Despite a study showing that late-night TV jokes tend to target Republicans over Democrats, one writer is sticking up for the non-partisan nature of his job.
“When we come in in the morning, we’re not saying, let’s make jokes about Romney,” said “Late Show with David Letterman” writer Lee Ellenberg, who was on the Hill Tuesday to discuss labor protections for writers. “We’re saying, what ridiculous thing happened on the campaign trail? And it happens all the time.”
Ellenberg told Yeas & Nays that, to his knowledge, no candidates have complained about jokes on the “Late Show.” “I think most campaigns have a pretty decent sense of humor, despite what you’d think,” he said. (Indeed, Mitt Romney appeared on the show to deliver the Top 10 last December, and Ellenberg said he “loved the jokes.”)
No one moment from this cycle stands out to Ellenberg as a joke goldmine but “the obvious one” from years past was George W. Bush dropping his dog on his head. Bush’s predecessor also helped Ellenberg and his colleagues. “Lord knows Bill Clinton gave us a treasure trove of material,” he said.
