After re-watching the now-legendary segment from Saturday Night Live’s “Weekend Update” that aired last weekend, I can’t stop thinking about that line in Stephen Sondheim’s “Send in Clowns.” The song is from “A Little Night Music,” and is sung by a character, named Sondheim was reported to say in an interview, “too annoyed and too angry to say.”
Comedian Cecily Strong, on the other hand, can speak loudly and clearly. When Strong, 37, playing Goober the Clown, showed up – talking about Goober’s clown abortion – she was actually sharing a story about herself on live TV, a story that ( when she posted to her Instagram stories) She hasn’t told her mother in years.
“You don’t have to do this, Cecily,” SNL actor Colin Jost said at one point in the sketch, which aired in response to Supreme Court arguments over deeply restrictive abortion laws in Texas. “Who’s Cecily?” she fired back. “I’m Goober. And I wish I didn’t have to do this because having an abortion at 23 is my personal business, but it’s all something that some people in this country like to discuss all the time. .”
Abortion is a difficult subject and, as Goober explains, the use of “funny clown stuff to make food more appetizing”. That’s what great comedians have done since the beginning. That’s why I can’t – I really can’t – stop looking at this sketch. As long as we live in a country where abortion is judged and restricted, I will keep playing.
Of course, had Critics against choice were quick to voice their outrage. They claim that there is no fun in having an abortion. Really? Well, at least we can all agree on that! The laughs didn’t come from talking about any part of the procedure. The humor comes from Goober/Cecilia’s ability to use the phrase “clown abortion” to call attention to an environment that makes it practically impossible for women to tell their abortion stories without being stigmatized. Don’t let my happy expression give you the wrong impression.
Some argue that it is too absurd. But it has to be: How else can she point to the ridiculous lengths the Texas (and other states) legislature has taken to strip women of their constitutional rights?
The best thing about Goober the Clown is that she makes people listen. What’s more, she gets people to open up and talk. She starts a dialogue and that’s the point of comedy, guys.
When you think about it, only a clown could deliver this message. These clowns, although some are scary, are not dangerous. They are genderless. They are not real. Clown is simple and uncomplicated, so who better to solve this problem than Goober.
Let’s face it, there’s no way Strong could have told her story through the lens of any of her other brilliant characters. Girl You wish you hadn’t started a conversation during a party? Too nasty and anarchic. Cathy Anne? Too wasteful and distracting to make a rallying argument. Jeanine Pirro? I’ll leave that alone.
And it’s clear that Strong talking about it to herself isn’t going to be funny, because, as we’ve determined, abortion is no laughing matter for real women – especially women. millions those who have made very difficult choices to have one.
If that’s true then Cole Porter Written“Be a clown, be a clown, the whole world loves a clown”, then maybe we should use clowns to voice the voices of other women whose stories we have. We don’t feel comfortable talking about it. Think about it. Rufie the day rape clown. Boobie Breast Cancer Clown. Reese the Restraining Order Clown. Shari the Sharia Law Clown. Melanie the Menopause Clown. Penny the Gender Pay Gap Clown, who earns just 80 cents for every dollar Bozo earns.
Where are the clowns? Send clowns.
