September 11, 2002 | The Orion P7

H9H0I MIND

CartoonistsMike WiebelikestruggledChico Statewith studenthow to handle humor after the Sept. 11 attacks. Jokes and comic material responded to the sensitive culture after the attacks. This cartoon, from Wiebe's weekly strip, ran in The Orion Sept. 19. This week, Wiebe has also opted to take a break from his traditional humor. You can find Wiebe's comic this week on C6.

Politically correct not so JORYJOHN jokes never man funny about, what subjects need to be avoided, funny: war. It's actually real and and he will probably, eventually, as we've ever seen him, speaking directly Opinion Editor what songs can be played. Otherwise, deadly and not digitized, and people don't find another outlet for his unorthodox to the camera, trying to make sense ofit all. come back to life when you suffer the consequences, you terror¬ you push remarks, but we should all offer up a col¬ Of course, he couldn't. He was eloquent, as "We're "restart." But it looks a going to try and feel our way ist-sympathizer, you security threat, like fleet of Bob lective shudder when somebody is always, but how can one man make sense because there are millions of through this and we'll just see how it people Hopes have returned from their 99-year- thrown off the airwaves for a few insen¬ of something that, a year later, we're still goes... take it a day at a time." ready to ruin your career, or at least old, sedentary lifestyles to make us all sitive comments. Work hard your whole not even close to understanding? —David "boo" Letterman, Sept. 17, 2001 really loudly. All it takes is one cringe, again. Give me a Bill Maher over life, do well for yourself, misspeak, go to And Letterman abstained from being "We have been the a Bob cowards, lobbing wrong move, a few misjudged syllables. Hope, any day. hell. Bye bye, Bill, you expendable com¬ funny for a few days, minus a joke here cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away. Comedy has changed since last Sure, Maher-an informed, some¬ mentator, you unpleasant dissenter. We and there, before slowly, patiently, wor¬ That's cowardly." September, mostly for the worse. Satirical times brilliant communicator in his own used to think you were funny and knowl¬ riedly, almost painfully bringing back — Bill criticism of Maher, Sept. 17, 2001 government officials, unless right-picked a stupid time to make his edgeable, all at the same time. But if you some of the regular features of his show, done in a infamous Surely, it's hard enough navigating the silly way, with no real existing remarks, and they were, indeed, don't speak for us as one nation, united the "Top 10" list included. And he suc¬ ever-changing, constantly evolving maze point behind it, is often regarded as unpa¬ glaringly insensitive. His show was with liberty (and justice for everybody ceeded because he did it respectfully, of life in the triotic. On public eye, but when there many late night programs, called "Politically Incorrect," and when who shares the exact same opinions joke by joke, testing the waters, not mak¬ are limitations on what can be said and he said that the cow¬ politicians, (who we used to laugh at for terrorists weren't about everything), then why don't you go ing any huge or controversial revelations. when it can be said their (and who can say it), hypocrisy and stances on issues and ardly, which was obviously a very politi¬ spout off in Afghanistan, where your (His first "Top 10" list, after the tragedy, then a whole new set of harrowing chal¬ basic stupidity about pretty much every¬ cally incorrect thing to say, well, that was observations will be the basis for a wacky was "Top Ten Things That Almost lenges are revealed. thing having to do with real life), have pretty much the beginning of the end for new, un-American sitcom. Rhyme With 'Hat.'" Harmless. Nothing Since Sept. 11, entertainment has had become entertainers/stars/comedians the guy and the program. Now, the On the other end of the spectrum-in to do with anything.) to find its show's way again, leaving comedians themselves, joining in on the jokes, chat¬ been canceled (to be replaced by terms of response-David Letterman, a We still bite our tongues over Sept. 11. and broadcasters and the sexist antics of journalists and ting it up with the hosts, assuring us (in "The Man Show'"s man who is world-famous because of his And it will stay that way, indefinitely. musicians and cartoonists and disc between jock¬ yuks) that the war effort is still Jimmy Kimmel, who would only talk sarcastic slant on life, was someone who The government will encourage patrio¬ about terrorists if eys in an uncharted, and often hostile, ter¬ going strong (ha ha ha), that we're still they were female and many looked to in those chaotic mid- tism over free speech and fear over laugh¬ ritory. There are no written rules or laws planning on invading this or that country bouncing on a trampoline), Maher's September days. (Be willing to bet that the ter and war-mongering over diverse opin¬ on what to career is in relative say or do in the aftermath of a (hee hee hee), still strapping on our com¬ shambles and free¬ always unfunny Jay Leno tuned in and ions. That's just the way it is. bat boots and devastating terrorist attack. There are no kicking some serious butt dom of speech takes another hit, another took notes, that first night Dave was back And it's nothing to laugh about. guidelines as to what subjects are off-lim¬ (hoo hoo hoo). little slide, and just wait until we're used on, learning how to be both respectful and its. to it and the Basically, it comes down to personal, Humor, in these cases, is kind of nau¬ muddy avalanche of closed- sincere.) And Letterman, for the most part, Jory John can be reached at: ethical decisions on what can be talked seating. Here's a subject that's almost mouth-isms continues. Maher is a smart emerged on his first show back as earnest [email protected]

Attacks spur pop songs, tribute albums MARK LORE "Walk Like An three rows in a sea of album sales Egyptian" veered more on the side singles. on the strengths of singles based on 9- Asst. Entertainment Editor of ridiculous. "They kind of flooded the market with singles 11. While many classic songs were in danger of not and tribute albums," Mazzanti said. "But sales kind Jackson is nominated for a record 10 Country of faded receiving airtime, there were just as many being quickly." Music Awards nominations including one for his sin¬ So profound was the tragedy of Sept. 11 that, resuscitated from the past. Elvis Presley's 1968 Many compilation albums were released after 9- gle, "Where Were You (When the World Stopped even when America tried to find solace in entertain¬ song, "If I Can Dream," was repackaged and put 11. "America-A Tribute to Heroes," and "The Turning)." His album, "Drive," has sold three million back in stores as a ment, there were noticeable changes. single, as was Lee Greenwood's Concert for New York City" were two of the store's copies. Keith has nine CMA nominations, two of "God Bless The USA." Music alone has gone through brief periods of big sellers. The former featured artists such as Brace which are for his song "Red White and Blue (The flux in the last year. But it appears that Americans, Soon patriotic singles were popping up from a Springsteen and Stevie Wonder, while the latter had Angry American)." on a national and local level, do go on with their lives wide range of artists including Stone Temple Pilots, an A-list of performers including Paul McCartney, Scott Michaels, programming director for KALF -even when it comes to entertainment. which covered The Beatles' "Revolution" The Who and David and Le Bowie. Despite this, Tower 95.7 and KZAP 96.7, said that, while there was a In the wake of the attacks, Clear Channel Ann Records sold Rimes, who did the more traditional "God Bless only a handful of each over the last year. slight jump in requests for these songs when they Communications, which owns 1,170 radio stations America." Ray Stevens even added some humor to a "The music industry is fickle," Mazzanti said. were first released, the demand has waned. Michaels in the United States, put out a list of songs that it tragic time with his song "Osama-Yo' Mama." "And the public would rather pick up a new artist also said his stations plan to be respectful when thought were potentially inappropriate. Though it Locally, however, it seems that rush for patriotic than a patriotic CD." doing its programming today, saying the public has wasn't a tunes has mandatory ban, there were 150 songs rec¬ began to fade. Brian Mazzanti, a supervi¬ Now, exactly a year after the attacks, the music had to relive the tragedy enough on television. ommended for the list. Some of them were more sor at Tower Records said there was a surge of re- industry has found a bit of a resurgence of music "We're going to respect the day," Michaels said. obvious than others. "Bodies" by Drowning Pool, releases as well as new releases immediately after themed after the infamous date. Bruce Springsteen's "But we don't need to go overboard." with its chorus "Let the bodies hit the floor," was an the attacks, and people bought them. But what was new album, "The Rising," is currently No. 7 on The understandable choice. But the inclusion of songs once a full rack of red, white and blue CDs at the Billboard 200. While in country music, Alan Mark Lore can be reached at: like John Lennon's "Imagine" and The Bangles front of the store has now shrunken into a modest Jackson and Toby Keith are enjoying successful [email protected]

Birthday gives man reason to celebrate Sept. 11 JACQUI HIGGINS normal things," he said. were talking about it," Dean said. said. "After this year I will just look at it Staff Writer Dean remembers the day well. His Dean went about his birthday as he as a day of tragedy." roommate heard the news first and told normally would - spending time with his But Dean is doing his best to try to put Ryan Dean gets the same reaction Dean what happened.Shortly after Dean friends and trying not to think about what off thinking of Sept. 11 as a tragic day from people when he tells them his birth¬ heard the news, he called his parents. happened that day. until he has the chance to celebrate his day is Sept. 11. The phone rang at Salli Dean's, Ryan's Although it can be hard to share his 21st birthday. "It's your birthday? That sucks," peo¬ mother's house at 6:30 a.m., and immedi¬ birthday with such a tragic event in his¬ "We are celebrating his birthday with ple tell him. ately she knew something was wrong. tory, Dean admits that being so far a big celebration in Vegas on the 13th," But Ryan chooses to see it a little dif¬ It was Ryan calling with the news. removed from the terror allowed him to Salli said. "I remember ferently. He's decided not to let it get Ryan saying, 'Mom, you celebrate the day a little easier. And, as far as Ryan's birthday being him know there could have been "It down. 50,000 peo¬ didn't affect me as much because it on such a fateful day, Salli says that she Last The Orion/ JOHNATHAN year, after hearing about the ple in that building,"' Salli said. wasn't in our area," Dean said. is sure it will pass as time goes on. Dean said he did not attacks, Dean knew his birthday was really know how But today Dean is 21, and he must "People have birthdays on December Ryan Dean's birthday is on Sept. 11. Bui he always going to be attached to a terrorist to respond to the attacks. And the full once again be reminded that his birthday sixth," She said, "and they are OK now." says the historical events of the da extent of what are not attack. But he decided to still try to enjoy happened didn't really hit almost doesn't belong to him anymore. going to keep him from enjoyin his him until he went to school. "I his day. look at it as not really a birthday Jacqui Higgins can be reached at: day. This year, he's going to Vegas I "I "I celebrate still went out to dinner and did the got to school and so many people anymore, but a day of mourning," Dean [email protected] his 21st birthday.