Comedian actor Bret Ernst does what few others do on stage

There is one comedian that is offering a fresh and full perspective on American politics and presidential elections that isn ot driven by hate, partisanship and ideology. Bret Ernst at BretComedy.com

By Ray Hanania

Free/Comedy/Wednesday April 10, 2024

Bret Ernst is one of the nation's most unique standup comedians when it comes to satirizing American politics.

Most American standup comics and TV talk show hosts dominate their sets by targeting one political side and bashing a political figure in a partisan political rant creating a boring and predictable performance that shows a lack of talent.

Ernst is different and he lampoons everyone, all sides, and slams those who tend to focus their satire and criticism only on President Joe Biden or former President Donald J. Trump.

He slams them both making the humor even more hilarious for audiences who are tiring of performances built on one-sided and limited partisan attacks.

(Picture: Bret Ernst with author Ray Hanania at the LA Comedy Club in Las Vegas at the Strat.)

Don't get me wrong. In today's screwed-up American world of polarization, rising anger, hate and animosity, it's easy for the less talented to do the predictable and repetitive partisan attacks, in singling out one target.

It doesn't take talent for performers like some late night TV hosts or other comedians and TV talk show celebrities and stage performers to only slam Trump or, occasionally, only slam Biden. That's easy. It doesn't require any skill to pick on one side and pander to one political audience. The jokes are repetitive and hackneyed. Cliches that draw laughter by squeezing the blood out of the America's polarization turnip.

Some focus on Biden.

But Ernest points out all of their problems in a talented and truly humorous manner that had audiences at the LA Comedy Club in the Dragon Room at the Strat hotel. The audience at the show I attended Tuesday night was so captivated, they belly laughed at every satire angle including his no-holds-barred slams of Biden and Trump, Democrats and Republicans and the biased mainstream news media.

Ernst is so refreshing. His humor is original in the context of clashing comparisons of both political sides. There are so very few comedians who are doing that on stage, focused on creating entertainment rather than forging a boring, redundant partisan political statement.

It's the difference between a comedian on stage who just uses the F-word to fill the vacuum of his or her empty humor in front of a drunk audience that laughs more that the F-words than at the failed attempts at sarcasm and lampoon.

Ernest actually gives you something to laugh at without having a political view. You can check your politics at the door and get away from America's partisan anger and hate-driven public conflict. That polarization is debilitating, tiresome and exhausting. It kills the laughter replacing it with political vomit, barfs and diarrhea.

It's like waking up from an induced slumber similar to The Matrix starring Keanu Reeves to see the reality. You think you are laughing with the one-sided garbage, but you are not. It's fake politics and fake laughter that doesn't even come close to authentic belly laughing hilarity.

Ernst breaks you out of that system that has your brain in a slumber and wakes you up to the full aspect of comedy.

He went one for nearly 90 minutes as the audience laughed from one joke to another. He slipped out of politics and talk about his favorite character, Bitch Ass Kevin, and the contradictions of everyday life in a respectful but unrestrained unpolitical correct flash on race, gay life, transgenders, baby boomers, Gen X (which he identifies with) and all the other hypocrisies that tend to keep people apart.

Wake up from The Matrix and pull the plug that limits your brain and consciousness to your minds full potential and enjoyment.

There is a better world out there people, rather than one driven by narrow political, racial and partisan hate.

Ernst is Neo and his performances can lead you out of it to a higher plane of consciousness and full awakening.

Check out his performances by visiting Bretcomedy.com