Comments on: Good comedy http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/11/14/good-comedy/ A daily webzine and forum for discussion of news that arises at the intersection of religion and culture Wed, 16 Apr 2008 22:34:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Zanzibar http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/11/14/good-comedy/#comment-238692 Zanzibar Thu, 15 Nov 2007 16:24:18 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/11/14/good-comedy/#comment-238692 I first thought this post would be about Dave Chappelle’s show. Though I haven't seen it since the first season, I remember it having quite a bit of genuinely funny race-driven material. One sketch in particular that I remember had Chappelle playing a blind black man who thought he was white and was a passionate, outspoken member of a white supremacist group. Although I'd previously seen only one episode of 30 Rock, a few weeks ago I watched a mini-marathon of about 7 episodes within the span of a day or two. It almost instantly became my favorite comedy currently on TV. Although Liz Lemon is the straight-played catalyst for the comedy, most of it comes out in the other characters, and Baldwin's character is just priceless for so many reasons. I first thought this post would be about Dave Chappelle’s show. Though I haven’t seen it since the first season, I remember it having quite a bit of genuinely funny race-driven material. One sketch in particular that I remember had Chappelle playing a blind black man who thought he was white and was a passionate, outspoken member of a white supremacist group.

Although I’d previously seen only one episode of 30 Rock, a few weeks ago I watched a mini-marathon of about 7 episodes within the span of a day or two. It almost instantly became my favorite comedy currently on TV. Although Liz Lemon is the straight-played catalyst for the comedy, most of it comes out in the other characters, and Baldwin’s character is just priceless for so many reasons.

]]> By: llama http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/11/14/good-comedy/#comment-238537 llama Thu, 15 Nov 2007 05:34:28 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/11/14/good-comedy/#comment-238537 I'm with Anlir Hard to beat SP, FG and DT when it comes to comedy and satire. Sadly they are pretty filthy too. I’m with Anlir

Hard to beat SP, FG and DT when it comes to comedy and satire. Sadly they are pretty filthy too.

]]> By: Anlir http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/11/14/good-comedy/#comment-238328 Anlir Wed, 14 Nov 2007 20:49:05 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/11/14/good-comedy/#comment-238328 I feel so "out of it" - I've never seen "30 Rock". In fact, I haven't probably seen 90% of the shows on network TV. The last time I saw an episode of "Grey's Anatomy" it was on a Sunday night (I only saw it once). Somebody laughed at me the other day when I told them that. I feel so “out of it” - I’ve never seen “30 Rock”. In fact, I haven’t probably seen 90% of the shows on network TV. The last time I saw an episode of “Grey’s Anatomy” it was on a Sunday night (I only saw it once). Somebody laughed at me the other day when I told them that.

]]> By: Lester http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/11/14/good-comedy/#comment-238287 Lester Wed, 14 Nov 2007 19:54:18 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/11/14/good-comedy/#comment-238287 Rob - Alec Baldwin is comedic gold. I had no idea he could be that funny. While 30 Rock has been good this year, I prefer last year's episodes to the current season (so far). I think Baldwin's jokes are more oriented towards corporate America, vice race relations. The running gag where he's trying to get GE brands in to the show is priceless. "Hung Joo" is an unfortunate name for a woman. A man could have some fun with that one. Rob - Alec Baldwin is comedic gold. I had no idea he could be that funny.

While 30 Rock has been good this year, I prefer last year’s episodes to the current season (so far).

I think Baldwin’s jokes are more oriented towards corporate America, vice race relations. The running gag where he’s trying to get GE brands in to the show is priceless.

“Hung Joo” is an unfortunate name for a woman. A man could have some fun with that one.

]]> By: Mr_Meaner http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/11/14/good-comedy/#comment-238286 Mr_Meaner Wed, 14 Nov 2007 19:53:54 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/11/14/good-comedy/#comment-238286 white people making fun of white people is funny. Black people making fun of white, hispanic, or Asian people is funny. Hispanic people making fun of black, white, or Asian people is funny. White people making fun of anyone else other than other whites is racist. unless you're a member of the liberal elite (Larry David, Baldwin, Hillary, etc.) white people making fun of white people is funny.
Black people making fun of white, hispanic, or Asian people is funny.
Hispanic people making fun of black, white, or Asian people is funny.
White people making fun of anyone else other than other whites is racist.
unless you’re a member of the liberal elite
(Larry David, Baldwin, Hillary, etc.)

]]> By: Night Train http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/11/14/good-comedy/#comment-238269 Night Train Wed, 14 Nov 2007 19:31:24 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/11/14/good-comedy/#comment-238269 But again, the Greenzo joke isn't making fun of minorities. It's making fun of white people and their attitudes toward minorities. But again, the Greenzo joke isn’t making fun of minorities. It’s making fun of white people and their attitudes toward minorities.

]]> By: Night Train http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/11/14/good-comedy/#comment-238267 Night Train Wed, 14 Nov 2007 19:30:34 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/11/14/good-comedy/#comment-238267 <i>“Look how Greenzo is testing… all the demographics love him … colored people, broads, fairies, Commies … gosh, we gotta update these forms.”</i> That's hilarious, Rob. I watched that show one time and wasn't impressed. Maybe I'll have to revisit it. That joke reminds me of a Simpson's episode where Smithers is helping Montgomery Burns update his stock portfolio. A running gag is that Burns is about 150 years old, and one of the stocks he owned was Confederated Slave Holdings. I cracked up at that one. “Look how Greenzo is testing… all the demographics love him … colored people, broads, fairies, Commies … gosh, we gotta update these forms.”

That’s hilarious, Rob. I watched that show one time and wasn’t impressed. Maybe I’ll have to revisit it. That joke reminds me of a Simpson’s episode where Smithers is helping Montgomery Burns update his stock portfolio. A running gag is that Burns is about 150 years old, and one of the stocks he owned was Confederated Slave Holdings. I cracked up at that one.

]]> By: RobHays http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/11/14/good-comedy/#comment-238262 RobHays Wed, 14 Nov 2007 19:22:37 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/11/14/good-comedy/#comment-238262 30 Rock has been brilliant this season, and has done probably the best even-handed treatment of race that I've seen on TV in a long time. Stuff like Chappelle's Show and Mind of Mencia long ago stopped being encisive (if Mencia ever was) and began pandering to the very sterotypes they intended to lampoon. "Look how Greenzo is testing... all the demographics love him ... colored people, broads, fairies, Commies ... gosh, we gotta update these forms." Alec Baldwin is the glue that holds all this good writing up. 30 Rock has been brilliant this season, and has done probably the best even-handed treatment of race that I’ve seen on TV in a long time. Stuff like Chappelle’s Show and Mind of Mencia long ago stopped being encisive (if Mencia ever was) and began pandering to the very sterotypes they intended to lampoon.

“Look how Greenzo is testing… all the demographics love him … colored people, broads, fairies, Commies … gosh, we gotta update these forms.” Alec Baldwin is the glue that holds all this good writing up.

]]> By: John M. http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/11/14/good-comedy/#comment-238258 John M. Wed, 14 Nov 2007 19:09:37 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/11/14/good-comedy/#comment-238258 "Larry Jew". That's funny. My wife has a Korean friend with the unfortunate name of "Hung Joo". We call her "Hamas Lady" for fun. “Larry Jew”. That’s funny.

My wife has a Korean friend with the unfortunate name of “Hung Joo”. We call her “Hamas Lady” for fun.

]]> By: Anlir http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/11/14/good-comedy/#comment-238214 Anlir Wed, 14 Nov 2007 18:24:40 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/11/14/good-comedy/#comment-238214 I have always been a huge fan of comedy. The more outrageous it is, the more I like it. So my tastes lean toward shows like "South Park" and "Drawn Together" and "Family Guy". I am not so uptight that I can't laugh at jokes even about my own "tribe". I definitely think people should lighten up. However, I will admit to some qualms about humor in general. Mainly I don't want people to be hurt, ridiculed, or stereotyped. I also don't want people to use humor as an excuse to justify real discrimination against other people. I also worry that it causes some people, mainly young people, to not have empathy for others. So, it's a double edged sword for me. I have always been a huge fan of comedy. The more outrageous it is, the more I like it. So my tastes lean toward shows like “South Park” and “Drawn Together” and “Family Guy”. I am not so uptight that I can’t laugh at jokes even about my own “tribe”. I definitely think people should lighten up.

However, I will admit to some qualms about humor in general. Mainly I don’t want people to be hurt, ridiculed, or stereotyped. I also don’t want people to use humor as an excuse to justify real discrimination against other people. I also worry that it causes some people, mainly young people, to not have empathy for others.

So, it’s a double edged sword for me.

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