thing Grog went somewhere else with his newly found fire and ignored the others.

solidground| 5.18.11 @ 5:51PM

My, my, my. Such self-conceit. I don't see too many here, if any, taking the stand that Farrell is not funny simply because the writer says so. You, on the other hand, seem to be saying Farrell IS funny because YOU say so.

Now, that's pretty funny.

Wayne | 5.18.11 @ 9:25PM

I would say you are making a downward spiral.

Oldefarte| 5.18.11 @ 11:36AM

I couldn't agree more with Aaron's comments. Ferrell and Fey are typical SNL so-called comedians that are about as entertaining as WATCHING GRASS GROW or possibly PAINT DRY. Of course, the [un]intelligence level of their fans are no doubt either twelve-year olds or possibly forty-year olds with twelve-year olds mentality. Who know and more importantly, WHO CARES????????????????

Michael| 5.18.11 @ 12:05PM

Re: Fey and Ferrell--Another sometimes funny person named David Letterman said it best when talking about another person getting an award when he said, "It's like NASA giving an award to Balloon Boy!!"

SpiralArchitect| 5.18.11 @ 3:27PM

They are too busy with their mandated Muslim PC relation affairs to hand out any awards at this time -

Drunken Sailor| 5.18.11 @ 12:05PM

Will Ferrell always plays the same type character. I put Jack Black in the same league. Sure I chuckle at both of them in 3 stooges kind of way when nothing else is on, but they are simply amusing, not truly funny.

SpiralArchitect| 5.18.11 @ 3:28PM

Yes, it is shtick, a stage act. Nothing more.

Some like carrots, some do not - why bicker over opinions in such a life or death fashion, arg!

Steve M.| 5.18.11 @ 12:12PM

I have a middle ground opinion of Ferrell. He is funny in a one note way. This same act of his can not carry an entire movie.

I agree that his selection is political. There is a larger point: there is no way to honor a person as a modern day Mark Twain on an ANNUAL BASIS. There isn't nor will there ever be that kind of talent! It reminds me of the A&E Biography show; they started out with Lincoln, Washington, Hitler, Stalin etc. Now they are doing Justin Beaver and Miley Cyrus.

J.C.Eaton| 5.18.11 @ 12:38PM

Steve, congratos. You win the prestigious J.C.E award for trenchant posting. Well done.

the permanent newbie| 5.18.11 @ 12:23PM

I think this is what's going on: Once the Mark Twain prize ceased to be a serious lifetime achievement award for long and distinguished humor careers - that is, with the award to Tina Fey - it could never be one again. Because that would show up the Fey award as the superficial, political, childish stunt it was. So as never to admit that, from now on the Mark Twain prize has to be a shallow here-today-gone-later-today popularity award for the current comedy Flavor of the Month. Sad, really...

JohnL| 5.18.11 @ 12:37PM

If Ferrell had a brain he would take it out and play with it. He is NOT funny.

SpiralArchitect| 5.18.11 @ 3:30PM

Now that would be funny :)

My Girl Friday| 5.18.11 @ 12:46PM

"You tell me whar a man gits his corn pone, en I'll tell you what his 'pinions is."

Ibid. Corn-Pone Opinions
Mark Twain aka Samuel Longhorne Clemens

Vern Crisler | 5.18.11 @ 11:18PM

Though Twain is usually funny, his political opinions were not always right. The corn-pone comment is an example of economic determinism. Twain also reincarnated Heraclitus when he claimed that everything changes, that change is the most important fact. Take Twain for his humor, not his philosopical or political opinions.

Dave| 5.18.11 @ 1:18PM

Fey nor Ferrell have ever been funny. They are better described as "stupidly goofy". There are people who enjoy stupidly goofy. Seinfeld stayed on the air longer than the 2 weeks it should have thanks to these people. Some people do well being stupidly goofy. Bill Murray is stupidly goofy and has done very well, but he's also entertaining (unlike Fey and Ferrell) and does have a modicum of integrity whereas some do not.

But the rise of those like Fey and Ferrell are indications that more Americans are compromising their values and honor, and settling for free money, free food, free TV... and a sofa.

Josh Marihugh | 5.18.11 @ 6:22PM

Excellent...I thought I was the only person who did/does not find Seinfeld in the least bit humorous.

Cosby was and is a genius. Tim Allen actually had some great moments.

wolflen| 5.18.11 @ 1:42PM

i wonder...would mark twain receive the mark twain prize today...

SpiralArchitect| 5.18.11 @ 3:31PM

We would have to investagate his financial donations to get a proper response...

George S| 5.18.11 @ 1:58PM

What Ferrell, Fey and their Upper East Side fans don't realize is that Ferrell and Fey are rich because they are beneficiaries of the political philosophies of those they ridicule. If the political climate of their beloved Obama applied to everybody, Ferrell and Fey would have gotten nowhere. Suppose...

... suppose Ferrell had to apply for a federal permit before he could tell jokes on stage. He would have to submit the script to the FCC, along with his permit application, and then wait anywhere from 6 to 18 month for a response. Further, the FCC takes exception to certain jokes and requires Ferrell to consult with certain politically connected groups for "community approval". Then, upon FCC approval, Ferrell would then have to submit -- after a lengthy and expensive legal process -- an environmental impact statement to the EPA for the night of his performance. Further, the government makes it easy for anyone who is offended -- without any knowledge of the script -- to file a lawsuit without standing, further adding to the delay and the cost. OSHA would take months to approve the stage layout. The EEOC will check the skin color of everyone associated with the production and invite those who thought about applying for a job to sue Ferrell if they didn't apply because they thought they would have not been hired.

Then, after the performance, the Justice Department may or may not take action based on whether there is a perceived offense if someone in the vast audience felt cheated. The Congress holds hearings to "investigate" Ferrell's profits from the performance, arising from complaints that his ticket prices are too high.

How could Ferrell make any money with the noose of government around his neck? Yet to oil companies and health insurers that is the cost of doing business -- a cost that becomes so high because of government that the government deems necessary to investigate, resulting in more regulations and higher costs. But absent government intervention, you can be as creative (or as offensive) as you like, do your thing whenever you want and become rich in the process as you do not have to spend your earnings trying to keep up with government -- just to stay out of jail.

SpiralArchitect| 5.18.11 @ 3:33PM

Fortunately it works more like Congress.

Remeber Pelosi and her insightful comment about how 'we' must vote for the Bill (Obummercare) NOW then read it to see what is in it later?

NaturalBorn Texican| 5.18.11 @ 2:25PM

I agree with Oldfarte.

What passes for humor today is really vulgarity, crudity, ulginess, profanity, and just plain ole' stupidity.

Ferrel has made a complete *ss of himself along with other celeberities who cater to the lowest and basest sensibilities of the human being,

People of Ferrel 's ilk only pull us down to the lowest and deepest ugliness that a human is capable of.

I'll glady take the oldtimers listed, because they are truely funny.

KyMouse| 5.18.11 @ 2:39PM

A year or so ago, when Ferrell was about to have another forgettable movie released, he somehow forced Bear Grylls to take him out into the wintertime woods on "Man vs. Wild." Ferrell was not funny at all, spouting lines such as "Curse you, Bear Grylls!" How clever. How original. The whole episode was excruciating to watch, as Ferrell struggled to be funny.

Bear was funnier. If only he had left Ferrell out in the wilderness...

Bob Grant| 5.18.11 @ 4:59PM

Now what would have been funny is for Bear to force Ferrell to eat a dung beetle.

Anna Keppa| 5.18.11 @ 2:40PM

Has everyone forgotten the ancient wisdom embodiedin this phrase?

"De gustibus non est disputandum."

Autoacct628| 5.18.11 @ 3:24PM

His conjuring of GWB is awesome and a spot on caricature of how the media saw Bush...to watch it was to cringe at the level of disrespect our president had to endure.....

Occam's Tool| 5.18.11 @ 4:25PM

Folks...sorry.

What Bush withstood over 8 years was less than what Cleon took at the hands of Aristophanes, and what Lincoln took every day.

Oldefarte| 5.18.11 @ 5:00PM

Ferrell, Fey, and any/all other either so termned comedians, talk show hosts, Hollywood personalities etc that are in the BIZ [ie SHOW] have a license to attack conservatives and Republicans because that is simply what THEY'RE PAID TO DO! The entire entertainment industry [oxymoronish] is dedicated towards the verbal distruction of anything not resembling their extreme, radical, socialistic, etc viewpoint. Any actor, comedian, stage hand, talk show host etc not so proclaiming the liberal Democratic Party line of idiocy will quickly find him/her self unemployed for the remainder of their drug induced lives. To critisize, demean, slander etc conservatism and Republicanism is an essential ingredient of their individual contracts. Its beyond belief that certain conservative bent actors etc can find work within their profession [and must have great agents]. The entertainment industry is simply part of the radical character of what's know as the liberal/progressive Democratic Party establishment, along with the Acorn folks and college/university professional staffs of course. That simply is the problem, in that the conservative/Republican movement has no [or no] spokespersons within this industry, or either they exist but are too cowed/browbeaten to open their mouths and tell jokes about liberals/Democrats, write movie/TV manuscripts concerning the absuridity of liberalism, etc. As they say, THAT BEES THE PROBLEM!!!!!!!!!!!!

cuban pete| 5.18.11 @ 5:32PM

What it is and what it shall be.

Redstateboy| 5.18.11 @ 5:15PM

I've watched more than a few Ferrell movies and they Suck! And Don't tell me I don't know comedy Ferrell.. I grew up watching Laurel & Hardy, the Stooges, Abbott & Costello.. the Stand-ups on Ed Sullivan and Ferrell - you suck! This ...."Award" is nothing more than another trumped Liber-ul kiss ass fest.. just like Hussein and Al Gore?!!!? Getting Nobel Prizes? C'mon.. it's all an F'n joke and only Liber-uls are too stupid not to see the humor.

Younger Soldier| 5.21.11 @ 3:34AM

Angry much?

Interested Conservative| 5.18.11 @ 6:17PM

Will Ferrell is plenty funny, but in an extremely narrow sense, best described as juvenilia. It's best suited for visual reproduction (TV/movies) and almost diametrically opposed to what Twain, among others, created.

Not intelligent, not intellectual, not wise, and basely satirical. Still, profitable.

As for others suggested in the comments above, as anyone mentioned Iowahawk? See here:

http://iowahawk.typepad.com/iowahawk/

Josh Marihugh | 5.18.11 @ 6:26PM

also Frank J, Sarah K, and the gang at IMAO.

http://www.imao.us I do believe...

Interested Conservative| 5.18.11 @ 6:37PM

All too true about IMAO, but I'm impressed with the one-man-band productions of Iowahawk. When he gets a little help, classics result:

http://www.wikio.com/video/pel.....ion-714413

Bob Grant| 5.18.11 @ 7:25PM

If the Three Stooges is considered "juvenilia" then I'm a big supporter of the genre. When performed properly, it's some of the best comedy around.

wachunga| 5.18.11 @ 11:28PM

Chaplin, Laurel & Hardy, Marx Bros. etc-all hailed, rightly, as geniuses. But nobody made me laugh harder than the Stooges.

wnmc| 5.18.11 @ 6:38PM

Is's OK. In a few years the response to a question about Will Ferrell will be "Will who?"
He isn't funny. Neither is Tina or SNL anymore. I stopped watching twenty years ago.

marilyn| 5.18.11 @ 7:11PM

I find this guy just plain embarrassing to watch. Does anyone remember Bob Newhart and his self-effacing comedy? There's the difference. Bob Newhart actually made you care about his character. Will Ferrell just makes you feel stupid and dirty.

Steve M.| 5.18.11 @ 7:16PM

I came up with what I think are worthy award winners for the last 100 years as comedians or comic actors. These are folks that had a lasting career with some impact.

Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy, Groucho Marx, Jack Benny, Bob Hope, Sid Caesar, Milton Berle, Lucille Ball, Mel Brooks, Jerry Lewis, Johnny Carson, Carol Burnett, Bill Cosby, Johnathan Winters, George Carlin, Rodney Dangerfield, Chevy Chase, Robin Williams, Jay Leno, David Letterman and Jim Carrey.

I came up with less folks as we reach current times. The explosion of media makes it much harder for any one person to have an impact. No one will ever have the ratings of a I Love Lucy again.

Vern Crisler | 5.18.11 @ 11:24PM

Don't forget Abbott & Costello....Personally, I'd knock Jerry Lewis off the list, though he was funnier in his early movies. Never liked Carlin, either; seems really overrated to me. Rob Williams, ugh. Chevy, Jay, and David were funny for a while, but have gone stale over the years. I think you're spot on with Bob Hope, Cosby, Winters, and the rest.

Steve M.| 5.19.11 @ 1:47PM

I was going for impact rather than whether I thought they were that funny or not. I never liked Letterman and Robin Williams used to be funny in his youth. Chevy and Leno are marginal additions to the list. Carlin was unique.

It is easier to subtract people from this list rather than add people. It goes to my point that there are very few individuals that truely make a real impact in comedy.

I'd rate Hope, Ball, Carson, Laurel and Hardy, Benny and Marx at the top.

Lisa| 5.19.11 @ 11:03PM

Leno is a prime example of a non-talent who owes his career to the writers his management surrounds him with. Ditto, Letterman. And he is just plain mean, too boot. A misanthrope's misanthrope.

Dave Trap| 5.18.11 @ 7:17PM

There was an article on NRO "Put aside your opinion of Tine Fey and enjoy her comedy"
What comedy? The only reason she is laughable is her complete lack of talent.

shipley130| 5.18.11 @ 8:08PM

Hollywood has gone from good satire in movies to complete stupidity. Their &%$ is not funny anymore.

Mark Twain| 5.18.11 @ 8:20PM

Since I'm dead I can't make a phone call , but would someone call The Kennedy Center and ask them to stop doing this in my name?

Petronius| 5.19.11 @ 12:40PM

To bad you didn't stick around longer. I would love to hear your opinion of telemarketers, as you were one of the first to have a telephone.

Runce Avid| 5.18.11 @ 8:26PM

Will Ferrell not funny? Well, duh. If it goes without saying, why say it?

Moviegoer| 5.18.11 @ 8:39PM

Crude is the word that best describes Will Ferrell. There's nothing subtle or intelligent about what he does. I thought his Robert Goulet imitation was heartlessly cruel and unfunny. In fact, "heartless" is another good word to describe his humor.

And, yes, thanks for saying it, giving this guy a (formerly) prestigious award for his humor is unfathomable. Our progressives certainly do march in lockstep, though, and they will all mindlessly laugh themselves silly when the curtain rises on the award show for him. Can't wait to see who they choose next year. Adam Sandler, anyone?

Replica Handbags&wallet; | 5.18.11 @ 9:20PM

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sablegsd| 5.18.11 @ 10:38PM

I agree. Ferrell is not in any way funny.

Dee See| 5.18.11 @ 10:58PM

---Great piece!

ELSEWHERE, and right here, is the fallout
from the greatest world nuclear disaster of all
time ---Fukishima.

DO CHECK OUT Dr. Christopher Busby's
latest testimony on youtube.

And take heed, the 'safe levels' given out
by our 'EUGENICS friendly' globalist media
and authorities apply ONLY to external exposure.

Internal exposure via inhalation and ingestion
is far, far, far, far more deadly. Fallout is what
we in America and Europe are dealing with.

And notice the government is releasing NO figures in ther midst of this crisis.

And remember, Agenda 21/UNESCO et al
declare their CORE agenda to be am 'easing'
of the US population to the tune of 100 MILLION
by 2050. -----Think not only the GMO and tainted
food, water and meds, or the CHEM-trailed air
---think again.

THINK FUKISHIMA

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED

edged25 | 5.18.11 @ 11:47PM

I miss George lol

Randy Shackleford| 5.19.11 @ 2:13PM

Will Ferrel is the most un-funny so called comedian I have ever had the displeasure of listening to. So much for the Mark Twain award. Shark jump.

Dan Marhula| 5.19.11 @ 3:58PM

Finally! Somebody agrees with me and says it publicly. Not only is he not funny, but there is zero acting talent as well! The general publics’ standards have obviously changed over the years – 30 years ago he would have been laughed out of Hollywood after his first feeble attempt at entertainment…..

Iron Sights| 5.19.11 @ 4:59PM

You are spot on about Fey and Ferrell being unfunny and the reason they received this award. Their brand of "humor" bears no resemblance to the intelligent, wry wit of Mark Twain. I doubt he would find them funny either.
I would also like to add the two comedic poseurs Rosie O'Donnell and Jeanine Garofalo to your list. I refuse to watch anything with either one of those harpies in it.

Iron Sights| 5.19.11 @ 5:01PM

These two do for the Mark Twain award, what Al Gore, Jimmy Carter, and Paul Krugman, did for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Tony in Central PA| 5.19.11 @ 5:47PM

I'm a conservtaive and Ferrell makes me laugh some of the time. So do the Three Stooges. Neither of them deserve an award referencing Mark Twain.

Aelfgyva| 5.20.11 @ 2:23PM

Ben Stiller is another, along with Ferrell, of the most unfunny, low-talent frauds now populating American "entertainment".

roadmaster| 5.21.11 @ 9:38AM

Never a Ferrell fan, never will be. His flat out, mean spirited and debasing "humor" appeals only to mean spirited and base people - like lib/progs universally are.

richabbs| 5.22.11 @ 12:58PM

Conservatives opining about what's funny...now that's funny!

Ed Elberson | 5.26.11 @ 11:31AM

Right on!!!!
I also quit watching SNL for the same reasons.

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