We’re all watching comedy die

Jersey City: The White House Correspondents’ Dinner is proof that comedy is in a bad place. At some point the satire turned into assault, then into bullying. Nobody finds bullies funny. I don’t blame Michelle Wolf, whose career is on fire. I’d trade an organ for a tenth of her success. It’s just that’s what comedy is now: One side berating and dehumanizing the other. Every night. On every channel. Same premises. Same punchlines. Same worldviews: The plucky liberal, somehow still an underdog despite owning all major media, #Resisting! from the rooftops of their $40,000-a-year Bushwick apartments, romanticizing their extremism as if it were the ’60s and being liberal were still countercultural. Juxtaposed against the self-announced “patriots” who only take time off from calling everyone a snowflake long enough to complain that somebody famous said something they don’t agree with. Pathetic hypocrites.

Of course Wolf had to go over the top; she had to outdo Larry Wilmore and Stephen Colbert. She had to act like she was the little guy fighting Trump! Fighting fascism! Wolf didn’t say anything that hasn’t been said every night on television for damn near three years. My issue is not with Wolf, but the state of comedy. Humor is supposed to bring us together and allow us to laugh at ourselves. But it’s no longer about connecting. It’s not about challenging people’s worldviews. This divide is very bad for comedy. Unless comics get back to aspiring to entertain and care that the audience is enjoying themselves, comedy as we know and love it will die, and all that will be left is narcissistic virtue-signaling told with a coy smile over a generic laugh track.

Gerard Haran

Shame on Democrats

Coldwater, Mich.: I want to express my disgust for Michelle Wolf at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. The attack on our President, Sarah Sanders and others was not in the slightest humorous. Democrats who have any common sense and common decency should have walked out. That they did not shows how complacent they have become with rudeness, vulgar, insulting mannerisms and lies. The Democrats have reached an all-time low. Our President is doing his best to undo what most of our past leaders have screwed up, especially Barack Obama. This roast was more than disgusting. I am horrified thinking this will continue to be the norm. Why has it come to this type of denigrating humor and disrespect? Shame on all of you who support this. Faye Schlatter

Look here

Manhattan: When Donald Trump called Rosie O’Donnell “fat” and “ugly,” was he not making fun of her looks? Having a “smoky eye” is a look many women want, not a criticism of Sarah Sanders’ looks.

Edward Drossman

Yucks, not yuks

Brooklyn: I’m an independent who hates both Democrats and Republicans, and I think both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump should’ve gone to prison for their fraud and lies, but I made the mistake of watching the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, and that made both Trump and HRC look like geniuses of modesty and maturity. Did Michelle Wolf get paid $130,000 by Trump, er, Michael Cohen, to humiliate the #MeToo movement by being a super-unfunny female? There were a few good jokes, while the rest were completely weak. I couldn’t believe how amateurish it was. Plus, her shrill voice makes me long for Hillary’s cackle! (Let me disclose here that I love vicious roasts. This was junior high comedy.) Meanwhile, the emcee was one of the worst public speakers I’ve ever seen. Remember this: just because most of the world despises Trump does not mean we don’t hate the billionaire-owned press even more. Jack Dickenson

Look who’s talking

Brooklyn: As a progressive, I would agree that Michelle Wolf, the comedian who delivered that mean-spirited rant at the Correspondents Dinner in D.C., was way over the top and wildly inappropriate. However, Trump supporters should not complain too loudly lest they look like hypocrites. As President, he does this sort of thing every day. I’m talking about his degrading and demeaning behavior toward any and all critics, including namecalling and mocking an disabled reporter. Even worse, his contempt for our democratic institutions and incessant lying is far more damaging to our political discourse than what any one comedian can say. If you want respect, then it has to start with this President setting an example.

Irwin Cantos

The oy of Yiddish

Forest Hills: President Trump’s preference to avoid appearing in Washington, D.C., should not surprise anyone. His decision to be in Michigan may be due to many reasons, the most logical of which is obvious — he is truly a Michiganer! He is arrogant, pompous and truly a nut job.

Stacey Rindler

Hate this

Jackson Heights: A few days ago, Donald Trump held a political rally for thousands of supporters. At one point he asked the crowd, “Any Hispanics here? Raise your hands.” When no one did, he said, “Not so many. Good.” This, I feel, is dangerous speech. By treating one group of Americans with derision and scorn, he is encouraging the kind of hatred and anger that could lead us down a road to violence and bloodshed. The ethnic cleansing in Serbia and Croatia, the horrific killings in Rwanda, the pogroms and the Holocaust of Europe all started slowly, with hate speech before they erupted in murder. I am so worried that we are headed down the same path. Davida Weber

Grift’s over, guys

Manhattan: Re “Shut down this scam” (editorial, April 30): I have been involved in Times Square since the late 1960s and the current mess is intolerable — excepting that crime is dramatically down due to our terrific NYPD and local efforts by building owners and the Times Square Alliance. Get the grifters out. They are frauds and predators for unsuspecting tourists and even many New Yorkers, who either feel compassionate toward the homeless or are intimidated by these geeks. Homeless they are not. George N. Stonbely

Give him the Mike

Valley Stream, L.I.: I hear and read a lot of negative talk about Mike Francesca’s comeback. Bobby Ewing, Andy Pettitte, heck, even Roseanne came back. Welcome home, Mike! Tito Torres

He’s O-Kay

Breezy Point: To all sports radio FANS: I say we make May 1 “Listen to Michael Kay Day.”

John Carbery

Schooling the mayor

Chester, N.Y.: Mayor de Blasio supports the #MeToo movement except if the accuser works for the city Department of Education. According to the mayor, Department of Education accusers are just part of a “hyper-complaint dynamic.” This mayor should resign instead of trying to backpedal. Roseanne McCosh

Animal lives matter

Manhattan: Bravo to the Daily News for publishing the story of Pepper, the cat lost and found at the airport (“Me-wow!” April 29). Running this optimism-inducing story advances the growing recognition in society of the importance of the human-animal bond and its significant role in saving the planet. The love an increasing number of people feel for their pets, considering them members of the family, generalizes to become the foundation for the love of all the creatures on Earth and of the planet itself. It can initiate and reinforce a commitment to protect and preserve our small green home. The Daily News’ publication of the Pepper story is emblematic of the understanding that animal lives matter.

Aviva Cantor

Cat’s meow

Wallington, N.J.: Thank you for the great cover shot of Pepper, the rescued kitty. The happiest story of the year! Ronnie Deckert

Face the fire

REX/SHUTTERSTOCK Bronx: Re “Girl among 3 badly hurt in Harlem fire” (April 30): The Heritage used to be called Schomburg Plaza and was the site of a mass fatal fire in 1987, in which seven people died. The Federal Emergency Management Agency investigated and found numerous structural and operational problems. There were also problems with the FDNY response. The buildings changed hands a few times since. Today, city records show numerous code violations, including heat outages, mold, exposed electrical wiring, faulty electrical outlets, missing or broken window guards and leaks. This is happening when asking rents for two-bedroom apartments are around $3,000 a month, as the owners are trying to gussy it up as a 24-hour doorman chic place. Buildings with repeated large fires that kill or injure many people require official investigation. Deborah Wallace