Mark Russell, political satirist with a star-spangled piano, dies at 90

[Rooster_Ties]

My wife and I were always fans, as were my parents — especially my mom, who also loved Tom Lehrer (and she had all Lehrer’s albums).

Anyway, Mark Russel’s PBS specials were nearly always appointment viewing (or we sure tried not to miss them whenever we stumbled across them on the schedule).

His brand and style of political wit seems to be in ever shorter supply with every passing year for about the last couple decades, give or take… Sharp (well, often) and funny (sometimes very) — but the kind of ‘funny’ that brings a broad smile (and often) rather than much genuine LOL laughter.

RIP political funny-man. You’ll be missed.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2023/03/30/mark-russell-satirist-pianist-dead

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/30/arts/mark-russell-piano-playing-political-satirist-dies-at-90.html

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/amp/show/political-satirist-and-comedian-mark-russell-dies-at-90

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/mark-russell-r-i-p/

 

Edited April 1, 2023 by Rooster_Ties

[Big Al]

This quote from the National Review memorial resonated with me:

"Mark Russell was winding down during the presidency of George W. Bush and retired before the Trump era began. Perhaps it was just age catching up to him, or the fact that our culture moved beyond his gentle and bipartisan style of humor. Whether you think the U.S. has become a humorless place, this is now certainly a country where each political faction is much less willing to laugh at jokes about itself. And the political satire that is out there is usually brimming with contempt for the opposing side."

Ouch!

[Dan Gould]

A new Mark Russell program on channel 13 in NY was required viewing when I was growing up and a good time beyond.

RIP

[sgcim]

RIP, I also loved the stuff he did on Channel 13