<
https://lithub.com/the-power-of-the-podcast-collaborators-on-the-state-cancellation-of-jimmy-kimmel/>
"Where does a joke end? The last decision an artist makes is deciding when a
piece is finished, when one more brushstroke might ruin the painting. When it
comes to the freedom of expression, the right wing in America has dropped the
curtain. The right’s podcasters, TV stars, agency heads, and presidents have
decided that the joke is over.
Jimmy Kimmel was ripped off the air this week because a few sensitive people
can’t take a joke [
ed. note: or are pretending they can’t] and a series of
companies are trying to make a profit. The hypocrisy and shortsightedness of
this shouldn’t be a shock. Those profiting from art have rarely been willing to
compromise cash for values. Now though, there’s little safe haven in
independent art either, where podcasting and comedy have welcomed truly noxious
voices that are eager to remake themselves as Wormtongues in the halls of
power.
To those who have been aghast at the the genocide in Palestine and have watched
for years as protesters are snatched off the streets and deported, the hope
that the powerful might find moral courage has long fallen away. But for many,
Jimmy Kimmel’s cancellation is ringing fascism alarm bells for the first time,
and bringing into focus just how eagerly pliable many Americans are.
Kimmel was canceled at the end of a Rube Goldberg machine that started with a
podcast appearance. Free speech hypocrite and Federal Communications Commission
chair Brendan Carr appeared on a right wing podcast on Wednesday, and was mad
at one of Kimmel’s late night jokes that mentioned dead podcaster Charlie Kirk.
Carr called the joke “the sickest conduct possible” and suggested that the FCC
could revoke ABC’s affiliate licenses in retaliation, forcing Disney to punish
Kimmel. Nexstar, an affiliate group that owns 197 TV stations across the US,
heard the call and threatened to stop airing Kimmel, which tipped the hand of
ABC’s leadership at Disney.
Nexstar is trying to merge with Tegna, another large media company, a deal
which will need federal approval. And if you’re surprised Disney isn’t doing
the right thing, I have a magic castle to sell you."
Via Kenny Chaffin.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
