China’s booming comedy scene smacks of cold censorship

In a now-deleted Weibo post, a writer who scripts comedy shows said a company that approached her last year sent her a long list of taboo topics. It included top Party leaders, officials, extramarital affairs, homosexuality, gambling, poverty and the pandemic. Then there was a series of meetings to discuss the potential impact of the jokes – how sensitive was it? Who could that offend? The scripts were then submitted to relevant departments, but officials said little, or even made any clear suggestions.