Politics on Comedy TV a Rare Treat

The young and saucy Comedy Central cable network has surely used this election year to quickly make a name for itself.

Its coverage of last week’s Democratic National Convention, paired with its lampoon of President Bush’s State of the Union address in January, has made that clear.

Unfortunately, alas, you’ll have to shout at your cable-TV company that you want Comedy Central because many viewers still don’t get it. And, unfortunately, this viewer only saw the first few nights of the channel’s skewering of the convention.

Still, what we saw was enough to persuade us that Comedy Central and its brilliantly droll news anchor, Al Franken, are worth seeking out whenever possible during such political events if you want a nice blend of deadpan, nutty, remarkably sophisticated and, on occasion, wonderfully tasteless coverage.

Too much respect is a dangerous thing, and Comedy Central knows it.

We knew things were going to be all right on the first night of the convention as Ron Brown, head of the Democratic National Committee, addressed the throng and the crowd cheered.

“They’re excited on the floor,” observed Franken. “I wish I’d been listening to what he said.”

There was also a terrific segment called “Tonight’s Rant,” in which Ron Silver, with ever-increasing emotion, launched into a tirade about family values and argued heatedly that he’s sure he loves his family more than Dan Quayle loves his.

Then, of all people, Roger Ailes, former media adviser to Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George Bush, joined Franken. And, getting into the swing of things, Ailes showed a so-called TV ad he had created about Bill Clinton--dealing with, among other things, how the candidate had created lots of low-paying, chicken-processing jobs in Arkansas.

When it was over, Franken stared at Ailes: “That’s what you came up with?”

Whereupon a second Ailes TV ad about Clinton was shown, superimposing the candidate’s head on a chicken.

“This is ridiculous,” accused Franken. “I’m cutting you right here. . . . We gave you $3,500 to produce these two spots.”

Franken accused Ailes of using the chicken image to try to remind the public of Clinton’s Vietnam War record.

The segment was reminiscent of “Saturday Night Live” on a good outing. And Ailes was terrific, gamely hanging in there as a non-performer with the killer humor of Franken.

Just to show its impartiality--or maybe it was partiality--Comedy Central also offered some so-called TV ads about Ross Perot created by Penn Jillette of the wild team of Penn & Teller.

We wish we’d seen more of this insouciant convention coverage.

THE SLOW LANE: There’s nobody that we would like to like more in politics than Sen. Bill Bradley, as classy a guy as you ever saw on a basketball court with Princeton and then the New York Knicks.

But to say that he and his speech were dull on TV at last week’s convention is putting it mildly. He really needs some intense media education because he seemingly has all the tools--intelligence, sincerity, commitment, looks. There is something about him that says he is a possible major political event just waiting to happen--if he gets a little help.

Right now, however, he’s about as exciting as Ed Muskie.

PERSPECTIVE: According to NBC’s David Letterman, one of the Top 10 things heard during Bill Clinton’s acceptance speech was: “Run for your lives. It’s Woodrow Wilson.”

Letterman also took another shot at NBC’s pay-per-view “triplecast” of the Summer Olympics, saying the network “is taking a bath” on the venture “to the tune of $150 million.”

NBC News, however, must have been quite happy with John Chancellor’s funny, intelligent and relaxed outing with Letterman Friday night.

DOUBLE EXPOSURE: Lots of good word-of-mouth about Tom Brokaw’s witty remarks from the convention to Jay Leno on “The Tonight Show.” But Leno made the exchanges work nicely by obviously being well-versed on the political goings-on. You could say he wasn’t as funny as Brokaw at times, but he was a good straight man.

TWO FOR THE SEESAW: Pity that Bette Midler, dynamite in her appearance with Johnny Carson the night before he retired from “Tonight,” is matched in the Emmy nominations against Natalie Cole for her memorable PBS tribute to her late father, Nat King Cole.

Both are up for individual performance in a variety or music program--and the competition’s tough: Other nominees include Dana Carvey for “Saturday Night Live,” Billy Crystal for hosting the Academy Awards and George Carlin for an HBO special.

THE ONE AND ONLY: We’re clearing out all our December appointments right now to make sure we don’t miss that American Movie Classics interview with Alice Faye about her life and career. The playdates will be announced for this endearing star whose mystique conjures up an entire era of American movies.

THE COMEBACK KID: Oh, you remember Mr. Pete. First he had that wacky public access show where people like Roseanne Arnold would drop in. Then he did a late-night series for KTLA Channel 5. And now, starting Aug. 3, Mr. Pete (real name: Peter Chaconas) will be back in late-night again--this time nationally--for the USA cable network in a four-week run.

COLLECTOR’S ITEM: A video of Johnny Carson’s final two “Tonight” shows, including the classic farewell outing, would seem a natural, but we’ve been told that performer clearances are needed. Pity. This is historic stuff for your video shelf and should really be available. Hey, I’d buy it.

LEGENDS: A thoughtful reader has sent us a copy of the late Eric Sevareid’s 1972 commentary on the death of Jackie Robinson. The final paragraph reads: “Any man or woman who becomes a national example has to remain an example if he can manage it. Robinson did, even off the field and over the long haul. Winston Churchill had a point when he said that courage is the prime virtue, for the reason that it makes all the other virtues possible.”

BEING THERE: “Heroes take chances.”--Ralph Hinkley (William Katt) in “The Greatest American Hero.”

Say good night, Gracie. . . .