Hollywood Actor Russell Brand Imitating Brian Stelter Might Be Best Video You See on Internet Today
Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but it can also be sarcasm and satire. English comedian Russell Brand, during a Feb. 3 segment on his YouTube channel, used his acting skills to channel CNN anchor Brian…
Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but it can also be sarcasm and satire.
English comedian Russell Brand, during a Feb. 3 segment on his YouTube channel, used his acting skills to channel CNN anchor Brian Stelter.
The resulting parodic video went viral.
In the CNN segment appropriated by Brand, Stelter was complaining about the influence of podcaster Joe Rogan, a common topic in progressive media these days. Stelter griped, “… Not all opinions are created equal.”
Stelter claimed without evidence that Rogan was someone who “would just wing it, who make it up as they go along … figures like Rogan are trusted by people that don’t trust real newsrooms.”
In his YouTube video Brand interrupted Stelter’s footage, hijacking Stelter’s messaging in a sneering, theatrical tone. It’s like Stelter crossed with Snagglepuss, and it’s hilarious.
“Now listen here Sonny Jim, you’re not only making people not trust you, you’re making them not trust me,” Russell whined. “Why don’t people trust me? They trust Rogan, but I’m perfectly trustworthy. Look how loose my tie knot is!”
For satire to work, it must contain an element of truth.
Brand’s video was successful because it captured the current attitude of not just Stelter, but the establishment media in general: patronizing, outraged and maybe a little panicked about their fading credibility and relevance.