AL.com’s ‘Reckon’ has nudged its way into the political satire business, with a recent short film called “Life Cycle of an Alabama Politician.”
The video features Reckon’s Managing Producer, John Hammontree – who also sits on AL.com’s editorial board – acting as a stumping Alabama politician who recites all the lines about his intentions to “right the ship of state” and “rid Montgomery of corruption.”
Each change of scene brings a wardrobe change, in which he progressively comes to be dressed as a cartoonish criminal.
It’s kind of funny. Hammontree’s southern drawl is pretty good, and he acts a good politician.
But the trope of the corrupt Alabama Politician has passed its prime, and if it’s going to be invoked in a satirical way, it must be unique and specific.
Satire is funny because its jokes are, in some (often obscure) way, closely aligned with some reality. The best political satire is fresh, quick and targeted.
Take this Onion headline: “Cambridge Analytica Offers 75% off all Facebook User Data For Blowout Closing Sale.”
The joke uses a very particular and recent news development, creating a situation in which user data is treated like Trees ‘n’ Trends patio furniture. It’s funny because that isn’t how user data is sold, but it does perhaps reflect the attitude with which Cambridge Analytica treated it.
A good Alabama corruption joke could have played to the fact that state Rep. Jack Williams (R-Wilmer) was recently being confused by some media and Facebook users with Rep. Jack D. Williams (R-Vestavia Hills), who was arrested on corruption charges last month.
Or something like, “Gov. Ivey leaves key legislators in her office to play with BP money while she works.”
It doesn’t take much to parrot the general corrupt Alabama politician stereotype. Even the corrupt Alabama politicians do that.
@jeremywbeaman is a contributing writer for Yellowhammer News
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