Happy new year, friends.
In years past, we have frequently discussed the only apparent common ground in our divisive political culture. It is the place where everyone points fingers at the other side and offers, "Yeah, but what about you?"
Hey, at least we have found something to agree on, right?
That brings us to the celebrity outrage and finger pointing from Sunday's Golden Globes awards show.
Let's cue the announcer, "In this corner, there's a well-known English standup comic making comments that outrage folks and galvanize the other side."
And, "In the other corner there's a well-known comedian of Mexican descent making comments that outrage folks and galvanize the other side."
Sounds like a fair fight, right?
Well, let's start with George Lopez, who became a MAGA piñata Sunday.
Actor/comedian George Lopez addresses the crowd after being inducted to the California Hall of Fame at the California Museum in downtown Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019. (Daniel Kim/The Sacramento Bee via AP, Pool)When a social media tsunami swelled after Iran extremists allegedly offered an $80 million bounty to take out President Donald Trump, Lopez responded with, "We'll do it for half that."
OK, remember that a) he is a comedian; b) he could be somewhat self-deprecating with the "we'll" since the stereotypical narrative is Mexican-Americans are willing to do undesirable jobs for half price; c) and we did mention he's a comedian, right?
This is not the over-the-top storyline of "comedian" Kathy Griffin holding a decapitated Trump doll. This is a joke-teller telling jokes.
And here's the head spin of our modern era of outrage: The folks who are outraged at Lopez are universally applauding Ricky Gervais, the Golden Globes host.
Gervais dropped a litany of laughable haymakers directly in the laps of luxury of Hollywood's A-list crowd.
His opening monologue was direct and hilarious. He was forthright and funny.
Yes, funny. Here's a sample:
* To the group of Hollywood stars, "So if you do win an award tonight, don't use it as a political platform to make a political speech. You're in no position to lecture the public about anything. You know nothing about the real world. Most of you spent less time in school than Greta Thunberg. So, if you win, come up, accept your little award, thank your agent and your God."
* "I came here in a limo tonight and the license plate was made by Felicity Huffman," referencing the TV star who served time in the college admissions scandal.
* He even took a swing at the big production companies and the hypocrisy that is the mainstream elite, saying that if the jobs they want are "made by a company who runs sweatshops in China, you say you're woke, but - if ISIS started a streaming service you'd call your agent."
Wow. So there's that.
It's comedy. In both directions.
And, with some perspective, it's quite possible that our sense of humor is the biggest thing we've lost in this day and age of outrage.
Jay GreesonContact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com.