I took the autumn in reputation badly, I felt useless, I misplaced a dating. Thankfully, I were given out of it

Rasťo Piško (1962) is a screenwriter, actor, impersonator, slapstick comedian and creator. He skilled his largest repute within the Nineteen Nineties, when he and his colleagues parodied politics on tv, radio and on excursions all the way through Slovakia.

Within the interview you’ll be informed, amongst different issues:

• how he treated the autumn of his personal reputation and what helped him in spite of everything;
• how politicians reacted to him parodying them;
• how he will get along side pals who unfold conspiracies right through the pandemic;
• why, in step with him, Igor Matovič didn’t set up his position.

Which era of Slovakia after the revolution in 1989 used to be essentially the most favorable for humorists?

Even though it seems to be other even as of late, the most efficient years for humorists had been the 90s, which used to be associated with the truth that the communists fell. All the way through their rule, it used to be forbidden to publicly inform jokes about politicians, let on my own parody them. If somebody did that to a comrade, he would have an issue. After November 1989, the whole lot used to be all of sudden allowed. However whilst it used to be a brand new factor then, as of late we’ve got nearly 35 years of freedom at the back of us. That the ones occasions are coming again is not humorous, quite unhappy. Even though it is 2024, staring at politics seems like 1995. We are listening to speeches we had been certain we might by no means listen once more. And I do not experience giggling at it in any respect.

There are nonetheless numerous monuments to communism from the Nineteen Nineties. Why will we wish to repeat this?

I do not know. We’re monuments, however other folks of their twenties and thirties understand it as one thing new, unworn. It signifies that society isn’t creating in a just right course. We’re returning to the previous, which we obviously rejected within the 1998 elections. It will have to be a horrible ordeal for all who’ve now not misplaced their reminiscence. I take it fairly in my view.

Would the political satire of that point stand an opportunity as of late?

Who is aware of, however I do not wish to repeat the satire of 30 years in the past. And despite the fact that we’ve got politically returned to the 90s, occasions have modified. At the moment, the Web used to be in its infancy, there have been no social networks, humor unfold principally thru radios and one tv. The marquee used to be simplest created in 1996. Lately, there are more than a few funny pages on Fb, stand-ups, YouTubers…

It’s questionable whether or not as of late any tv in any respect would wish to have satirical presentations like Halušky or Apropo TV, which made jokes about politicians. Why would they do it when viewership will also be accomplished in different ways and with much less dangers? Why would they move to disputes with politicians? Lately we will obviously see that politicians threaten and TV channels adapt. And even though they did, who would watch it? As soon as upon a time, satire used to carry massive viewership to tv, however as of late, due to technological development, it’s diluted.

You continue to touch upon politics on Fb. And because you don’t seem to be precisely diplomatic, you additionally get responses that you’re a bankrupt slapstick comedian, a jester, an resentful individual and the like.

I care for it fairly neatly. I’m conscious about my age and my limits. The target audience adjustments, older humorists go away, more youthful ones come and feature their very own taste of humor. That is k, our position has been fulfilled. I touch upon politics on Fb as a result of I am . And the truth that somebody perceives me simplest as a buffoon or a clown is a tribute to what we used to do. Take the Czech comedy actor Petr Nárožný – he would outshine any political scientist along with his insights on politics. He has superb perception and perception.

That is proper, conversations with him are extraordinarily just right as a result of what and the way he says.

And he isn’t the one one. Take Honza Kraus, with whom I as soon as spent a complete night debating politics.