The Ageless Guide to the primaries: Choose your comedians, Part 1: Governor

“A comic says funny things; a comedian says things funny.” And if that’s the case, what do you call the Illinois primary candidates for Governor and Senator? In The Sun Times, Abdon M. Pallasch and Dave McKinney wrote excellent profiles for ALL the candidates in the Tuesday, February 2, election.

Pallasch and McKinney asked the basic questions: age, geography, accomplishments, three top issues and the first thing they would do in office. They also included first job, first date, and the chore they hate the most. Pallasch and McKinney also asked who is the politician’s favorite comedians are, perhaps the most telling question of all.

Republicans

The series began on January 18, with the then ten gubernatorial candidates. Since that date, one candidate, Bob Schillerstrom dropped out on January 22. Schillerstrom’s favorite was Conan O’Brien, who interestingly also dropped out (or was forced out) on January 22.

The leading GOP contenders for governor are Jim Ryan (Robin Williams, George Carlin), Kirk Dillard  (Red Skelton), and Andy McKenna (Steve Martin.)

Will this play in the DuPage County and downstate?

Ryan’s choices are problematic. In their run up to stardom, both Robin Williams and George Carlin were profane, drug-addled questioners of authority, and far left politically. This can’t sit well with the Republican base. However, both comedians became extremely well off financially and their economic interests were in tune with the country club wing of the party.

Red Skelton as "Freddie the Freeloader." What is the subtext of Dillard's fascination?

Kirk Dillard served in the state senate with Barack Obama and appeared in 2007 campaign ad for Obama in Iowa. Thus, to  burnish his conservative credentials I believe, Dillard chose Red Skelton. First off, Skelton’s last program on television was in 1971. There is probably not a Red Skelton fan under 50 and Skelton was a hard core conservative. Skelton believed that CBS took him off the air because of his pro-Viet-Nam war stance and traditional values.

McKenna’s choice of Steve Martin is self-explanatory.

Andy McKenna

Andy McKenna's favorite comic

Democrats

Chevy Chase is the selection of Dan Hynes. Chevy Chase was extremely funny for a short period of time during the first year of Saturday Night Live (1975), Caddy Shack (1980), The first National Lampoon Vacation movie (1983) and Three Amigos (1986).

Dan Hynes is the Illinois comptroller. What is so funny about that?

And while Chase is pretty funny in the new and mostly unwatched series Community, I contend that Hynes does not watch this show. To me this means that Hynes is stuck in the comedy of the past. And since Hynes was born in 1968, that means the man hasn’t really laughed since he was 17 years old.

Governor Pat Quinn selected Albert Brooks which I consider to be an inspired choice. Brooks (whose real name is Albert Einstein, no relation) is best known for his film “Lost in America.”

This widely quoted film (at least in our house) tells the tale of yuppies in the 1980s who quit their jobs, sell their house and go off to “touch Indians.” Brooks and his movie wife Julie Hagerty stop for the night in Las Vegas, where Hagerty proceeds to gamble away the “nest egg.” It is a particularly apt metaphor for what has happened in this country. Our national “nest egg” was lost in an uncontrolled period of wild speculation.

Albert Brooks at Hoover Dam wondering what the hell just happened.

In our next post: Favorite comedians of Senate candidates