SNELSON: COMEDY IS DYING

What happens when art imitates life? Snelson. Snelson happens. Paul Constant’s tale is more than just about a comedian that sees the ultimate highs and lows of his career. It’s a story about life and how when you fight change so much you find yourself in a self-made spiral of desperation. Technology is both a blessing and a curse. For those of us that remember trying to fold maps in the back seat of the car or printing out directions on our AOL-powered internet, being able to fit a phone, atlas, game system, library, music collection, etcetera, etcetera sometimes it can be overwhelming. Desperation is a smelly cologne. It’s also the demon driving the car off the cliff.

But what if you could use this newfound technology to your advantage? What if you road shotgun while the demon drove? The demon takes on many forms; from political ideologies to money to making life-changing decisions with untrue intentions. So what happens when that demon knocks on the door with the promises of a grand life? What would you do? 

Melville Snelson decided to answer the door, then found out, he should’ve feigned not being home. Melville was the quintessential nineties comedian. Raunchy, hip, and was on everyone’s radar. But as time changes, so do ideals and people’s perceptions of those ideals. Melville is no different than most folks; no one likes change. Change is hard. Acceptance is harder. After years of frustration on the comedy club circuit, something he wrestles with as a fall-from-grace of sorts, he decides to purchase a ticket on the controversial media train and see what happens. What happens is an even harder fall from grace and force acceptance of your choices. Once Melville falls into the anti-cancel culture crowd.

The great thing about Snelson is the balance of its delivery. While addressing the “death of free speech” the story also asks the question: what can the human spirit withstand? While Melville may not fall into the crowd that would be interviewed on Fox & Friends but the easy success is glamorous and addictive, so why not stick your toes in the pool. What’s the worst that could happen?