The Demise of Frank

I appear to be the only disconsolate one.

Canada's flagship satire magazine, Frank, has foundered, for the second time. (See: http://www.thestar.com/article/526011)

Yes, it hurts that they stiffed me for two subscription fees, but that's ok.

What's not ok is now Canada will be a little less funny.

Michael Bate, Frank's publisher and chief writer, sounded tired and dejected about it all. He talked about the magazine's no longer being part of the zeitgiest as a result of the internet.

Satire doesn't stop because of the internet ?!

Frank provided the most cutting,searing, stylized satire in this country. The fact that many don't know this, is more a function of poor marketing or poor business acumen. This is not uncommon in the writing community. This does not mean the magazine deserves this fate.

A Modest Proposal:

Now is the time for other satirists to come forward and help one of their own.
Come on Sean Cullen!
Come on 22 Minutes!
Come on Rick Mercer!
Come on Air Farce!

Now is the time to hold a telethon for Frank. Maybe this is ridiculous, but good satire is hard to come by and doesn't get enough respect for how difficult it is to achieve. Frank deserves some support. (I've e-mailed all of the above, including Russell Smith, but haven't heard back yet. Except for Russell Smith, who said he is not a fan...but then I forgot that Frank sent him up in a recent issue too...Damn him, can't he take a joke?!).

Frank, I miss you already.