@bhs1978 - don’t forget Kramer (Michael Richards) getting terrible backlash and losing his stand-up career for his offensive racist comments.
There have always been and will be double standards. Not sure that it will ever end. Comedy doesn’t resonate with all audiences.
A big difference with Roseanne’s offensive, indefensible tweets was that they offended even a significant chunk of her audience.
Samantha Bee’s comments were largely applauded by her audience - that crude humor is part of her appeal. Sure, some are offended, but it is easier for them to dismiss it.
In other words, people don’t feel as guilty about chuckling along with vulgarity in mixed company, than they feel about racism. What is comedy to some is offensive to others.
Carlos Mencia makes fun of stupidity, by equating it with special needs people. I don’t find his act funny but thousands do, so I simply don’t choose to watch him.
Mel Brooks was at the top of the comedy world for years, and a lot of his humor poked fun at gays.
It’s all bad. I thought Kathy Griffin got a raw deal. It was just a bad idea. It wasn’t like she killed him. I doubt DT even really cared.
Comedians should just go back to humor, journalists give us news, and politicians, well they never did anything anyway, but maybe they all just stop trying to out-do each other in the “shocking words, huge outcry, hypocrisy” merry go round we have going now.
Obviously politicians can only be fired at election time. But an entertainer can be fired immediately. The TV Academy is supposed to give some award to Bee on Thursday. I wonder if it will be withdrawn.
“Those who say Samantha Bee’s comments were just terrible language are overlooking the sexism.”
I’m always shocked by the c-word. I think it’s an ugly word invented by ugly men to describe women in an ugly way. That said, on one of the biggest private Facebook groups (thousands of members worldwide) made up entirely of middle-aged women, about a third said the c-word wasn’t crude and it was worth embracing in the way that pink hats have embraced/redefined the p-word. So what’s sexist to you isn’t sexist to many other women. Which is why this kind of discussion always leads nowhere: we have different definitions of offensive. (And racist, clearly.)
Really?. I think if an employee called another employee the c word at just about any business, that person would be out the door before he could draw another breath.
The c-word is definitely considered more offensive here than it is abroad. Based solely on the number of times I heard it when I lived in London for a year in my 20s, not any scientific study. It was jarring at first.
And I’m weirdly used to the p-word now, unfortunately.
One part of the equation that is overlooked is how was DT treated when he was a “celebrity or entertainer” (not sure I ever considered him either one but that is another issue)?
He called Rosie O’Donnell a fat pig, slob, and disgusting animal, backed it up during the debates. He said no flat chested woman could be considered a “10”. He questioned Kim Kardashian’s manner of dress when pregnant due to her weight gain (ironic today). He said it doesn’t matter what the media write as long as you’ve got a young and beautiful piece of ass. He bashed a miss universe winner for gaining weight and called her ms. piggy.
Most, if not all of these, occurred before or during his time with a TV show (or televised miss universe). I am not sure he was ever fired or disciplined by the network or anyone else and was elected in spite of these awful comments. I’m not sure Samantha Bee should lose her job for one comment when the real focus of her comment has had multiple occurrences over his career.
Speaking of sexist comments made about women recently, I think it’s the NY Post that had an awful, sexist headline about Kim K’s meeting with Trump. They should be apologizing too.
“Really?. I think if an employee called another employee the c word at just about any business, that person would be out the door before he could draw another breath.”
I doubt it. Would you say the same thing if an employee called another (male) employee the d word? I guess I just don’t see the c word as sexist, any more than I see the d word as sexist.
I miss the days (or nights) when late night comedy was funny. Hate, contempt, rage and bitterness are not funny. They get old, no matter what the topic. Funny is funny. Calling names is not funny, whether it’s the c-word or the kindergartener who says poopy-head.
Comedy is hard work, and good comedians tend to be very bright. Lots of Ivy Leaguers on the Simpsons writing staff. Spleen venting is easier, but not funny.
"Doschicos: Shall we talk about tweets? It’s not just comedians who are “just way over the line”.
Bee’s comment isn’t racism. "
Believe it or not, racism or the other popular “isms” and “obe” words are NOT the only thing that matters! This comment was vile and disgusting and no one should ever be able to proceed on TV with language like that. Hey, radical feminists…this should bother you.
The hypocrisy I see here is astounding. If a left winger did it, it’s fine. That’s the gist of it.
They (the writers of Simpsons), along with Hank Azaria, the voice of the Indian character “Apu,” were recently in the news for stereotyping people of Indian descent.
@sushiritto I think Hank Azaria has said he understands that criticism and would like to evolve the character past stereotypes.
That’s another show I don’t watch though, so I really only know what I’ve read about the controversy.
@mom2twogirls It’s 2018, the Simpsons has been televised for almost 30 years, Hank Azaria and the writers should have realized an Indian character owning a 7-11 store was stereotyping, oh I don’t know, maybe about 25 years ago.
I really miss the days of Jay Leno who was funny and never sank to this level. He never used vulgarities and never resorted to vitriol. A class act that people like Barr and Bee should emulate.
Oh for sure @sushiritto
I think, and like I said I don’t watch the show so it’s to be taken with a grain of salt…
Since the show involves so many stereotypical characters, those who aren’t part of minorities needed it to be logically and clearly pointed out to them because they really didn’t get why this character is a problem while an Scottish/Irish drunk or Mobster Italian isn’t a problem in the same way. I think there have been some really great explanations for how it was offensive and hurtful to people.
That’s the understanding I have. Frankly, I’ve only seen clips of the show ever. It never appealed to me, so I can’t speak from any kind of real base of knowledge about the characters or their attitudes.