Clinton's dilemma a bonanza for late-night comics

'No one can withstand ridicule'

January 27, 1998
Web posted at: 10:47 p.m. EST (0347 GMT)

From Correspondent Michael Okwu

Quicktime Video Clips of late night talk shows 1.1M/29 sec./160x120

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Jokesters have coined it everything from "Fornigate" to "Zippergate" to "Jailbaitgate." Call it what you will, allegations that President Clinton had a sexual relationship with a White House intern has been a bonanza for late-night comedians.

Jay Leno: The Super Bowl was "so exciting that Bill Clinton jumped up and knocked the intern right off his lap."

David Letterman: "President Clinton apparently gets so much action that every couple of weeks they have to spray WD-40 on his zipper."

Late show hosts, Keenan Ivory Wayans (top left), David Letterman (top right), Bill Mahr (bottom left) and Jay Leno (bottom right) take comedic advantage of the Washington uproar

"They're in their element when a story like this happens," says Matt Roush, senior TV critic for TV Guide. "This is where they live. This is what they live for -- to have this kind of material thrown at them."

According to ratings expert David Poltrack, Leno and Letterman's ratings are up 10 percent since the scandal broke. That means roughly 400,000 more households are tuning in.

Ratings at ABC's "Politically Incorrect" are up 28 percent, and the folks at Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" went gleefully to work.

'No one can withstand ridicule'

"It's gonna hurt the moral fiber of our country," said the show's host, Craig Kilborn, trying to keep a straight face.

"You're really depressed about that," said executive producer Madeleine Smithberg. "The last moral fiber you had was in, like, shredded wheat."

Every day the controversy continues, each time there is the least bit of news, there is more grist for the comics.

Lisa Shifren was a speechwriter for Dan Quayle when he was vice president and regular fodder on the late-night shows.

"There's always criticism in a two-party system," says Schifren, "but no one can withstand ridicule."

Keenan Ivory Wayans: "Some of the women he's been with have actually said that the president told them that oral sex is not a sin according to the Bible. (applause) What Bible has he been reading? Definitely not the King James version. He got the Rick James version."

And as long as the controversy continues, late night hosts will continue rendering their own interpretation of the Washington uproar.

David Letterman (while a photograph is shown of President Clinton posing with several women): "February 1996 -- Clinton poses for the annual 'Interns I've Slept With' photograph."

Related stories:

• GrandJury Convenes Without Lewinsky Testimony - January 27, 1998
• HillaryClinton: 'This Is A Battle' - January 27, 1998
• Poll:Gender Gap Shows Up In Controversy - January 27, 1998

---

 

---

Sound off on our message boards & chat

© 1998 Cable News Network, Inc.
A Time Warner Company
All Rights Reserved.

Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines.