Ken Burns has stepped away from making documentaries for PBS and has created a hilarious mockumentary that appeared on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' entitled “The Late Night War.” The Conan vs. Leno vs. NBC drama finally ended Friday night with Conan’s last show, but we will always have hilarious videos like these to remind us what went down.
'The Late Night War' was not surprisingly styled after the Civil War. The forces of Jebidiah Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien are pitted against one another and hilarity ensues. Watch the video or cruise the gallery to see what I mean. God I love a good dramedy.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Late-night Parodies
- Creating mockumentaries about real-life events in popular culture (e.g. late-night wars) offers comedic relief and a creative outlet for filmmakers.
- Satirical Documentaries
- Satire and humor are effective ways to bring attention to serious topics, and creating satirical documentaries could lead to powerful messages being spread through a more accessible medium.
- Real-life Drama Spoofs
- By re-imagining real-life events as comedic dramas, filmmakers open up endless opportunities for creativity and humorous interpretations of controversial or tense moments in history.
Where This Applies
- Entertainment
- The entertainment industry can capitalize on the trend of late-night parodies by producing original content for TV and streaming services.
- Advertising
- Advertising agencies could use satire and mockumentary-style videos within campaigns to grab the attention of consumers and create memorable messaging.
- Education
- Satirical documentaries can be used in educational settings to teach critical thinking skills and spark discussions around current events and popular culture.
