Beech Tree News Network

I can’t watch the late night comedy shows anymore.  I used to record The Late Show(first with Letterman and then Colbert), Saturday Night Live and the Tonight Show.  Bush(both of them) got elected and I could stand the shows.  Jokes were funny and smart back in the day.  Saturday Night Live, much like Rolling Stone magazine, has always had political undertones.  It wasn’t until the shows and magazine got closer to 75-85% political that I got wary. I can’t pinpoint exactly when it happened but, one by one, the late shows started becoming nasty.  They tend to lean a lot more heavily on politics these days. 
David Letterman was a known curmudgeon with sarcasm.  That was fine.  Dave was a legend in late night.  Also, he gave you this smile so as to say “these are just jokes, folks”.  Trouble is, certain networks(and new hosts) have not only taken the attitude of “Dave did it, I can too” but they’ve taken it up a few thousand notches. 
Dave left and we wondered who would take his chair.  Stephen Colbert took the spot.  There was natural skepticism but I set a season pass anyway.  He was funny enough for a while.  Then, the political climate shifted and so did his, and everyone else’s, comedy”.  It seems that Mr. Colbert has revived the political satire of his Comedy Central show, only amped WAY up.  It’s fine to touch on a subject.  Just don’t make your entire show about lampooning what you don’t agree with or believe in.  This brings me to Saturday Night Live.
SNL has always been political.  That’s something any fool can see.  The past few years, though, have been almost unbearable.  In fact, they’ve shifted away from comedy and more towards just plain mean vitriol.  SNL enjoyed their highest rated season in about 20 years.  Bashing=ratings, just not my viewership. 
I did not watch but one episode of the previous season of Saturday Night Live.  Partially because I can’t stand Alec Baldwin.  I wish I could say I used to be a fan but I don’t want to lie.  “You just don’t know what’s funny”, some people might say.  That’s you’re right.  It’s also my right not to watch nightly bashing and then again on the weekend.  I’m not alone in my assessment.  I’ve come in contact with several on twitter who, like me, have stopped watching Saturday Night Live. 
The bright side of cutting out the late shows? More sleep.  More sleep is always a good thing.