When Does a Comedian Cease To Exist?

Back in the 1970s....there were dozens of comedians who came into the living room weekly via TV, and delivered a four-star performance.  Redd Foxx, Don Rickles, Richard Pryor, and Johnny Carson.  They never jumped into the middle of some social discussion, political talk, or lifestyle sermon talk.

I think all of that type of comedy survived through to the 1990s.  At some point, you'd come to notice a handful of comedians who wanted to be 'ministers' in some way, or society leaders.  You would start to notice viewers hitting the mute button or finding other nightly options to watch.

I noticed this week where Jimmy Kimmel getting into a political fight of sorts.  For ABC and the late-night show....there's not much to worry about because most of the angry-type viewers are watching his show in the first place.  In fact, that's one of the interesting things about late-night TV, when you come it against the 1970s.  In the 1970s....you had few options....today?  There's at least forty potential networks to watch....out of which you could catch some episode of Gunsmoke or Gilligan's Island if you desired.

But as you start to shift around....there are dozens of comedians now with agendas and social fights on their hands.  None seem to worry about tomorrow or the next year in terms of viewers or public interest.

I see the same problem with the NFL.  No one seems to worry about viewers leaving or the payscale ever decreasing.

What happens to a 28-year old running back who has some public social fight on their mind and no owner wants them on the team?  They have to source out plan-B.  That typically means taking a $300,000 pay-cut.

What happens to a 40-year old comedian who has some public social fight on their mind and limited viewers?  They will eventually have to find a plan-B, and accepting a 50-percent pay-cut.  The acts in Vegas?  Well....half of those audiences were right-wing or conservative.....so it's unlikely big-bucks will come to be offered for a six-week show at such-and-such casino.

I don't want to condemn these people....but if you hit big-time by age 45, and you've lost half your fan base by age 50....what does it say over your humor, or your ability to entertain?  Were you really a comedian....or did you just have a fleeting moment where you lost it all?

So what does a out-of-work comedian do at age fifty?  Tend bar?  Sell tires?  Do the Channel Nine weather?