Eric Idle: "There's a reason Hitler and Trump get rid of the comedians first"
Idle has slammed CBS for axing Stephen Colbert, praised South Park’s savage take on Trump as “heroic”, and warned that comedy is vital for keeping power in check.
Comedian Eric Idle has criticised CBS in an interview with the Radio Times for cancelling Stephen Colbert – and praised South Park as heroic for its depiction of Donald Trump.
Speaking before Jimmy Kimmel was suspended by ABC over comments about the death of right-wing podcaster Charlie Kirk, but after The Late Show with Stephen Colbert was cancelled by CBS, Idle said: "There’s a reason Hitler and Trump get rid of the comedians first. They hate being laughed at.
"Comedy is saying the right thing at the wrong time. It is so important. It is telling truth to power and it’s keeping people sane," he continued.
Reacting to the news of Kimmel’s suspension, Trump said on social media: “Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED. Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done.
“Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that’s possible. That leaves Jimmy [Fallon] and Seth [Meyers], two total losers, on Fake News NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!! President DJT.”
Describing Colbert’s sacking as “very pusillanimous” in the Radio Times interview out on Tuesday, Idle noted that the broadcaster, who recently won an Emmy as the host of The Late Show, is "on the air until May to say anything he likes".
Idle, who is currently on tour in the UK, also called South Park’s recent depiction of President Donald Trump "heroic" and said that the scathing, satirical, and sometimes scatological animated series has done "a lot of damage" to the US president.
The Comedy Central series has portrayed Trump as petty and petulant and he is shown as being in a sexual relationship with Satan.
Spamalot writer Idle, 82, added that Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s series "connects with an undercurrent of anti-, and that’s vital".
"I was in the war, we laughed at Hitler and it made a difference. It diminishes their power."
For tickets to see Eric Idle on the last few dates of his tour go to ericidle.com/tour.
Read our full interview with Eric Idle in the next issue of Radio Times magazine, out on Tuesday 23rd September.
Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
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