Hu is the Leader of China?

Abbott and Costello’s Who’s on First? has long been propagated as one of the best comedy acts of all-time. This title was validated in 1999 as Time magazine dubbed Who’s On First? as the best comedy sketch of the 20th century. Ever since the act was copyrighted by Abbott and Costello in 1944, many individuals have created parodies of the famed act, in turn casting Who’s On First? into the position of an unquestioned American cultural icon. It would be a difficult undertaking to find someone that has never read, seen or heard Who’s on First? or a variation of the act.

The reason Who’s on First? is so funny is because it represents a breakdown in communication of insurmountable proportions. Many have argued that the Bush administration has displayed similar spells of miscommunication with regard to the implementation of foreign policy; this theme is represented in entertaining fashion in a parody of Who’s on First? titled The Real Reason the Democrats Won so Many Seats…

The YouTube video is clearly attacking George Bush’s credentials as leader of the Free World by making him appear ignorant on basic foreign relations subjects such as the names of leaders of various countries and organizations. The President’s confusion is facilitated by Condoleezza Rice’s inability to recognize Bush’s apparent confusion.

Other than to entertain, the purpose of this video is to be an attack on the Bush administration, and that attack is apparent. The message the video is attempting to convey is not lost in the form in which the message is delivered, for the form and the message sort of merge in the sense that the message that miscommunication is rampant within the Bush administration is illustrated more clearly in the form of miscommunication.

Reactions to the YouTube video were mixed as some individuals simply lauded the comedic value of the video, while others were bothered by the political message of the video. I personally find the video to be downright hilarious, the creator of the video did an excellent job imitating the style of Who's on First?.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCF8Tt6z7kM