Greg Gutfeld proudly preaches that his worldview is informed by 1978's "National Lampoon's Animal House," a movie Generation X and Boomers consider to be a comedy classic. Watch his Fox News hit "Gutfeld!" and you can see it. In his mannerism, expressions and attitude, the host marries the affability and deceptive polish of Tim Matheson's Delta Tau Chi rush chairman Eric "Otter" Stratton with the sloppy, slovenly soul of John Belushi's John "Bluto" Blutarsky. One might expect the show to be proportionately wild and hilarious. It is not.
Holding that opinion betrays two traits. One, it must be coming from a liberal. And two, that person is under the mistaken impression that Gutfeld looks to the movie's script or performance as influences. Nope. It's much simpler than that. Gutfeld believes "Animal House" explains the difference between progressives' self-image and how conservatives are generaly perceived. He calls it The Dean Wormer effect, named for the buzzkill college official who is dead set on getting in the way of the Delta Tau Chi House's good time.
