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Draft:Gross National Product (Comedy group)

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  • Comment: Sources are not formatted properly. See WP:CITE. Ktkvtsh (talk) 23:12, 29 August 2024 (UTC)

Gross National Product
Mediumtheatre
NationalityAmerican
Years active1980–2021
GenresSatire
Subject(s)American politics, Washington, D.C., the U.S. federal government
Membersover 25
WebsiteGNPcomedy.com

Gross National Product, or GNP was an American political-satire group formed in 1980 and has performed in 45 states with long runs in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, but performed primarily in the Washington, DC area.[1][2][3] Show themes changed based on the current political climate and administration, illustrated by such titles as: "Man Without A Contra"; "BushCapades"; "Clintoons"; "A Newt World Order"; "Hell to the Chief"; "Son of a Bush"; and "The Sound of Palin."[4][5][6]

GNP was founded by John Simmons who wrote and directed most of the shows. Simmons said of the writing, "When things change in the news, we change the revue as well. It’s funny because it’s topical.”[7]

For a time in the 1980's, GNP scripts were also written by Josh Weinstein and Bill Oakley who later gained fame working on such shows as The Simpsons, Mission Hill and Futurama.

GNP aired five, half-hour comedy specials on Public Broadcasting, including "Mock the Vote" (1996).[8]

Show titles

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Year Show title
1981 A Bonzo Christmas Special
1982 Gross National Product
1983 1983 and Counting
1984 Terms of Endorsement
1985 Phantom of the White House
1987 Man Without a Contra
1988 BushCapades
1992 Clintoons
1994 A Newt World Order
1996 GNP: On the Dole
1997 Sex, Lies, and Zippergate
1999 Hell to the Chief
2000 Gore More Years
2001 Son of a Bush
2004 Kerry the Vote
2005 To Bush or Not to Bush
2006 Son of a Bush
2010 Don't Tea on Me
2011 The Sound of Palin
2013 ScandalPedia
2018 Trumped!
2021 Biden Time

GNP alumni

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Over the years, GNP has involved the talents of Robin Abb, Kevin Brown, Ron Butler, Doug Cox, Larry Coven, Sarah Delea, Brad Dismukes, Liz Demery, John Dryden, Shari Elliker, Dion Flynn, Elliott Forrest, Bob Garman, Tim Gore, Robert W. Heck, Ed Henley, Wes Johnson, Scott Keck, Bill Lobley, Richard "Scrumbly" Koldewyn, Chuck Kovacic, CiCi Stephens, Bill Largess, John Moody, John Hardison, Emlyn Morinelli McFarland, Terri Madden, Tim Mollen, Nick Olcott, Joel Perry, Christopher Pray, Tim Rankin, Melissa Rauch, John Roarke, Kara Russel, Stephen Schmidt, Ken Star, Victor Steele, Vanessa Stout, Christine Thompson, Bruce Tobin, Erica Van Wagener, Pam Woodruff, Wendy Yondorf.

References

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  1. ^ "The Stage is Alive with 'The Sound of Palin'". January 21, 2011.
  2. ^ "Gore More Years or Son of a Bush on Los Angeles: Get Tickets Now! | Theatermania - 5991". March 7, 2023.
  3. ^ "Son of a Bush on New York City: Get Tickets Now! | Theatermania - 107408". March 8, 2023.
  4. ^ https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/longterm/tours/scandal/gnpscand.htm
  5. ^ "Son of a Bush on New York City: Get Tickets Now! | Theatermania - 107408". March 8, 2023.
  6. ^ Gamarekian, Barbara (October 6, 1991). "The Capital Convenes After Dark". The New York Times.
  7. ^ "The Stage is Alive with 'The Sound of Palin'". January 21, 2011.
  8. ^ https://www.sfgate.com/performance/article/beltway-humor-in-san-francisco-gross-national-3008321.php
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