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Comedy Was Never the Same

Comedy Was Never the Same

Written by: Thong
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 The 1980s saw America swing back towards conservatism, and comedy swung right along with it – often with a satirical edge. Films like Trading Places (1983) and Wall Street (1987) used humor to comment on Reagan-era economics and the growing wealth gap.
But the ’80s weren’t all about money. This decade also saw the rise of the teen comedy, with John Hughes films like The Breakfast Club (1985) and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) capturing the essence of Gen X disaffection and rebellion.
Meanwhile, comedies began to more openly address issues of gender equality. 9 to 5 (1980) used laughs to highlight workplace sexism, while Tootsie (1982) had Dustin Hoffman learning some uncomfortable truths about being a woman in a man’s world.
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Episodes
  • Comedy Podcast episode 1

    Comedy Podcast episode 1
    Nov 3 2025
    As America emerged victorious from World War II, comedy in film took on a decidedly optimistic tone. The 1950s, in particular, saw the rise of family-friendly comedies that reflected the nation’s focus on domestic bliss and the nuclear family. Films like Father of the Bride (1950) celebrated (and gently mocked) the traditions and trials of American family life.
    But beneath the surface of these wholesome laughs, societal tensions were brewing. The conformity of the 1950s was ripe for satire, and filmmakers began to push boundaries. Billy Wilder’s Some Like It Hot (1959) used cross-dressing not just for laughs, but as a subtle commentary on gender roles and identity. The film’s famous closing line, “Nobody’s perfect,” was a sly nod to the growing cracks in the facade of 1950s perfectionism.
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    9 mins
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