Being a "stand-up" comedian in a totalitarian regime was never an easy task. Hofi was walking on thin ice as he never passed up an opportunity to ridicule the obvious absurdities of the communist government. However, there are indications that his shows were viewed by those in power as a safe way to ease the people's frustration with the political system. In the decades following the anti-communist uprising of 1956 the government was careful not to shut down the voice of the people that Hofi stood for. Instead, they chose to let them laugh—and in particular to laugh at those in power. Hofi, however, never held back and he had to spend a few nights in prison on numerous occasions.