Ah, well, most comics also know that you can only lampoon people who are well-known. And there also has to be an element of perceived truth in the statements. Implying that the Pope is a sex-maniac wouldn't work, for instance, because no one in his or her right mind would believe it.

Oh? Then why is there a joke whose punchline goes, "Oh, 20,000 lire, same as in town !"?