OPINION:
Could it be that satire is about to enjoy a golden age? The year ahead looks set to provide the dear old Secret Diary (established 2009, one proprietor) with a wealth of material, going by the rich and complicated comedies that took place over summer in the shape of Novak Djokovic, Boris Johnson, Clarke Gayford, and Bishop Twit himself, Brian Tamaki. It was a silly news season like no other, possibly the silliest on record, and it augurs well for satiric possibilities in 2022.
You only have to look as far as the royal wedding. It's as though every snippet of news previewing the nuptials of Jacinda Ardern and Clarke Gayford has been written by a master satirist. The venue chosen by the former president of the International Union of Socialist Youth is at a homestead owned by a hedge fund billionaire. Lorde will sing! Sebastian van der Zwan, editor of Woman's Day, has said: "It's going to be huge… Add in Neve as a flower girl and it's a wedding made in Woman's Day heaven."
Can't wait! As well, a new face in political life promises to deliver at least some moments of comedy gold throughout: the Secret Diary welcomes National leader Christopher Luxon to the fray. He's yet to really say or do anything of interest but it's early days and there's something about this guy that promises missteps, misspokeness, and general assorted mistakes. He has an appealing enthusiasm for the job. He looks like he has a good sense of humour. That same gee-whiz approach to life lends itself to saying things without thinking. Satire relies on this kind of impulsiveness; the enemy of satire is people who think without saying things.