This is fine, but it's a long way away from Don Rickles' style of insult comedy (i.e. not mean-spirited) ... and we're probably the poorer off for it.

Mean spirited comedy keeps people more honest?

No, I just said if we're moving away from not mean-spirited, insult comedy to only feel good comedy then perhaps we're worse off for that shift... or maybe not.

I'm not sure what mean spirited comedy does regarding honesty, if anything at all...?

I figure humor is about exaggeration. Even if that exaggeration is mean, if it's done right, it can be funny.