I got hooked on Videogum because of the yogurt cups. But I really got wrapped up in it because of the observations on media and American taste. This second article on Jeff Dunham’s career is worth reading (here’s the first one).

America is in a place where proud ignorance gives way to profitable commodities that are built on hate speech. This was subtly presented in last week’s 30 Rock with a guest appearance by none other than Jeff Dunham himself. Mr. Dunham, Comedy Central, Sarah Palin, and the other loudspeakers that “reflect Middle America” are actually rotting out the core of what makes America truly great: freedom. Freedom to practice your religion, express your ethnicity, and talk back to the government. Casual hate speech in comedy, politics, or advertising perverts what could be a beautiful society of cooperation, and acceptance. </soapbox>