sardonic

Folds’ best-known songs, such as “Brick,” “Song for the Dumped,” “Army,” “Rockin’ the Suburbs” and “Zak and Sara,” may seem too sardonic or dark for the sweet world of Snoopy and company.

“Hannah read it in a way that was dry, sardonic, the way that a comedy writer would say it, and she just had this toughness about her.”

And when they do, the show presents a view of Los Angeles that’s both sardonic and affectionate, portraying a place where dreams can come true, provided you’re not stuck on the 405 at rush hour.

Letterman’s offbeat, sardonic brand of humor also gave a layer of hipness to CBS, which had long had a reputation for stodginess.

They called it Hoover Town — a variation of Hooverville, the title given to many such homeless camps around the nation in sardonic tribute to President Hoover.