05 March 2010
Presidential Reunion
This week, Funny or Die made news with a short featuring comedians playing each of the last seven presidents. Of course, Fred Armisen resumed the role of Barack Obama that he plays on Saturday Night Live. Perhaps the greatest G.W. Bush impersonator, Will Ferrell, made an appearance. Other notables include Jim Carrey as Ronald Reagan, and Chevy Chase as Harold Ford.
The skit is actually a political message meant to inform the public about the Consumer Financial Protection Agency. Currently, congress is crafting legislation to create CFPA, which would help to regulate banks and credit card companies and, hopefully, limit the boom and bust, bubble economy that we have seen for the last few decades.
Truthfully, Funny or Die's skit is, well, not that funny. FoD has done other skits, most notably with Jack Black as Jesus (Vote No on Prop 8), that contain a political message, but always with the intent to make us laugh. However, one has to wonder if that was the aim here. Besides seeing all seven presidents together and blaming each other for the problems, there is very little worth watching in the first 99% of this video. The important part is at the end. Viewers are encourage to visit Main Street Brigade and write their congressmen about the importance of the CPFA, because "nothing annoys them more than having to do their job!"
1 comment:
You forgot to mention my favorite, Dana Carvey as Bush the Elder. It wasn't that funny, you're right about that, but its good to mobilize this group to get out the message that activism is important. You know the real presidents wouldn't do it (it would be really hard for St. Ronnie), and I thought this was a great piece, even though it didn't make me laugh out loud. I appreciate the talent involved.
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