by Jovahn Roumell
Mark Russell is a piano-playing satirist known for piercing Democrats and Republicans alike. He is a recipient of the Mark Twain Award for political comedy and a popular favorite on the PBS network. Russell retired in 2010, having spent 30 years on public television as host of the “Mark Russell Comedy Specials,” consistently among the top-rated shows on that network. In that same time, he wrote a syndicated column, recorded CDs, tapes, and videos. He also travelled, performing at colleges, conventions, and theaters. He performed in Kuhl Gym at SUNY Geneseo on October 4, 1994.
In 1994, the Supreme Court passed a decision on Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music that rejected the argument that commercial parodists should have to seek permission from copyright holders to use their songs. While federal law generally gives content creators and exclusive rights to the work, the law provides a “fair use” exception for “criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship or research.” Lower federal courts already had said comment and criticism could include parody. For someone such as Mark Russell, this decision was greatly in favor of his career as a Satirist. One parody of Russell was “Take me Home,” which addressed the health effects of emissions from diesel engines on the Jersey Turnpike. While singing to the very familiar tune of “Take me Home, Country Road,” Russell jokes about the poisonous gas and how he looks forward to smelling the rubber burn and spotting his lungs.
Political comedians always tread a fine line where matters of taste and partisanship are concerned. Russell has ensured his continued popularity by ridiculing both Democrats and Republicans with equal vigor. For this reason, Russell is most in demand during presidential campaigns. From the conventions to the inaugurations he finds masses of material in the daily posturing of candidates and their running mates. One performance of Russell from 1980 made fun of Reagan’s promise to quit if he became “senile” while he observed the election. Russell joked that he would not care for the election results if he was.