Unfunny Girl

(Cross-posted at The Megaphone.)

In his final line - his curtain call, so to speak - before shuffling off this mortal coil, English actor Edmund Kean is supposed to have observed: "Dying is easy; comedy is hard."

And if you don't believe him, just ask Elizabeth May, leader of the Canada's Green party, who, the other day experienced that deathless line in a personal and palpable way.

How so?

At the annual Parliament Hill Press Gallery dinner (one hesitates to call it the Canadian equivalent of that rollicking annual event in Washington D.C, because our press gallery is in the grip of Harper Derangement Syndrome while the D.C. retinue is comprised mostly of Obama-besotted swooners and sycophants) Ms. May essayed the comedic - which was hard - and promptly died--which was easy-peasy.

The comedy stylings (so called) that led to her metaphorical demise were these.

 

Usually, party leaders deliver light-hearted, mainly self-deprecating speeches that include the odd barb thrown at the media.

But May went on at length about being the only female leader and having to claw her way into televised leaders’ debates.

Transport Minister Lisa Raitt intervened and attempted to persuade May to end her speech, but instead, May played a recording of “Welcome back Kotter”  -  a theme song from a 1970s sitcom  -  and stated that Khadr has “more class than the whole f—ing cabinet.”

Personally, I don't think it was the F-bomb that sunk her. I think it was the fact that, whatever else Elizabeth May is - climate change alarmist; sanctimonious "social justice" warrior - she is no Joan Rivers.

Just imagine how the late Ms. R. would have comported herself at one of these dos. She could have dropped F-bombs galore, offended the high and mighty with every joke, and still left 'em convulsed with laughter.

See, that's the difference between someone who is instinctively funny and someone who is about as far from funny as funny is from, well, dying.

In any case, those in the know remember that "Welcome Back, Khadr" was done years ago, by yours truly:

Welcome back!
Jihad was your ticket out.
Welcome back
To the same old land your dad laughed about.
Well, your fam'ly is waitin' with open arms
And the Ceeb is extolling your boyish charms.
Chillin' down in Gitmo
(Chillin' down in Gitmo)
You didn't wanna sit mo'
(You didn't wanna sit mo').
Well, the Lefties all love you
So there's nothin' we can do,
Welcome ba-a-ack.
(Welcome back, welcome back,
Welcome ba-a-ack.)

Thanks for coming. I'll be here all week.