Ronny Chieng on How the MAGA Jokes in His New Netflix Special Became Relevant Again, and Why He’s Reserving Judgement on Trump 2.0

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As a seasoned movie buff with a penchant for comedy and a keen eye for political satire, I find myself deeply moved by Ronny Chieng‘s latest Netflix special “Love to Hate It.” The way he weaves his personal experiences with the MAGA movement is nothing short of brilliant. His ability to maintain balance in his humor, without being too preachy or one-sided, is commendable.

As Ronny Chieng penned his material for the Netflix special “Love to Hate It”, released in 2023, he incorporated a handful of predictions about the MAGA movement. However, at that time, the notion that Donald Trump might somehow re-enter the White House was unthinkable, leading to suggestions that these jokes should be omitted from his act.

Chieng admits, “At that stage, it seemed pointless.” However, a comedian who I hold in high regard responded, saying, “When you tackled the MAGA topic, I felt it was completely off-topic.” He wasn’t being rude; he was offering straightforward feedback. And I understood why he would feel that way. Nevertheless, I felt strongly about expressing my thoughts. So, I chose to keep it, and it continued evolving. Eventually, it transformed into something unique. And then, surprisingly, it became pertinent once more.

Chieng continues to take pride in his MAGA project, largely due to its perceived fairness. “I’m quite pleased that if you see it as significant once more, it suggests I did a good job of keeping it well-balanced,” he notes. “It wasn’t overly biased in one direction or the other. I believe people valued its lack of heavy-handedness, even if they shared my views.

When it’s about politics, I often find myself adopting a centrist stance,” I admit. “I poke fun at MAGA sometimes, and surprisingly, some people online get quite upset about it. They forget that I’ve been on ‘The Daily Show,’ so they wouldn’t be angry if they knew that. In fact, my centrist perspective on the internet is actually less extreme than what I’ve been expressing for nine years… People seem to think that making fun of them means being against their entire viewpoint. I believe that’s one of the key takeaways from my special: just because we disagree about something doesn’t mean the whole world is against you. There’s still room for unity, even when we have differences in opinion.

Chieng clarifies that despite the release of “Love to Hate It,” his latest stand-up special on Netflix, it’s not predominantly political. Instead, it primarily focuses on the intensely personal journey he and his wife underwent during their In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) experience. The special has received acclaim from critics and was even designated as the best stand-up special of the year by The New York Times.

He mentions that people find his performances very personal, which he values, but he feels like all his specials are deeply personal. He writes his humor based on his own experiences. This particular one, however, he aimed for a broad appeal, striving for an exceptional comedy from start to finish. His goal was to create something that each bit could serve as the opening or closing act, reflecting the high standard set by Patrice O’Neal.

Love to Hate It” was filmed at the Hawaii Theatre in Honolulu over a five-night span. Now, Hawaii feels somewhat like a second home to Chieng due to his time spent there while producing Disney+’s “Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.

In Hawaii, there’s a strong, innate affection and connection with live performances, Chieng notes. People in Hawaii really enjoy them. They adore singing, dancing, and live shows. And this extends to stand-up comedy, particularly when it comes from Asian performers. Jo Koy is a great illustration of this.

Chieng acknowledges the history of comics in Hawaii, such as Rap Reiplinger, Andy Bumatai, and Frank DeLima. “There’s a rich history of Hawaiian comedians, and I even own some vintage records from these old-school acts. They developed their unique style of nightclub performances, incorporating singing and stand-up comedy, often performing at hotels. I feel incredibly fortunate to have formed a strong bond with Hawaii after filming there for two seasons. It seems like Hawaii reciprocates the energy I put into it. Whenever I’m there, I get a sense of being home.

At present, Chieng is featured in Season 1 of the Hulu show titled “Interior Chinatown,” alongside Jimmy O. Yang and Chloe Bennet. This series, executive produced by Taika Waititi (who directed the premiere episode), is yet to receive confirmation for a second season.

Chieng asserts that it’s reasonable to assume we all desire to accomplish more. He encourages everyone to explore it, believing it’s worthwhile for people to understand the essence of the series, which may not be immediately evident from the trailer. The trailer merely scratches the surface, he explains; the real show unfolds as characters gradually recognize they are part of a television program. They start to question the nature of the show and its creation process. To Chieng, this concept is extremely intriguing. He considers it the quintessential “meta” series.

2025 finds me still gracing the screens on “The Daily Show” alongside my fellow team members, each taking a turn at the anchor desk every week. Despite this, the legendary Jon Stewart continues to rule Mondays as our one-and-only host.

He expresses that the current structure seems to be functioning effectively for everyone involved, as the allocation of tasks is ideal according to him.

Could we wonder if Chieng is apprehensive about how a Trump administration’s return could impact his responsibilities on “The Daily Show”? However, as people have been inquiring, he points out that they already had Trump for four years.

Indeed, it’s possible that what has been expressed could be translated as “Trump’s style, perhaps, in contrast to the turmoil the incoming administration pledges. Chieng comments, ‘He himself admits it will be tougher,’ yet I remain uncertain. We endured him for four years, and despite some exceptions, everything held up. This historical perspective is my beacon, though I keep an open mind about January’s developments. For now, I remain hopeful, clinging to faith in American institutions – perhaps I am the last one!

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2024-12-24 01:17