When does the unfunny become funny?
This may be precisely the wrong place or precisely the right one to post this. I'm not sure, but here goes. (I also crossposted it to my personal LJ.)

It's easy to recall moments when something that was funny suddenly becomes serious, and even appalling. For instance, a comedian takes a joke so far it's merely offensive, or a practical joke goes horribly wrong. But when does something unfunny reach such levels of absurdity that, in spite of the serious subject matter, you can't help laughing?

Yesterday, I was telling a friend in the UK that our election cycle has thrown up an amazing collection of what she calls "nutters." Then, this morning, one of my daughters and I were sharing an enjoyable rant about how much we hated various political figures and pundits. But suddenly we were giggling because one of the statements we were discussing was so ridiculous there was no other reaction possible. Some Paladin of Serious Business had turned into Basil Fawlty before our incredulous eyes.

This is, of course, a survival response, because otherwise my blood pressure would rise to untenable levels. And not everyone will find these things funny. But I can't help it.

Example #1 - Big, Angry Bears shouldn't be protected:

There is nothing funny about Glenn Beck's racist, misogynistic, anti-environmentalist opinions. But his apparent terror of being eaten by a polar bear? And the fact that his guest, a US Senator, doesn't contract his misconceptions about the bears' eating habits?

They eat people! For the love of Pete, they’re big, angry bears. They eat people. Not that I say we go out and kill all of them, but I mean, it doesn’t seem to be a problem here. Senator, I can’t take the — I can’t take the lies anymore.

Example #2 - Racism is logical and scientific:

Then there's Michael Medved, whose credentials as a movie critic and talk show host have gotten him a position as a fellow at the Discovery Institute. Most of what he says just makes me want to punch him, but how to react to his recent foray into Sociobiology? In spite of the fact that he doesn't believe in evolution (although apparently he does believe in Big Foot), he has recently decided that there is a special American DNA that makes us superior. Well, some of us. It seems 98 percent of blacks don't have it. He's serious. But after an appalled moment, I started laughing. For one thing, it reminded me of John Crichton's "Humans are Superior" moment from Farscape.

There's plenty of unfunny and a bit of funny wank in the comments to Michael's entry.

Example #3 - I don't know what appeasement is, but I know I hate it:

The recent "appeasement" controversy? Not funny. A talk show host so stupid that he gets pwned by Chris Matthews? I mean, really, Chris Matthews? Hilarious. There are no comments on this entry but I think the video stands on its own. Especially when the idiot ignores the "when you're in a hole, stop digging" advice.

This must happen to most of us or TDS and The Colbert Report wouldn't exist. So, what are the essential ingredients to making the unfunny funny? Is it merely backing an argument that the average fifth grader could see though? Is it when that crucial blood pressure level is reached and your body goes into self-preservation mode?