Colin Quinn’s “Unconstitutional” history lesson

Sun, 19 May 2013 17:00:00 +0000

Historical mockery has become something of a running theme for “Saturday Night Live” alumnus Colin Quinn. In 2010, he premiered his Off Broadway examination of world history, “Long Story Short.” Now, Quinn is back with a new historically minded hour of entertainment in “Unconstitutional,” playing now at New York City’s Barrow Street Theater.

In just over an hour, Quinn’s “Unconstitutional” takes the audience on an irreverent journey through the entire United States Constitution and its Bill of Rights. Sure, the Constitution might not sound like a particularly hilarious topic, but it’s much more than a history lesson with Quinn.

So why focus this special on the Constitution?

“It’s the one thing that we’re all experts about, which is amazing because none of us have read it,” Quinn explains at the start of the show.

Thankfully for everyone involved, the show is just as much about modern America as it is about the country’s founding. Yes, Quinn throws in jokes about Cyrus Griffin and the Articles of Confederation, but there’s still plenty of commentary on the Kardashians and Maury Povich to keep the show accessible.

Give Obama a break on the “fiscal cliff”

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 16:58:00 +0000

When President Lincoln suspended habeas corpus in 1862 (a couple of times, actually), he conceded the possible unconstitutionality of what he had done but concluded that since the move was necessary in a time when half the country was at war with the other half, he would take his chances with Congress, the courts, and history. The country’s current chief executive finds Lincoln comparisons disconcerting, but this is a case where he might pay attention, because his legal grounds for unilaterally raising the ceiling on the national debt in a time of congressionally inflicted crisis are no weaker than Lincoln’s and probably stronger.

Salon.com > Bill of Rights

Colin Quinn’s “Unconstitutional” history lesson

Give Obama a break on the “fiscal cliff”