Is Comedy Persuasive?

I believe that any form of communication can be persuasive based on what the communicator wants to portray. In fact I think that comedy is a very effective persuasion technique because it lightens people up and subtly mentions opinions and ideas without coming across as pushy or invasive to another person's opinions.
 Ryan Hamilton in his bit "Happy Face" is an example of persuasive comedy. In his sketch, Ryan briefly mentions the fact that he's not a drinker. He pokes fun at himself for not being social because he is not a drinker. However, he also pokes fun at drinkers. He talks about how he can't be social, because when he goes to events and doesn't drink, people get embarrassed because Ryan actually remembers what they did the previous night. By poking fun at himself it shows his confidence and helps the listener feel more confident and comfortable with the fact that they are not drinking.
I am grateful that comedy is around to persuade because it makes arguments fun and light. Without it, life would be too serious and there wouldn't be enough laughter!