And when, in October, the House found itself speakerless anew, there were our familiar guides, unflappable as ever.
At the center of the show were the straight men, or, in this case, women: the House reading clerks, Tylease Alli and Susan Cole. Everything about their manner—capable, organized, serious—as they called the roll was a counterpoint to the politicians sitting before them. For a few days they became niche sensations, the voices of sanity that kept the gag going. Thanks to their crisp, measured voices, C- SPAN became must-see slow TV. And when, in October, the House found itself speakerless anew, there were our familiar guides, unflappable as ever. Asked by a political reporter about her sudden social-media celebrity, Cole sounded bewildered. “I’m just Susan,” she said. Always playing it straight.